Village to Suburb: 1890 -1910

Village to Suburb: 1890 -1910

Between 1890 and 1910, Ilford was transformed from a small Essex village into a suburb of London.

Farms and fields were replaced by thousands of new houses. Fast, regular trains made the area a desirable place for City commuters and workers. The population grew rapidly.

Around Ilford Lane, schools, shops, parks, churches, a theatre, a cinema, sports and social clubs were built to serve these new communities. The Howards chemical factory and Ilford Limited photography company provided local employment.

Ilford Lane

In 1879, the Clements estate which faced the High Road was sold. This led to house building on the north-eastern side of Ilford Lane, including Albert Road and Cleveland Road.

Between 1897 and 1900, Uphall Farm to the west of Ilford Lane was sold for housing and the construction of Howards chemical factory.

In 1896, most of Loxford Hall’s land was sold, leading to house building on the eastern side of Ilford Lane from 1901. Loxford Hall itself remained a small farm until 1922 when its land was sold to Ilford Council a year later for allotments (which opened in 1926) and the building of Loxford Park in 1932. Around this time, new houses were built to the west of the Park from Brockenhurst Gardens to Southbourne Gardens.

Ilford Lane, looking north, about 1902 Redbridge Heritage Centre p3614

Ilford Lane, looking south, about 1902 Redbridge Heritage Centre p4054

These two photographs show Ilford Lane on the cusp of change. In the first, the photographer is looking north up to the top of Ilford Lane, with the junction of Ilford Hill and the Broadway in the distance. Roden Street can be seen on the left. The Hope pub is the taller building in centre of the row of shops.

The second photograph (looking south) shows the buildings at the top of Ilford Lane, including the Hope pub. The weather-boarded shop looks ancient and housed a shaving saloon.

All of these were demolished in 1907 when the Ilford Hippodrome variety theatre was built at the top of Ilford Hill and the Broadway. The Hope pub was also rebuilt. During the Second World War, the Hippodrome was badly damaged by a V2 rocket on 12 January 1945 and was demolished in 1957. Offices, shops, and a new pub, ‘The Hope Revived’, was built on the site.

Ilford Lane, looking north, Kingston Road is on the right, about 1920

Redbridge Heritage Centre p25

By the time of this photograph, much of Ilford Lane had been developed for shops or housing. A tram to Barking can be seen in this photograph. Ilford Council ran electric trams from 1903 to 1933. They carried commuters to train stations, and shoppers to and from Ilford. In 1933, the service was taken over by the London Passenger Transport Board. In 1938, trams were replaced by trolleybuses and in 1959, these were replaced by motor buses.

Hovis sign, 2025

Redbridge Museum

Amazingly, the advertising sign for Hovis bread, painted on the gable end wall of Cutmore the bakers which can be seen on the far left of the 1920 photograph, still survives in 2025.

Barking Lane to Ilford Lane

In recognition of its huge growth, Ilford became a separate parish in 1888 and was given its own council in 1894. Previously it had been governed from Barking. As a sign of the growing importance of Ilford, Barking Lane’s name was changed to ‘Ilford Lane’ in 1899-1900.