Coldharbour, Havering Explained

Country:England
Official Name:Coldharbour
Coordinates:51.4913°N 0.1882°W
London Borough:Havering
Region:London
Constituency Westminster:Dagenham and Rainham
Post Town:RAINHAM
Postcode District:RM13
Postcode Area:RM
Dial Code:01708
Os Grid Reference:TQ525785
Static Image Name:Coldharbour Light - geograph.org.uk - 49366.jpg
Static Image Caption:Coldharbour Point on the River Thames

Coldharbour is an area of the London Borough of Havering by the River Thames and southwest of the Rainham Marshes Nature Reserve. It is the location of Coldharbour Point, where there has been a lighthouse since 1885. This point is adjacent to the town of Erith in Bexley, across the Thames. The nearest accessible settlement on land is the town of Rainham, which is connected by Coldharbour Lane; the village of Wennington is also nearby but not accessible by road (both are separated by the A13 and marshlands). The area around the point is mainly industrial land known as the Freightmaster Estate depot. The London Loop passes through Coldharbour on its way east to Purfleet in Thurrock.

History

Coldharbour was an estate primarily in the ancient parish of Wennington. It included Little Coldharbour (also partly in Rainham), Coldharbour Point and Great Coldharbour. It was originally a marsh island.[1]

A ferry (known as the 'short ferry' in contrast to the 'long ferry' to London) operating from Coldharbour Point to Erith (then in Kent) on the southern bank of the Thames existed from the Middle Ages until the 19th century. Plaques entitled 'Pilgrim Ferry' commemorate this in Coldharbour and Erith.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Wennington | British History Online.