Category: Wansteadium

Planning applications have been made to install an illuminated advert box outside the Lighthouse fish shop. The plan would include a defibrillator and new phone, though not in a phone box.

The application, under reference 3950/22 recognises the Wanstead Village Conservation Area status, and includes this statement:

The proposed Communication Hub and advertising display is undeniably a modern intervention, but its impact upon the character and appearance of this part of the conservation area would be less than substantial. This form of development would not be seen as a wholly inappropriate addition to the principally commercial setting of Wanstead’s High Street where there are other examples of modern alterations and interventions. In such an evidently commercial environment the public is used to and expects to see a range of commercial images, which serve to enhance the shopping experience and influence the character of the area.

Comments are open on the application until 26 January.

We asked the following questions:

There’s a part of Wanstead that is forever Waterloo. Where is it?

• Lots of entries suggested Nelson Road or Wellesley Road. The answer we were looking for, though, was the plinth on which Churchill’s bust sits outside The Bull, which used to be a cornerstone of the old Waterloo Bridge. (See more here.)

Parakeets are common in Wanstead. But they are not the most exotic creatures ever seen here. Where, exactly, was Wanstead’s menagerie?

• The answer is the Temple in Wanstead Park, as highlighted by historian Hannah Armstrong in her Wanstead Fringe talk last year.

A register of historic sites which are at risk was published this year. It mentioned five spots in Wanstead: Wanstead Park, St Mary’s, Christ Church, the Grotto and one other. What was it?

• The answer is the Garden Temple in the garden of Temple House in The Avenue. (See more here.) We feel like we need to know more about this.

So here’s the shocking news. There were no completely correct entries. Matt was closest, so we’re prepared to share bragging rights with him. Thank you for everyone who took part.

Redbridge is considering an application to put a 20-metre 5G telecoms mast on the grass verge at the end of St Mary’s Avenue, opposite St Mary’s Church – the borough’s only grade 1 listed building.

The plan includes cabinets on the grass and a paved area, as indicated on the images from the plans below. The mast would be five metres higher than the trees on the avenue and would be the next tallest thing beside the church’s clock tower.

The current church was finished in the late 18th Century, though earlier churches had been there from the 1200s. It is accepted as being one of the finest Georgian churches in London.

The application seems not to have been widely noticed, but public observations on it need to be submitted by 30 December. Details can be found at this address on the Redbridge site under reference 3919/22.

Ideal conditions this year for the Wanstead Yuletide constitutional. Once again, the place to be seen, complete with new items of outerwear. And thankfully the wildfowl were there too to share the occasion.

We omitted to mention this before Christmas, but much kudos to Daisy’s the florist which once again provided a slap-up Christmas lunch for users of the Alan Burgess Centre. Our correspondent Sue writes:

The kindness of Daisy’s Florist is overwhelming. This lovely couple again paid for Christmas lunch and gifts this week, for around forty over 55’s, at the Allan Burgess Centre (Age Concern).

As we all know, this is a very tough time for many of us, and the High Street businesses are also suffering. So a very big “Thank You!” to Daisy’s, whose kind and community spirited gesture was very much appreciated!

This year’s Christmas quiz has three questions. Send your answers by filling in the form below. The winner will win enormous amounts of street cred. No Googling. Answers will come on New Year’s Eve.

There’s a part of Wanstead that is forever Waterloo. Where is it?

Parakeets are common in Wanstead. But they are not the most exotic creatures ever seen here. Where, exactly, was Wanstead’s menagerie?

A register of historic sites which are at risk was published this year. It mentioned five spots in Wanstead: Wanstead Park, St Mary’s, Christ Church, the Grotto and one other. What was it?

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