Highams Park

Is there a school here named after a famous person? You might be surprised to learn that Highams Park is home to a school named after Sir Sydney Burnell, a notable figure in the world of education. Highams Park itself is a charming district nestled in the London Borough of Waltham Forest. It’s a place where history whispers through the Victorian and 1930s terraced houses. Highams Park boasts a rich historical tapestry, deeply intertwined with the ancient Epping Forest. The area, formerly known as Hale End, has a history dating back to Saxon times, even earning a mention in the Domesday Book. The arrival of the railway in 1873 brought with it a wave of change. The station, initially named “Hale End,” was strategically renamed “Highams Park (Hale End)” in 1894. This clever marketing ploy by the Great Eastern Railway aimed to attract day-trippers to the alluring Highams Park Lake and the sprawling Epping Forest. Did you know that the British Xylonite Company, a pioneering plastics manufacturer, established a factory here in 1897? This factory, famed for producing the world’s supply of ping-pong balls, became a cornerstone of the community, drawing workers and shaping the development of Highams Park. Today, while the factory is gone, a blue plaque on Jubilee Avenue serves as a reminder of its legacy. And so, Highams Park stands as a testament to the passage of time, a blend of historical echoes and modern life.