Ilford

For other uses, see Ilford (disambiguation).

Ilford is a district in the London Borough of Redbridge in East London. It is a suburban development situated 9.1 miles (14.6 km) east north-east of Charing Cross. It is one of ten major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan.

The area is predominantly residential and bounded in the west by the North Circular Road and the River Roding. It is contiguous with Barking to the south, Gants Hill to the north and Seven Kings to the east. Like-named Little Ilford is nearby to the west in the London Borough of Newham.

Contents

1 History
2 Commerce

2.1 Ilford photographic
2.2 Plessey

3 Politics
4 Transport

4.1 Nearest places
4.2 Nearest stations

5 Famous births
6 External links

History

The name means "Ford over the Hyle" (an old name for the River Roding that means "trickling stream"). Stories that various eminent persons fell in and condemned it as an "ill ford" are folk myths. The former area of the Municipal Borough of Ilford was used to form part of the present-day London Borough of Redbridge in 1965.

Commerce

Ilford photographic

A number of major businesses have been founded in the town, including the eponymous photographic film and chemicals manufacturer Ilford.

Plessey

Also a major employer here was the radio, electronics and telecommunications company Plessey. Founded in 1917 in Marylebone but moving to Cottenham Road in Ilford early in 1919 then to Vicarage Lane where it remained, becoming one of the largest manufacturers in this field. Plessey were partners in the development of the Atlas Computer in 1962. The site closed in 1998 when the company was taken over.

Politics

Ilford is represented in the House of Commons by MPs Lee Scott (Conservative, Ilford North) and Mike Gapes (Labour, Ilford South).

Transport

Nearest places

Nearest stations

Famous births

Raymond Baxter, TV presenter
Nigel Benn, Former boxer
Noel Edmonds, TV entertainer and presenter
Bill Fraser, TV actor, (especially the Army Game) who ran a sweet shop in Ilford between bookings
Paul Ince, Footballer, currently plays for Wolverhampton Wanderers
Jane Leeves, Actress most known for her role as Daphne Moon in Frasier
Denise Levertov, Poet
Sir Raymond Lygo, Admiral
Harry John Blagdon Mansfield, owner of Mansfield's Dairies, established in 1868.
Kevin Maher, Footballer, currently plays for Southend United
Dame Maggie Smith, Actress

The Dooleys (70s pop act) were born and lived in the Seven Kings area of Ilford

External links

Main districts of the London boroughs | List of places in London

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