Harold Hill, 40 Years On

by Brian Evans

[An exhibition organised by a committee centred at the Weald Centre in October 1987 commemorated 40 years of the Harold Hill Estate. After 10 days at the Weald Centre a large part of this display transferred to the Central Library for a further period. In all, the exhibition was visited by several thousand people, including former pupils of the area's schools and one-time residents who have moved on].

The news that a large estate was to be built over the quiet rural fields to the north-west of Romford, came as a considerable shock when it revealed in The Romford Times newspaper of September 1945. The news broke before Romford Councillors were able to attend a special conference of the London County Council's Housing Committee giving details of the plan. The next week more details appeared in the Wednesday paper, revealing that over 10,000 houses were planned. It was said that prior to the "leak" only five people in the county (Essex) were aware of the scheme. Yet there had been no discussion by Romford Borough Council or consultation with local inhabitants. Romford Councillors were soon using phrases such as a great disservice to the public but this was nothing compared to what the average Romfordian was saying. There was a strong feeling in the town that historical landmarks would be destroyed (not that this had deterred previous or later generation) and that rates would rise. However eventually after more publicity was given to the excellent planning that was to be put into the layout, the uproar quietened down.

A compulsory purchase order by the Minister of Housing in 1948 paved the way for the building to begin in earnest and some streets and services were being laid down and the first houses began to arise among the hills and fields. Of course there were already a few scattered farm workers houses and other country cottages in addition to an area of prefab houses along Straight Road (once known as Gallows Lane). The prefabs were, a long time after, replaced by permanent houses but that is another story. The first permanent estate house (44 Gooshays Drive) was opened by the Chairman of the L.C.C. Walter R. Owen, J.P. It was semi-detached containing five rooms, three of them bedrooms. The new residents Mr and Mrs Rutherford came from a five roomed cottage at Becontree with three sons and four daughters. Mr Rutherford was a City coach driver and had to be at his work at 4.50 in the morning (involving getting up at 2.30am).

By the time this event occurred it was planned to build 7,600 permanent houses (later 8,566). Eighty acres were to be set aside for factories north of the Colchester Road. 74 acres of public parkland and 16.4 acres for shops were provided. Thus employment in light industry would be available locally and the work was designed to fit in with the needs of working mothers as well as the longer working week of men.

The first arrivals at "Little London" as it was nicknamed at first, found not a single bus service from the estate, and serious shopping involved a trek to Romford for the whole family.

The next few years saw a succession of "firsts" and gradually the estate acquired purpose built schools, churches, shopping facilities, a library and a police station. Lord Morrison of Lambeth opened a new library on the estate in 1950 making a typically pungent comment that he was pleased to see that the building looked as if it would not last too long

He declared that he believed that the municipal buildings of his younger days were made too permanent. For instance the school he had attended in the 1890s was still standing: Not even Hitler could destroy it. He explained that a new type of library might possibly be evolved in the future and there would then be a need for a new building. Economy dictated the construction of light structures that would later be replaced.

On the 29th January 1960 the Romford Recorder published details of the planned new Harold Hill community centre costing £38,000. Two halls, spacious committee rooms. changing rooms and a sun lounge were designed. The old centre an "ancient farmhouse" was to be demolished. The building was expected to take twelve months to be completed. By 1965 an "ultra-modern" swimming pool was nearing completion next to the community centre on Gooshays Drive.

During its development there has been a steady demand for new names to be given to the roads and other developments on the estate. A council committee minute of 17th November 1948 records the adoption of a suggestion, originating with the London County Council that roads be named after English Market towns (Romford being a market town itself). This is the origin of names such as Amersham. Halesworth. Keighley, Guildford, Kingsbndge. From the first, some names were reminders of local historical associations (Gooshays. Dagnams). More recently attempts have been made to give such historical names to most new developments. I was particularly pleased when not long ago I was able to suggest and get adopted for a local council facility on Hilldene the name ABERCROMBIE.

It was after all the "ABERCROMBIE Report - The Greater London Plan" which set the scene for thousands of Londoners to be rehoused, after the Second World War, in better conditions on London’s rural fringe.