Aldersbrook
Encyclopedia
Aldersbrook is the name given to an Edwardian
housing estate in North-East London
. It is named after the Alders Brook, a small tributary of the River Roding
. It is bound by Aldersbrook Road to the south, Bush Wood to the west, Wanstead Park
to the north, and the City of London Cemetery and Crematorium
to the east. It is wholly in the London Borough of Redbridge
, and borders Waltham Forest
and Newham
. One half of Aldersbrook is in the postcode district of E11, the other in E12. Some of the part in E12 was formerly part of Newham.
As described above, it is surrounded on all sides by open space or parkland, making it a desirable "leafy" place to live in an otherwise dense urban area of London. Northumberland Avenue and Aldersbrook Road, in particular, have housing frontage built on one side of the road, affording views of Wanstead Park and Wanstead Flats
, respectively, to the properties there. Perhaps reflecting the generally pro-temperance
Edwardian era in which the estate was laid out, or perhaps due to restrictive covenant
, there are no public houses at all in the area, save for the bar of the Courtney Hotel, which is at the extreme south-eastern corner of the area.
There is a school, Aldersbrook Primary School, two churches, one Anglican and one Baptist
, and a library on Park Road, which seems to keep being threatened with closure but always remains open after campaigns by the locals. There is a short strip of shops on Aldersbrook Road, in the south-eastern corner of the estate, a convenience store in the western end of the estate, behind the Anglican church, and a launderette and another convenience store at the eastern side of the estate.
While the greater body of the estate was laid out in the 1910s, which defines its overall character, there are smaller areas of more recent post-war development. Some examples follow. Brading Crescent area was laid out as a mix of council housing styles in the 1950s: terraces, sheltered housing
, and one high-rise block called Jackson Court. At the extreme eastern edge of the estate, behind Clavering Road, are small courtyards of flat-roofed terraced housing laid out in the late 1960s. On the site of the former maternity hospital
, modern houses and flats were laid out in the mid 1980s to form Alders Close. There is also a tiny pocket of land directly behind the wall of the Primary School which was developed into Albury Mews in the late 1980s.
The estate was designated a Conservation area
by Redbridge London Borough Council
in 2002.
In 2009 a Mike Leigh
film, Another Year was using the area for locations.
Edwardian architecture
Edwardian architecture is the style popular when King Edward VII of the United Kingdom was in power; he reigned from 1901 to 1910, but the architecture style is generally considered to be indicative of the years 1901 to 1914....
housing estate in North-East London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. It is named after the Alders Brook, a small tributary of the River Roding
River Roding
The River Roding is a river in England that rises near Dunmow, flows through Essex and forms Barking Creek as it reaches the River Thames in London....
. It is bound by Aldersbrook Road to the south, Bush Wood to the west, Wanstead Park
Wanstead Park
Wanstead Park is the name of a grade II listed municipal park covering an area of about 140 acres , located in Wanstead, in the London Borough of Redbridge, historically within the county of Essex...
to the north, and the City of London Cemetery and Crematorium
City of London Cemetery and Crematorium
The City of London Cemetery and Crematorium is a cemetery and crematorium in the north east of London. It is the largest such municipal facility in the UK and probably in Europe . It is owned and operated by the City of London Corporation.-Location:...
to the east. It is wholly in the London Borough of Redbridge
London Borough of Redbridge
The London Borough of Redbridge is a London borough in outer north-east London. Its administrative headquarters is at Redbridge Town Hall in Ilford. The local authority is Redbridge London Borough Council.-Etymology:...
, and borders Waltham Forest
London Borough of Waltham Forest
The London Borough of Waltham Forest is in northeast London, England. Officially, it forms part of Outer London as it borders Essex. However, it can be seen that the NE London boundary does not extend far compared to elsewhere in the city...
and Newham
London Borough of Newham
The London Borough of Newham is a London borough formed from the towns of West Ham and East Ham, within East London.It is situated east of the City of London, and is north of the River Thames. According to 2006 estimates, Newham has one of the highest ethnic minority populations of all the...
. One half of Aldersbrook is in the postcode district of E11, the other in E12. Some of the part in E12 was formerly part of Newham.
As described above, it is surrounded on all sides by open space or parkland, making it a desirable "leafy" place to live in an otherwise dense urban area of London. Northumberland Avenue and Aldersbrook Road, in particular, have housing frontage built on one side of the road, affording views of Wanstead Park and Wanstead Flats
Wanstead Flats
Wanstead Flats is the southern-most portion of Epping Forest in east London. It is surrounded by the heavily built-up areas of Leytonstone to the west, Wanstead to the north with Manor Park and Forest Gate to the southeast and south respectively. To the north-west it is connected by way of Bush...
, respectively, to the properties there. Perhaps reflecting the generally pro-temperance
Temperance movement
A temperance movement is a social movement urging reduced use of alcoholic beverages. Temperance movements may criticize excessive alcohol use, promote complete abstinence , or pressure the government to enact anti-alcohol legislation or complete prohibition of alcohol.-Temperance movement by...
Edwardian era in which the estate was laid out, or perhaps due to restrictive covenant
Restrictive covenant
A restrictive covenant is a type of real covenant, a legal obligation imposed in a deed by the seller upon the buyer of real estate to do or not to do something. Such restrictions frequently "run with the land" and are enforceable on subsequent buyers of the property...
, there are no public houses at all in the area, save for the bar of the Courtney Hotel, which is at the extreme south-eastern corner of the area.
There is a school, Aldersbrook Primary School, two churches, one Anglican and one Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
, and a library on Park Road, which seems to keep being threatened with closure but always remains open after campaigns by the locals. There is a short strip of shops on Aldersbrook Road, in the south-eastern corner of the estate, a convenience store in the western end of the estate, behind the Anglican church, and a launderette and another convenience store at the eastern side of the estate.
While the greater body of the estate was laid out in the 1910s, which defines its overall character, there are smaller areas of more recent post-war development. Some examples follow. Brading Crescent area was laid out as a mix of council housing styles in the 1950s: terraces, sheltered housing
Sheltered housing
Sheltered housing is a British English term covering a wide range of rented housing for older and/or disabled or other vulnerable people. Most commonly it refers to grouped housing such as a block or "scheme" of flats or bungalows with a scheme manager or "officer"; traditionally the manager has...
, and one high-rise block called Jackson Court. At the extreme eastern edge of the estate, behind Clavering Road, are small courtyards of flat-roofed terraced housing laid out in the late 1960s. On the site of the former maternity hospital
Maternity hospital
A maternity hospital is a hospital that specializes in caring for women while they are pregnant and during childbirth. The hospital also provides care for newborn infants....
, modern houses and flats were laid out in the mid 1980s to form Alders Close. There is also a tiny pocket of land directly behind the wall of the Primary School which was developed into Albury Mews in the late 1980s.
The estate was designated a Conservation area
Conservation area
A conservation areas is a tract of land that has been awarded protected status in order to ensure that natural features, cultural heritage or biota are safeguarded...
by Redbridge London Borough Council
Redbridge London Borough Council
Redbridge London Borough Council is the local authority for the London Borough of Redbridge in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in the United Kingdom capital of London. Redbridge is divided into 21 wards and elects 63 councillors...
in 2002.
In 2009 a Mike Leigh
Mike Leigh
Michael "Mike" Leigh, OBE is a British writer and director of film and theatre. He studied theatre at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, and studied further at the Camberwell School of Art and the Central School of Art and Design. He began as a theatre director and playwright in the mid 1960s...
film, Another Year was using the area for locations.