Inventory Site Record

Woodford Bridge Green is a large triangular village green surrounded by houses on sloping open land with a large pond, and at its west end abuts St Paul's Church. Another smaller area of green is situated at some distance to the west. Woodford Bridge near Claybury Hill was one of four hamlets that made up Old Woodford, along with Woodford Row now Woodford Green, Woodford Wells and Church End now South Woodford, separated by fields and meadows. It was so-called for its position near an important crossing point over the Roding River, the road was an ancient route from Essex to Suffolk and Norfolk.

Site location:

Manor Road/Cross Road, Woodford Green

Postcode:

IG8 8BT

What 3 Words:

runner.recall.crazy

Type of site:

Public Open Land

Borough:

Redbridge

Open to public?

Yes

Opening times:

unrestricted

Special conditions:

Facilities:

Events:

Public transport:

Tube: Woodford , Fairlop (Central) then bus. Bus: 275, W14

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Research updated:

01/04/2002

Last minor changes:

14/07/2022

Please check with the site owner or manager for latest news. www.redbridge.gov.uk

Woodford Bridge Green is a large triangular village green surrounded by houses on sloping open land with a large pond, and at its west end abuts St Paul's Church Woodford Bridge (q.v.). Another smaller area of green is situated at some distance to the west. Woodford Bridge near Claybury Hill was one of four hamlets which made up Old Woodford, along with Woodford Row now Woodford Green, Woodford Wells and Church End now South Woodford, separated by fields and meadows. It was so-called for its position near an important crossing point over the Roding River and the road was an ancient route from Essex to Suffolk and Norfolk, which may have been the route that monks travelled with the body of King Edward the Martyr in 1013 to Bury St Edmunds where he was buried.

The hamlet gradually changed to village then suburb after the railway arrived in the 1850s and the area became developed. The Green is described by Edward Walford writing in 1883: 'planted with tall elms, stands on the rising ground by the roadside, near Claybury Hill . . . It is sad to record the fact that the beauty of this spot has been sadly spoilt by speculative builders, who have contrived to disfigure the green with most hideous and abnormal structures'. (Village London). Walford also quotes a notice published in 1793 describing the village's 'very picturesque appearance' and going on to say that 'near the bridge is a neat pump of excellent water, brought hither in 1776 at a great expense by the proprietor of the estate for the accommodation of the poor inhabitants.'

Sources consulted:

Edward Walford, 'Village London, the Story of Greater London, Part 2 - North and East', first published 1883/4 (1985 ed., The Alderman Press); Ian Dowling and Nick Harris, Images of London: Wanstead and Woodford, Tempus Publishing 2003

Grid ref:

TQ426918 (542650,191850)

Size in hectares:

2.15

Site ownership:

LB Redbridge

Site management:

Vision Redbridge Culture and Leisure Ltd

Date(s):

Designer(s):

Listed structures:

locally listed building on east of green

On National Heritage List for England (NHLE), Parks & Gardens:

No

Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965:

Yes: Green (TVG36)

Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931:

No

Local Authority Data

The information below is taken from the relevant Local Authority's planning legislation, which was correct at the time of research but may have been amended in the interim. Please check with the Local Authority for latest planning information.

On Local List:

No

In Conservation Area:

Yes

Conservation Area name:

Woodford Bridge

Tree Preservation Order:

No

Nature Conservation Area:

Yes - Borough Importance II (pond)

Green Belt:

No

Metropolitan Open Land:

No

Special Policy Area:

Yes - Archaeology Priority Area

Other LA designation:

Local Open Space