Highams Park
Encyclopedia
Highams Park is a district in the London Borough of Waltham Forest
, England
, adjacent to Epping Forest
. The forest at Highams Park contains a boating lake formed by Humphry Repton
after damming the River Ching
. There are parks and basic shopping facilities such as Budgens
, but no major supermarket. Tesco made numerous planning applications to build a store on part of the industrial estate. Initial plans made in 2007 were rejected by then Local Government Secretary Ruth Kelly
although a revised planning application was passed in 2009 despite the efforts of some local residents to stop the application going ahead.
Highams Park is a suburban area situated 8.7 miles (14 km) north east of Charing Cross
. The Greenwich Meridian Line
runs through many of its streets. Traditionally it was part of Walthamstow
parish and municipal borough, though most of it is in either the Chingford (E4) or Woodford Green (IG8) postal districts. It is primarily a residential area, with housing consisting of mainly Victorian and 1930s style terraced houses.
, as opposed to the rest of Highams Park which takes the Chingford
postal district, E4. Some consider Hale End to be part of Highams Park as there is no break in the rows of houses between the two areas, whereas others consider it to be a different place as it originated from a different village settlement and has a different postcode district.
There is another Tennis club (Whitehalls) situated on Larkshall Road. Highams Park Lake is used for Kayaking
by members of The Scout Association
. "The Highams Park", next to the lake, is not used for formal sports due to it being owned by the City of London Corporation and that large parts of it are unsuitable for competitive sports matches.
There are initial plans to build a velodrome
in the grounds of Highams Park School. This would be used by the school and also local sports teams, it will be many years before any building work is undertaken.
Highams Park Lake is to the west of the park, and is owned by the City of London Corporation although the rest of the park is maintained by the London Borough of Waltham Forest. The lake was formed by the landscape gardener Humphry Repton
who created it by damming the River Ching
. The lake, the adjoining park and the Manor House (now Woodford County High School) were owned by Highams Bensted. The lake itself is about 450m long and about 80m wide at the widest point. At the south end of the lake is a boat house built by Kenneth Robert John Ford and owned by Waltham Forest South Scouts. The north end of the lake is much narrower and shallower, it often dries out into mud in the summer and is sometimes referred to as 'the smelly end'. The River Ching flows past the lake but does not actually flow into it, a small outflow at the south end of the lake flows into the river.
There is a small island in the lake which is inhabited by nesting swans. Near the top of the lake are some large rocks thought to have been placed there by Humphry Repton to improve the lakes appeal. A public toilet block used to be situated on the east side of the lake although it was demolished many years ago, and only the foundations remain.
balls. The factory closed in the early 1970s and has since been knocked down and replaced by new smaller factories and industrial buildings. A blue plaque on Jubilee Avenue marks the spot where the building stood; it reads "Plastics Historical Society. On this site, from 1897-1971, stood the Halex factory of the British Xylonite Company."
Some of the land in this area is now owned by supermarket chain Tesco
who were initially refused permission to build a store on the site in June 2007 by then Local Government Secretary Ruth Kelly
after a protracted process of planning applications dating back to early 2005. The reasons cited for the refusal involved the size of the proposed store and the building not being in keeping with local Victorian and Edwardian buildings. However in 2009 a revised planning application was passed despite the efforts of some local residents to stop this from happening.
A recent campaign seeks to honour the men of Highams Park that worked in the Halex Factory and gave their lives in both world wars; and return the war memorial to the original site.
is on the Chingford Line which runs from London Liverpool Street to Chingford Station. The railway line cuts through the area with a level crossing
, close to the station, this being the only place actually in Highams Park where vehicles can cross the track. The level crossing itself, until 2002, was controlled by a signal man who worked in the traditional signal box next to the crossing. However in 2002, despite local opposition, the gates began to be operated from a central office at Liverpool Street Station. The signal box was marked for demolition, but due to the efforts of "The Highams Park Forum" (a group of local residents), and local Member of Parliament (and then leader of the Conservative Party
) Iain Duncan Smith
the box was saved with the intention of turning it into a museum or a tea room, however this never happened and so it has remained empty.
