“Ford in or by the wood.” Does this description resonate with you? It is the ancient meaning of Woodford. Today, we find ourselves in Woodford Bridge. It is a place with a story etched in its very name.
Woodford Bridge sits in the London Borough of Redbridge. This suburb connects Chigwell and Leytonstone. This location highlights its historical role as a key crossing point. Imagine the area long ago. A simple ford marked the way across the River Roding.
Around this ford, a community flourished. By 1238, a bridge replaced the ford. The area then became known as Woodford Bridge by 1805. Our earliest records, dating back to about 1235, list Woodford residents. Most lived near Woodford Bridge. Thomas de Muscegros held land near Chigwell. William ad aquam, or atte Ree, was part of the family that gave Ray House its name. Richard Gal lent his name to Gales Farm. Thomas and Robert de Ponte took their name from the bridge. Alexander and Goscelin atte bridge were mentioned in 1239.
Woodford was not just a crossing. Wealthy Londoners discovered its charm. The wooded surroundings attracted them from the 15th century onwards. They built mansions. This shaped Woodford’s character. By the late 18th century, Woodford Bridge was a distinct hamlet. Houses clustered around the road and the Green.
Let us focus on the bridge itself. In 1404, records mention the poor condition of Woodford Bridge, then called “Mellebregge.” In 1573, the lord of the manor agreed to replace a horse bridge with a cart bridge. The county would pay four-fifths of the cost. Disputes over repairs were frequent. By 1680, a footbridge stood beside it.
A stone bridge, planned in 1752, was built in 1768. Floods destroyed it. It was rebuilt in 1771. This bridge featured three semicircular arches of brown brick with stone details. Responsibility for upkeep shifted. Finally, it fell to the county council. In 1962, a new and wider bridge replaced it.
Today, Woodford Bridge continues to evolve. A few cottages from the original hamlet remain. A row of cottages on Chigwell Road dates from the 18th and early 19th centuries. Gwynne House stands in Manor Road. Henry Burmester rebuilt it in 1816. Dr. Barnardo’s Homes acquired the property in 1910. They erected detached houses for boys in the grounds.
Thurlby House on Chigwell Road now serves as a branch library. Dr. Barnardo’s Homes occupied it before World War II. A small graveyard, consecrated in 1927, remains in use. Woodford Bridge has transformed from a simple ford to a vibrant community. It retains echoes of its past.