The Knowhere Guide

Other Stuff in Ilford, Essex*

Ilford, Essex Stuff You Don't Get Anywhere Else

The Stuff We Can't Fit In Somewhere Else

• I moved to Ilford with my family in 1979, when I was just five, and lived there for twenty years. A lot has changed - most obviously the pedestrianisation of the High Road, and the building of the Exchange shopping centre. Although thse changes brought Ilford up to date, and probably brought some shoppers back from Romford, I think that it has gradually become just another dull urban area. Along with this has come a creeping apathy towards civic pride which unfortunately seems to be overtaking too many towns. I think what depressed me most was when a bouncer at the Island was shot dead, apparently randomly. Shortly afterwards the place where I'd had most fun in Ilford was closed. Sorry if I sound like a Daily Mail reader (I'm definitely not one!) Maybe I'm just getting old.
• I hope Loxford Comp still exists - I waited for years and years for a mixed school to be built (to merge Mount Girls and Loxford Boys) and I left before it happened (that was in 1966!). And yes, I was there with Miss Fordham and her Greensleeves, bless her! Who remembers Miss White, Miss Waterman and Co? And what about that dreadful pong from Howards Chemicals next door? It's a wonder I've reached 50! I haven't been back to Ilford for years (left in 1967) and now live in Canterbury (Garden of England don't ya know), but I still love telling people I'm an Essex Girl - I even had a pair of white stilletos once (circa 1963).
• Does Loxford Comp still exist? I went there and hated every minute of it meet some nice people though 1975 -79
• [One day a resident of Ilford will wander along with some current information, but in the meantime here are some impressions from the ex-pat sons and daughters of the place:]
  Ilford's on the eastern edge of London, between Manor Park and Romford. I'd estimate the population at around 250,000. It's a typical London suburb, crowded and noisy but lots of character. It's only real claim to fame was the Ilford Film company, but that's moved - can't even boast a professional football team.
  It's been thirty years since I lived in Ilford so my impression of places of interest may no longer be valid. However, as previously mentioned it does have a nice park, Valentines Park which is quite large and picturesque. The downtown area has been completely remodeled through the exclusion of traffic and the construction of an indoor shopping mall and outdoor pedestrian shopping area.
  The only night life I know of is a night club on top of the Harrison and Gibsons department store appropiately called Room at the Top. Not sure if it's still there. My own haunt was a pub called The Bell in Ley Street, more because of its nearness to my work location than for any riveting attraction. Ilford is located on the Liverpool Street - Southend line of British Rail Eastern Region.
  • That nightclub on top of Harrisson Gibsons IS still there - it is now called The Penthouse (or at least it was when I left!!). My sister had her Wedding reception there about eight years ago!!
  • My husband and I are from Ilford and what a great place, the best thing is my Mum, who lives there and is 80; the worst thing is what used to be called the Ilford Palais! We now live in Bermuda but often visit Ilford! Since being away from Ilford they have built a large shopping centre called the Exchange which is brilliant and has all the shops you could wish for. Valentines Park is a beautiful park and my husband used to watch Essex Cricket Club play there. It's a lovely park and boasts a swimming pool, tennis courts, cafeteria, boating lake and playground. Many summers were spent there in our innocent childhood!
  • Seems that Ilford exports people. I used to live there until 1980, Now I live in Canada, but always visit when I get back to Blighty, about twice a year. Good things are communications with London - the underground, at Gants Hill, or the mainline at Ilford. There are lots of accomodation to choose from, from one-room bedsits up to nice self-contained flats. Possible to live in a quiet street, but walk to all the shops that you could want, or travel "up to town" easily. Going the other way it is not too far to some real nice pubs in the country. I live in Ottawa, now, in Canada. Often think back to good times in Ilford. Seems like we should organise an expats re-union!
  • My husband and I are originally from Ilford. I was brought up in Seven Kings and he in Redbridge. The best thing for me growing up in Ilford was the parks and wide open spaces.The shopping centre is wonderful and the variety of things you can buy in Ilford is incredible. Ilford is multi cultural and has many races in it's makeup, Whites,Blacks,Indians Jews,Irish,Polish, Greek and many more. There used to be a Library on Goodmayes High road where my sisters and I spent alot of time. It was closed down when Ilford's new High Tech library opened. I still miss it. Seven Kings used to have a bus terminal that was a strong memory for me as a child because the terminal was right at the end of Blythswood Road where we used to live and the buses would come down our road to turn around. We have not lived in Ilford for about five or six years bit we both have family and good friends who live in Ilford and it's environs. I don't think I can say anything bad about Ilford the town I love. We should have a reunion for all expats from Ilford who are around the world. Much love to everyone who knows The Hunters.

The Knowhere Guide started out as a list of places to skateboard in the UK. It is a compilation of (unedited) information and views supplied by users like yourself. It is not a conventional tourist guide!

In most cases, the information in each section has been submitted by more than one contributor (the credits at the bottom of the page list some, but not all, of the contributors) and some of it dates back to the 1970s.

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Credits

Last updated: 2008-06-11