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The Highams Park Society was formed in 2006 and sets its goal as "Helping Promote Community Life". The Society has a membership of over 200 people who live in, or have an interest in Highams Park. The Society’s aims are to help preserve the local heritage, help members appreciate their environment and to inform members about the history of the area. www.highamsparksociety.co.uk
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Forest Recorded Music Society was founded in 1956 and it is now in its fifty-fourth season. The society presents evenings of classical and light classical music played from a CD. Programmes are presented by the members, each session features three guest speakers, they are usually professional musicians who talk about their lives and careers. This has on occasion featured well known musicians such as the bass Robert Lloyd, Valerie Masterson
and Felicity Lott
. www.forestrecordedmusicsociety.co.uk .
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...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, adjacent to Epping Forest
Epping Forest
Epping Forest is an area of ancient woodland in south-east England, straddling the border between north-east Greater London and Essex. It is a former royal forest, and is managed by the City of London Corporation....
. The forest at Highams Park contains a boating lake formed by Humphry Repton
Humphry Repton
Humphry Repton was the last great English landscape designer of the eighteenth century, often regarded as the successor to Capability Brown; he also sowed the seeds of the more intricate and eclectic styles of the 19th century...
after damming the River Ching
River Ching
The River Ching originates in Epping Forest, and runs to the River Lea, but not before being severely polluted in its lower reaches. It is damned twice, the first time to form Connaught Water, in the parishes of Loughton and Waltham Abbey, and again at Highams Park...
. There are parks and basic shopping facilities such as Budgens
Budgens
Budgens Stores Ltd is a chain of foodstores in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1872 by John Budgen, who opened the first store at Maidenhead, Berkshire. Budgens supermarket chain operates over 227 stores and employs over 6,000 staff...
, but no major supermarket. Tesco made numerous planning applications to build a store on part of the industrial estate. Initial plans made in 2007 were rejected by then Local Government Secretary Ruth Kelly
Ruth Kelly
Ruth Maria Kelly is a British Labour Party politician of Irish descent who was the Member of Parliament for Bolton West from 1997 until she stood down in 2010...
although a revised planning application was passed in 2009 despite the efforts of some local residents to stop the application going ahead.
Highams Park is a suburban area situated 8.7 miles (14 km) north east of Charing Cross
Charing Cross
Charing Cross denotes the junction of Strand, Whitehall and Cockspur Street, just south of Trafalgar Square in central London, England. It is named after the now demolished Eleanor cross that stood there, in what was once the hamlet of Charing. The site of the cross is now occupied by an equestrian...
. The Greenwich Meridian Line
Prime Meridian
The Prime Meridian is the meridian at which the longitude is defined to be 0°.The Prime Meridian and its opposite the 180th meridian , which the International Date Line generally follows, form a great circle that divides the Earth into the Eastern and Western Hemispheres.An international...
runs through many of its streets. Traditionally it was part of Walthamstow
Walthamstow
Walthamstow is a district of northeast London, England, located in the London Borough of Waltham Forest. It is situated north-east of Charing Cross...
parish and municipal borough, though most of it is in either the Chingford (E4) or Woodford Green (IG8) postal districts. It is primarily a residential area, with housing consisting of mainly Victorian and 1930s style terraced houses.
Hale End
Hale End shares the postal district of IG8 with Woodford GreenWoodford Green
Woodford Green, formerly in the county of Essex, is part of the North East London suburb of Woodford, on the edge of Epping Forest, mostly within the London Borough of Redbridge with a small part on the western side of the green within the London Borough of Waltham Forest .-History:Woodford Green...
, as opposed to the rest of Highams Park which takes the Chingford
Chingford
Chingford is a district of north east London, bordering on Enfield and Edmonton to the west, Woodford to the east, Walthamstow and Stratford to the south and Essex to the north. It is situated northeast of Charing Cross and forms part of the London Borough of Waltham Forest...
postal district, E4. Some consider Hale End to be part of Highams Park as there is no break in the rows of houses between the two areas, whereas others consider it to be a different place as it originated from a different village settlement and has a different postcode district.
Library
- Hale End LibraryLibraryIn a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
is in Highams Park and is positioned on The Avenue and was refurbished between January and July 2007.
Primary schools
- Handsworth Primary School
- Selwyn School (Infants & Juniors).
- There are also two other primary schools, Oak Hill Primary School (Hale End) and Thorpe Hall School (Walthamstow) which are close to Highams Park.
Secondary schools
- Highams Park SchoolHighams Park SchoolHighams Park School is a mixed, comprehensive 11-18 school in Highams Park, London. The school is a dual specialist Technology College and Sports College.-Houses:The school has four houses:*Burnell *Payling *Gibson *Forest...
