Did you know that...
In the 11th century, the Domesday Book mentions Ilford IG1 as Ilefort. This means ford over the Hyle, which is the old name of the River Roding. The area was also known as Great Ilford.
A complete skull of a mammoth was discovered here in the 19th century. The finding was unearthed where the Boots the Chemist store is now located.
Uphall Camp is an Iron Age earthwork. This shows that the area was inhabited since early times. John Logie Baird, inventor and TV pioneer, lived in Ilford IG1.
Ilford is a huge East London suburban town and commuter district situated 14.6 km (9.1 miles) east of Charing Cross. It is also Redbridge borough’s administrative center and bordered by Epping Forest to the north, Barking to the south, Stratford to the West End and the west, and Romford to the east. Ilford is recognized as a municipal hub in the London Plan and categorized as a major retail and commercial center for England’s wider southeast side.
Serving the town is Ilford railway station located in Travelcard Zone 4 on the Great Eastern Main Line. Newbury Park and Gants Hill are situated in Ilford’s north side and served by the London Underground’s Central line. The town is a center of the London Buses transport system, with trips to central London and several districts. The initial phase of the East London Transit starts at Ilford.
Notable people who were born or have lived in the area include author Nina Bawden, The Stranglers’ drummer Jet Black, actor Ian Holm, actress Jane Leeves, TV and film screenwriter Geoffrey Orme, and computer game designer Jon Hare.