Romford

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Romford is a town in East London, England. It is the principal town of the London Borough of Havering and located 14.1 miles (22.7 km) east north-east of Charing Cross. It is one of ten major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan.

Contents

1 History
2 Politics
3 Transport
4 Sport and leisure

4.1 Nearest places
4.2 Nearest railway stations

5 Famous residents
6 See also
7 External links

History

Romford has been a market town since 1247, and it holds the exclusive right to hold markets over an area of radius "six and two thirds miles" centred on Romford, a right granted in mediæval times but successfully used to prevent nearby Ilford from opening a market as recently as the 1990s. Romford shopping centre grew up around the original marketplace, on the line of the old Roman road from London to Colchester.

The Liberty Shopping Centre has recently been expanded and modernised by the Romford Revival program in order to compete with out-of-town shopping centres such as the Lakeside Shopping Centre in Essex and Bluewater Shopping Centre in Kent. A large swimming pool and leisure center called The Dolphin which closed in 1995 was recently demolished to make way for further expansion of the shopping centre and the addition of 230 modern flats and apartments.

The town has been associated with a ford over a small stream which flows through it, now known as the River Rom, a 'back-formation' from the name of the town. The name 'Romford' most likely derives from early English 'rúm ford', meaning 'wide or roomy ford'.

Politics

Romford was created an urban district of Essex in 1894. In 1937 it became the Municipal Borough of Romford which in 1965 was transferred to Greater London and became part of the London Borough of Havering. It is part of the Havering and Redbridge London Assembly constituency. The present MP for the Romford constituency is Andrew Rosindell, a native of the town.

Transport

Romford railway station is on the Great Eastern Main Line and is served by regular stopping, and occasionally fast, services to Liverpool Street in the City. Romford is a hub on the London Bus network with services to places such as Stratford, Leytonstone and Dagenham as well as feeder services from the large housing developments which surround it such as Collier Row and Harold Hill.

It is planned that Romford will be served by a future extension of the East London Transit.

Sport and leisure

Romford is home to the Romford Raiders ice hockey team, who play at the Romford Ice Arena. Another local sports club is Romford Hockey Club. There is greyhound racing at Romford Greyhound Stadium.

Nearest places

Nearest railway stations

Famous residents

British Pop group Five Star were born, raised and attended school in Romford during the 1960s, '70s and '80s. They left for Berkshire in 1987 and now live separately in London and California, USA.

Romford is the birth place of a large number of sporting professionals including the footballers Tony Adams, Lee Barnard, Frank Lampard, David Martin, Ray Parlour and Stuart Taylor, snooker player Steve Davis and racing driver Johnny Herbert.

Musicians from the town include the singers Chris Andrews, Imogen Heap, Jo O'Meara of S Club 7 and bassist Cliff Williams. Literary and artistic figures from Romford include the poet Francis Quarles, the artist Charles Taylor and novellist Edward Upward. Television presenter Richard Madeley and reporter Jeff Randall are also from the town.

Also Colonel Blood, the only man to steal the Crown Jewels, ran an apothecary's shop in Romford Market at one stage in his career.

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