(formerly known as Sidney Burnell School). The school has pupils aged 11–16, and also has a sixth formSixth formIn the education systems of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and of Commonwealth West Indian countries such as Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Belize, Jamaica and Malta, the sixth form is the final two years of secondary education, where students, usually sixteen to eighteen years of age,...
college for pupils aged 16–18. The school holds dual specialist status as a Technology CollegeTechnology CollegeTechnology College is a term used in the United Kingdom for a secondary specialist school that focuses on design and technology, mathematics and science. These were the first type of specialist schools, beginning in 1994. In 2008 there were 598 Technology Colleges in England, of which 12 also...
and a Sports CollegeSports CollegeSports Colleges were introduced in 1997 as part of the Specialist Schools Programme in the United Kingdom. The system enables secondary schools to specialise in certain fields, in this case, PE, sports and dance. Schools that successfully apply to the Specialist Schools Trust and become Sports...
. - Joseph Clark School for partially sighted and blind pupils which is a combined primary and secondary school.
Sports and recreation
There are two main sports grounds in Highams Park, Jubilee Sports Ground (formally Truman's Sports Ground) and Rolls Park. Jubilee is positioned off The Avenue, it is now owned by Waltham Forest Council. It is mainly used for football, with local teams and youth teams training and playing on the field and astro-turf. The ground is not open to the public. Rolls Park is slightly bigger and is open to the public. The field is used mainly for football and cricket. There is also a tennis club and a small gym at the edges of the field. There is also a bar/clubroom owned by West Essex football and cricket clubs.There is another Tennis club (Whitehalls) situated on Larkshall Road. Highams Park Lake is used for Kayaking
Kayaking
Kayaking is the use of a kayak for moving across water. Kayaking and canoeing are also known as paddling. Kayaking is distinguished from canoeing by the sitting position of the paddler and the number of blades on the paddle...
by members of The Scout Association
The Scout Association
The Scout Association is the World Organization of the Scout Movement recognised Scouting association in the United Kingdom. Scouting began in 1907 through the efforts of Robert Baden-Powell. The Scout Association was formed under its previous name, The Boy Scout Association, in 1910 by the grant...
. "The Highams Park", next to the lake, is not used for formal sports due to it being owned by the City of London Corporation and that large parts of it are unsuitable for competitive sports matches.
There are initial plans to build a velodrome
Velodrome
A velodrome is an arena for track cycling. Modern velodromes feature steeply banked oval tracks, consisting of two 180-degree circular bends connected by two straights...
in the grounds of Highams Park School. This would be used by the school and also local sports teams, it will be many years before any building work is undertaken.
"The Highams Park" and Highams Park Lake
The park is known officially as "The Highams Park" but is often known locally as "The Park", "The Field" or "The lake". Most of the park is on a hill with a gradual rise to the north end. It is frequented by dog walkers, runners and families. The park has no facilities except an under-8's playground and public notice boards.Highams Park Lake is to the west of the park, and is owned by the City of London Corporation although the rest of the park is maintained by the London Borough of Waltham Forest. The lake was formed by the landscape gardener Humphry Repton
Humphry Repton
Humphry Repton was the last great English landscape designer of the eighteenth century, often regarded as the successor to Capability Brown; he also sowed the seeds of the more intricate and eclectic styles of the 19th century...
who created it by damming the River Ching
River Ching
The River Ching originates in Epping Forest, and runs to the River Lea, but not before being severely polluted in its lower reaches. It is damned twice, the first time to form Connaught Water, in the parishes of Loughton and Waltham Abbey, and again at Highams Park...
. The lake, the adjoining park and the Manor House (now Woodford County High School) were owned by Highams Bensted. The lake itself is about 450m long and about 80m wide at the widest point. At the south end of the lake is a boat house built by Kenneth Robert John Ford and owned by Waltham Forest South Scouts. The north end of the lake is much narrower and shallower, it often dries out into mud in the summer and is sometimes referred to as 'the smelly end'. The River Ching flows past the lake but does not actually flow into it, a small outflow at the south end of the lake flows into the river.
There is a small island in the lake which is inhabited by nesting swans. Near the top of the lake are some large rocks thought to have been placed there by Humphry Repton to improve the lakes appeal. A public toilet block used to be situated on the east side of the lake although it was demolished many years ago, and only the foundations remain.
