Moving out to Harold Hill

by Reta Coffin

After the war, families in London living in crowded conditions, often in a single room or squeezed in with relatives, were seeking better accommodation. The bombing of London had left large gaps and the London County Council, along with many other authorities, was seeking land on which to build. The purchase of farmland to the east of Romford led to a vast programme of house building culminating in the Harold Hill Estate.

As each group of houses was finished, families began to arrive mainly from the East and North of London. What were their reactions to the new life as they settled in an area quite different from the ones they had left?

These reactions can be gleaned from essays written in 1959 by 14 and 15 year old girls, pupils at Quarles School. Most of those girls had come with their families as the first inhabitants of Harold Hill and could claim ten years' residence. Most wrote that the estate was well planned with pleasant houses near woods and the countryside. The air was purer, fresher and healthier, they had gardens in which to play; but one girl thought the space was frightening while another suggested it was bad policy to put two toilets in some houses while there were only two public toilets on the estate. Having a bedroom to themselves was a great thrill. Mothers appreciated kitchens with plenty of cupboard space and dads enjoyed making gardens from plots of heavy clay.

But not everything was approved. Many of the first arrivals had come during the winter months when ice, snow and cold made the houses seem damp, taking time to warm up.

Many roads were unfinished and paths became muddy quagmires. Through all the essays the girls found plenty to criticise, disadvantages being commented upon over and over again. What was the pattern of life and how did it differ from their previous mode of living?

Dads did not appreciate having to travel farther to work. Some tried to change jobs to work nearer home. Mums missed the friendliness of neighbours. They missed the inter-visitation with each other that they had known in the East End. Shopping was more difficult as there were few shops until the establishment of the Hilldene Shopping Centre with its 90 shops.

Weekly trips were made to Romford to enjoy shopping in the market, a habit which still remains.

Schools were built to keep pace with the number of children coming to live on the Hill.

At the beginning, going to school was an adventure as the children went by coach to Romford. When the schools did arrive the girls commented how they appreciated the light airy buildings with spacious playgrounds, so different from many London schools which were brick built with small windows. One girl wrote

"I went to Brookside Junior School in 1953 and I was very unhappy and very disappointed at not passing the 11-Plus but now I am in the 4th year at Quarles I have the chance to stay in for a further year and have as many opportunities as I might find in a grammar school with such a variety of subjects being taught"

How did they spend their leisure? The nearest cinema was in Romford, the return bus fare being 1s2d with 1s3d to go in, these together taking the whole of a week's pocket money.

One had to pay full fare at 14 years of age then. With buses running only at 30 minute intervals, the timing sometimes caused one to miss part of the programme. The swimming pool had, not been built and again grumbles were expressed at having to travel to Hornchurch or Brentwood. Where were the dance halls? The only local building used for this purpose was known as "The Shack", a shed-like building which still stands. Often parents objected to their daughters going to these dances as they were worried about the 'Teddy Boys" who congregated there. Comments were made about a lack of youth organisations. To attend a youth club, one had to be attached to a church with conditions of compulsory attendance on Sundays or join a uniformed organisation, but many wanted to be free from authority. The girls thought that the boys fared better as they were content to go for long cycle rides or play around in gangs. One girl comments: If there is nothing else to do at night of course boys and girls get into trouble with the police. Boys go around in gangs and make trouble!

Attendance at church wasn't easy for some before the local churches were built One Catholic family went to Westminster Cathedral each Sunday for mass.

The park was in the process of being landscaped. Some thought it folly to spend money on enclosing it with railings when other facilities were needed on the estate. Lack of a library was another sore point and many thought that there were too many public houses.

What might be the thoughts of those same girls today? Many of them will be married and still living on Harold Hill. They may have children of their own attending the same school as they did. The estate looks different now with its tree lined roads and with its pleasant houses with neat gardens. It has a swimming bath, library, community centre, several churches and good schools.

[Material taken from essays of 14 and 15 year old girls in 1959]