Romford
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Template:Infobox London place Romford is a town in East London, England. It is the principal town of the London Borough of Havering and located 14.1 miles (22.7 km) east north-east of Charing Cross.
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History
Romford has been a market town since 1247, and it holds the exclusive right to hold markets over an area of radius "six and two thirds miles" centred on Romford, a right granted in mediæval times but successfully used to prevent nearby Ilford from opening a market as recently as the 1990s. Romford shopping centre grew up around the original marketplace, on the line of the old Roman road from London to Colchester.
The Liberty Shopping Centre has recently been expanded and modernised by the Romford Revival program in order to compete with out-of-town shopping centres such as the Lakeside Shopping Centre in Essex and Bluewater Shopping Centre in Kent. A large swimming pool and leisure center called The Dolphin which closed in 1995 was recently demolished to make way for further expansion of the shopping centre and the addition of 230 modern flats and apartments.
The town has been associated with a ford over a small stream which flows through it, now known as the River Rom, a 'back-formation' from the name of the town. The name 'Romford' most likely derives from early English 'rúm ford', meaning 'wide or roomy ford'.
Politics
Romford was created an urban district of Essex in 1894. In 1937 it became the Municipal Borough of Romford which in 1965 was transferred to Greater London and became part of the London Borough of Havering. It is part of the Romford constituency and the Havering and Redbridge London Assembly constituency.
Transport
Romford railway station is on the Great Eastern Main Line and is served by regular stopping, and occasionally fast, services to Liverpool Street in the City. Romford is a hub on the London Bus network with services to places such as Stratford, Leytonstone and Dagenham as well as feeder services from the large housing developments which surround it such as Collier Row and Harold Hill.
It is planned that Romford will be served by a future extension of the East London Transit.
Sport and leisure
Romford is home to the Romford Raiders ice hockey team, who play at the Romford Ice Arena.
Nearest places
- Chadwell Heath, London, England
- Collier Row, London, England
- Elm Park, London, England
- Gidea Park, London, England
- Hornchurch, London, England
Nearest railway stations
See also
External links
- Romford Now and Then — a visual guide to Romford and its history
- RomfordHistory — an associated mailing list