Halex and Tesco
The Halex factory was situated on Larkshall Road, it was a major local employer from 1897-1971. The factory produced a variety of goods mostly from plastic. The Halex company had a virtual monopoly on manufacturing table tennisTable tennis
Table tennis, also known as ping-pong, is a sport in which two or four players hit a lightweight, hollow ball back and forth using table tennis rackets. The game takes place on a hard table divided by a net...
balls. The factory closed in the early 1970s and has since been knocked down and replaced by new smaller factories and industrial buildings. A blue plaque on Jubilee Avenue marks the spot where the building stood; it reads "Plastics Historical Society. On this site, from 1897-1971, stood the Halex factory of the British Xylonite Company."
Some of the land in this area is now owned by supermarket chain Tesco
Tesco
Tesco plc is a global grocery and general merchandise retailer headquartered in Cheshunt, United Kingdom. It is the third-largest retailer in the world measured by revenues and the second-largest measured by profits...
who were initially refused permission to build a store on the site in June 2007 by then Local Government Secretary Ruth Kelly
Ruth Kelly
Ruth Maria Kelly is a British Labour Party politician of Irish descent who was the Member of Parliament for Bolton West from 1997 until she stood down in 2010...
after a protracted process of planning applications dating back to early 2005. The reasons cited for the refusal involved the size of the proposed store and the building not being in keeping with local Victorian and Edwardian buildings. However in 2009 a revised planning application was passed despite the efforts of some local residents to stop this from happening.
A recent campaign seeks to honour the men of Highams Park that worked in the Halex Factory and gave their lives in both world wars; and return the war memorial to the original site.
Railway
Highams Park StationHighams Park railway station
Highams Park railway station is in Highams Park which is in the London Borough of Waltham Forest in north east London. It is in Travelcard Zone 4, and the station and all trains are operated by National Express East Anglia.- History :...
is on the Chingford Line which runs from London Liverpool Street to Chingford Station. The railway line cuts through the area with a level crossing
Level crossing
A level crossing occurs where a railway line is intersected by a road or path onone level, without recourse to a bridge or tunnel. It is a type of at-grade intersection. The term also applies when a light rail line with separate right-of-way or reserved track crosses a road in the same fashion...
, close to the station, this being the only place actually in Highams Park where vehicles can cross the track. The level crossing itself, until 2002, was controlled by a signal man who worked in the traditional signal box next to the crossing. However in 2002, despite local opposition, the gates began to be operated from a central office at Liverpool Street Station. The signal box was marked for demolition, but due to the efforts of "The Highams Park Forum" (a group of local residents), and local Member of Parliament (and then leader of the Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
) Iain Duncan Smith
Iain Duncan Smith
George Iain Duncan Smith is a British Conservative politician. He is currently the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and was previously leader of the Conservative Party from September 2001 to October 2003...
the box was saved with the intention of turning it into a museum or a tea room, however this never happened and so it has remained empty.
Bus routes
No bus route starts or ends in Highams Park although three main bus routes and one school bus route pass through the area they are:- 212 - Walthamstow Central to Chingford Station
- 275 - St James Street railway stationSt James Street railway stationSt James Street railway station is in the London Borough of Waltham Forest in north east London, and is in Travelcard Zone 3, on the Chingford branch of the Lea Valley Lines. The station, and all trains serving it, are operated by National Express East Anglia....
to BarkingsideBarkingsideBarkingside is a district of Ilford in the London Borough of Redbridge, northeast London. It is a suburban development.It is also the place in which Barkingside FC play their home games at Oakside stadium in Station Road....
Tesco - 675 School Bus - Walthamstow Central to BarkingsideBarkingsideBarkingside is a district of Ilford in the London Borough of Redbridge, northeast London. It is a suburban development.It is also the place in which Barkingside FC play their home games at Oakside stadium in Station Road....
(Woodbridge High School) - W16 - Leytonstone tube stationLeytonstone tube stationLeytonstone tube station is on the Central Line of the London Underground, on the boundary of Zones 3 and 4. Towards London the next station is Leyton, while going east from Leytonstone, the line divides into two branches...
to Chingford MountChingford MountChingford Mount is an area in South Chingford . The name refers to the shopping area located around A112/A1009 crossroads , though it is also used for the hill leading north from the crossroads to Chingford Old Church...
