Did you ever imagine that Ilford, this bustling town, was once a rural escape for Londoners? Yes, long before the high-rises and shopping centers, Ilford was a different world. A place where travelers stopped for a rest at the ford across the River Roding. Ilford, in fact, gets its name from that very river, once known as the “Hyle.” This “ford over the Hyle” was a vital link in the road from London to Colchester.
By the 17th century, Ilford was still a small village, a mere speck on the map with around 50 houses. Its rural charm lingered even into the early 1800s, with a population shy of 2,000 people. But change was on the horizon, and it arrived with a puff of steam and the screech of iron wheels. The year was 1839, and the Great Eastern Railway had arrived in Ilford.
Suddenly, this quiet Essex village found itself connected to the heart of London. It didn’t take long for people to realize that Ilford offered the best of both worlds: a peaceful retreat from the city’s clamor with easy access to its opportunities. The population exploded, growing almost tenfold in just a few decades. Brickworks, cement works, and industries catering to this new commuter class sprouted along the River Roding, forever altering the landscape.
Ilford even played a unique role in the birth of television. In the 1920s, a visionary Scottish inventor named John Logie Baird arrived in Ilford to work on his groundbreaking invention. He set up shop in a rather unexpected place – the rooftop of the Plessey electronics factory on Ley Street. Imagine that – the flickering light of the first television screens, illuminating the Ilford skyline. It’s a reminder that even in a town steeped in history, there’s always room for innovation and progress.