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Known as Heybridge in the 16th century, Abridge RM4 was a key location on the road that connected London to the market town of Chipping Ongar. It was the place where the stagecoach crossed the Roding River. Local attractions include several medieval buildings that have been turned into pubs and restaurants. The most famous are the Roding Restaurant and Maltsters Arms. The Blue Boar Inn is one of the listed buildings.
Stapleford Aerodrome is an active general aviation airfield situated in the district of Epping Forest in Essex, adjacent to the town of Abridge. It is approximately 5.2 miles or 8.3 km (4.5 nautical miles) north of Romford and 3.9 miles or 6.3 km (3.4 nautical miles) south of North Weald Airfield.
The aerodrome is just inside the M25 motorway, near the intersection of the M11. It has a shorter grass runway 10/28 and 2 parallel runways 03/21, one of which is partially asphalt on one side. Lambourne VOR is situated at the south end of Stapleford Aerodrome.
The privately owned Stapleford Flight Centre is located in the airfield and has a fleet of more than 40 planes. The centre has been training pilots for ATPL, PPL and CPL qualifications for over 40 years now. Other businesses on the site offer aircraft engineering and business charter services and London sightseeing flight tours.