A history of Romford

The town of Romford has always had its economy governed by major transport routes.

Studies of a document dating from the 2^nd century AD (called the Antonine Itinerary), together with archaeological evidence, has shown that a Roman staging post called Durolitum was somewhere in the vicinity of Romford.

The Middle Ages saw the small hamlet that was in the area grow to a market town. The leather industry started in Hornchurch found a ready market in the number of travellers using the old Roman road to Colchester and Norwich.

In 1247 Henry III gave instructions to the Sheriff of Essex to hold a market every Wednesday; this continued over the centuries and developed into what we now know as the Romford market that exists today.

Annoyed by the distance it was necessary for them to travel to Mass in Hornchurch, the people of Romford petitioned for a chapel nearer to the town. The first chapel, dedicated to St Andrew, was built at the east end of Oldchurch Road in 1177.

Another petition was submitted some years later and in 1405 a new chapel was erected in the Market Place, dedicated to St Edward the Confessor. This became the new church, and the former chapel was known as the old church, a name continued in that road and hospital today. The current St Edwards church was completed in 1850 and occupies the same site as the earlier church.

Romford Brewery started in South Street at the end of the 18th century and while the brewery itself closed in 1993, remains of the building can still be seen on the High Street.

With the arrival of the Eastern Counties Railway in 1839, Romford grew rapidly. Although the line was originally designed to move freight, it soon saw an increase in passenger trains. From 1850 onwards Romford's growth has been rapid.

A core of listed buildings remain at the heart of the town around the medieval crossroads and market square, including the Golden Lion, one of only two coaching inns remaining in London; Church House, next to the Victorian Parish church, which spent some time as a inn before being returned to church use; and the mid 19th century Lamb Inn. From the historic crossroads the High Street leads west to rejoin the line of the old Roman Road near the Egyptian-inspired architecture of the Salem Chapel of 1847. North Street leads past a late 17th century timber-framed building at nos.96-102 and further along the road is Vine Cottage erected in 1799.

The Town Hall was erected in International Moderne style in 1935 and a cluster of Art Deco buildings can be found around the railway station in South Street.

The names of some of Romford's residents are still well known; Francis Quarles, the 17th century poet; Sir Anthony Cooke, the Tudor court official and royal tutor; and Colonel Blood, who plotted to steal the crown jewels, once ran an apothecary's shop in Romford Market.