Residents' groups
The Highams Park Forum was established in 2000 as a group of volunteer residents who meet regularly to discuss matters affecting their area. It works as a "Think Tank", aiming to act as a focus for local community issues, discussing ways of improving the quality of life in Highams Park, seeking answers to Community problems, and steering the implementation of measures which result. The Forum has its own website at www.highamsparkforum.co.uk.-------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Highams Park Society was formed in 2006 and sets its goal as "Helping Promote Community Life". The Society has a membership of over 200 people who live in, or have an interest in Highams Park. The Society’s aims are to help preserve the local heritage, help members appreciate their environment and to inform members about the history of the area. www.highamsparksociety.co.uk
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The Forest Recorded Music Society was founded in 1956 and it is now in its fifty-fourth season. The society presents evenings of classical and light classical music played from a CD. Programmes are presented by the members, each session features three guest speakers, they are usually professional musicians who talk about their lives and careers. This has on occasion featured well known musicians such as the bass Robert Lloyd, Valerie Masterson
Valerie Masterson
Margaret Valerie Masterson , is a retired English opera singer, a lecturer and Vice-President of British Youth Opera. After study in Italy, she began to sing opera in Europe...
and Felicity Lott
Felicity Lott
Dame Felicity Ann Emwhyla Lott, DBE, FRCM is an English soprano.-Education:From her earliest years she was musical, having started studying piano at age 5. She also played violin and began singing lessons at 12. She is an alumna of Royal Holloway, University of London, obtaining a BA in French and...
. www.forestrecordedmusicsociety.co.uk .
Notable residents
- Trevor BaileyTrevor BaileyTrevor Edward Bailey CBE was an England Test cricketer, cricket writer and broadcaster.An all-rounder, Bailey was known for his skilful but unspectacular batting...
, EssexEssexEssex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
and England cricketer. - Graham BarnfieldGraham BarnfieldGraham Barnfield is a British academic and pundit associated with the hard left Revolutionary Communist Party .In 1993 he began writing on cultural politics in the United States under President Franklin D. Roosevelt...
, pundit and academic, moved to Highams Park in 2001. He lived in the former home of actress Tara MoranTara MoranKathleen Tara Moran is an English actress.Moran's television debut was in Yorkshire Television's educational history series for schools, How We Used to Live...
. - John BergerJohn BergerJohn Peter Berger is an English art critic, novelist, painter and author. His novel G. won the 1972 Booker Prize, and his essay on art criticism Ways of Seeing, written as an accompaniment to a BBC series, is often used as a university text.-Education:Born in Hackney, London, England, Berger was...
, socialist artist and writer, lived in Highams Park as a child. - Blazin' SquadBlazin' SquadBlazin' Squad were an English pop-rap vocal group. The group enjoyed significant success in the UK, achieving six top ten hits, including "Crossroads", a cover version of the Bone Thugs-n-Harmony original.-In The Beginning: 2002:...
(Band) Members of the band Blazing Squad lived in or near Highams Park and studied at Highams Park School. Their song 'Crossroads' went to number one in the charts. The group quickly broke up with some members forming a new group called 'Friday Hill' which is named after a hill in nearby Chingford. - Johnny Dankworth, musician and soloist, born in Highams Park in 1927.
- Sir George Edwards (aircraft designer and industrialist) was born in Hale End Road, Highams Park, on 9 July 1908.
- Chris MoncrieffChris MoncrieffChris Moncrieff, is a British journalist. He was the political editor of the Press Association from 1980 to 1994.He joined the agency's political staff in the Houses of Parliament in 1962 and became a lobby correspondent in 1973...
, Political Journalist. - Tara MoranTara MoranKathleen Tara Moran is an English actress.Moran's television debut was in Yorkshire Television's educational history series for schools, How We Used to Live...
- Teddy SheringhamTeddy SheringhamEdward Paul "Teddy" Sheringham MBE is a retired English footballer, and the father of footballer Charlie Sheringham. Sheringham played as a striker, and had a successful career at the club level, winning almost every domestic honour available with his clubs, most notably the Treble with Manchester...
(footballer) was born on 2 April 1966 in Highams Park. - John Smith (filmmaker)John Smith (filmmaker)John Smith is an award winning avant garde filmmaker noted for his use of humour in exploring various themes that often play upon the film spectator's conditioned assumptions of the medium. Noted works include , , and .John Smith studied film at the Royal College of Art...
, is an award winning avant–garde filmmaker noted for his use of humour. Born in Highams Park, attended Selwyn Avenue School and George Monoux School.