Tuesday 1 April marks the 60th anniversary of the merger of Wanstead & Woodford Borough Council with Ilford Borough Council to make Redbridge. It was also the change which moved Wanstead from being part of Essex to become part of Greater London.
One of the options considered for the reorganisation, apparently favoured by some residents of Wanstead and Woodford, was to merge with Leyton rather than Ilford. Various configurations were considered, and in 1962 the Woodford Times ran a competition to name the new borough. Entrants included “Chiglewanwood” (for Chigwell, Wanstead, Woodford), “Wanton” (Wanstead and Leyton) and “Wilfred” (for Wanstead/Woodford and Ilford).
Strangely after 60 years many houses and business, particularly in Woodford & Ilford which don’t use an E postcode, still insist on putting Essex as part of their address.
For example this is one address on Redbridge Council’s own website!!
Electoral Registration Officer
London Borough of Redbridge
Town Hall
High Road
Ilford
Essex
IG1 1DD
They have got lovely smooth roads in Ilford!