From the 1860s to the 1930s
One of those who contributed to the Building Fund was Mrs. Verbeke, who lived at Aldborough Grange, a mansion which stood on the south corner where Applegarth Drive meets Aldborough Road North, opposite St.Peter's Church. The houses that were built in the 1930s to the east of Aldborough Road North and north of the Eastern Avenue were part of the Aldborough Grange Estate. A leaflet produced by Suburban Developments (London) Limited advertised their 'Type C Improved' houses: 'Come and live here! You'll be happy and house-proud. The Aldborough Grange Estate is 30 minutes from London by London North Eastern Railway (LNER) to Newbury Park Station. Get out at Newbury Park and the Estate is a few minutes' walk along the Ilford to Southend Road. Open country right at the doors; the seaside less than an hour by coach; Ilford's great shopping centres close by. Everything for everybody!'

Centre houses were priced from £695 and with a brick built garage the price went up to £780. '£35 deposit and you take possession!' said the leaflet, adding that: 'There's nothing shoddy about these houses - everything is modern and of the best'.
 

(Top left) Aldborough Hall in 1911. The Painter family were in residence from the 1860s until the first World War - and presented the organ to St. Peter's.

(Top right) Aldborough Grange from a water colour by A.B. Bamford. It dated back to at least 1700 and stood on the corner of Aldborough Road North and Applegarth Drive, opposite
St. Peter's.

(Bottom left) A smithy is shown on the 1895 map opposite Aldborough Hall. Kelly's
'Directory of Essex' shows T.H. Smith in occupation in 1895.

(Bottom right) This old footpath across Seven Kings Water in more rural days is the one
from the Bury and Great Newburys Farm to Little Heath or the one southward from
Aldborough Hatch.

<< back to page 3 <<

back to top