Did you know that...
This RM2 area was originally known as Romford Garden Suburb. The name Gidea Park derives from the word “geddy. In the 15th century, merchant and Lord Mayor of London Thomas Cooke started building a house here. He named the house Geddy Hall after “ea” which means water or lake and “ged” which means pike. Geddy Hall was eventually finished by his great-grandson Anthony Cooke who renamed it Gidea Hall. Businessman Richard Emes bought the house in 1657 for £9,000. Romford Garden Suburb was developed at the beginning of the 20th century.
Over a hundred architects were invited to design the Gidea Park houses and small cottages. Many of them had an amazing reputation. No wonder the houses in this part of East London are a wonderful example of the architecture of their time. Several buildings are listed constructions. Some of the houses that feature a flat roof were built in the 1930s for a Modern Homes Exhibition. These houses are on Heath Drive and Eastern Avenue. The house at number 64 Heath Drive is Grade II listed. The railway station opened in 1910 as Squirrels Heath & Gidea Park. Since 1969, it bears the name of the area it serves. The station is also a stop for several London buses.
St Michael and All Angels Church in Gidea Park was established in 1938. The area is an ecclesiastical district since 1931. Royal Liberty School was the first school in the UK, and maybe Europe as well, to have an electronic computer. Notable former pupils include musician Graham Bond, politician Arthur Latham, actor Doug Fisher, and cricketer Ken Farnes. Gidea Park is home to the Romford Hockey Club established in 1920. Gidea Park has two public parks Lodge Farm Park and Raphael Park. Romford Bowls Club is based at Lodge Farm Park. There are several pubs and restaurants in the area.