Ardleigh Green Explained

Country:England
Region:London
Official Name:Ardleigh Green
Coordinates:51.5833°N 0.2165°W
Os Grid Reference:TQ535895
London Borough:Havering
Postcode Area:RM
Postcode District:RM11
Post Town:HORNCHURCH
Dial Code:01708
Constituency Westminster:Hornchurch and Upminster
Charingx Distance Mi:15.5
Charingx Direction:WSW

Ardleigh Green is an area in east London, England, within the London Borough of Havering. It is 15.5miles east-northeast of Charing Cross. This part of London is predominantly residential.

History

Toponymy

The place is an enlargement of a hamlet of (within the parish of) Hornchurch, known only as Hardley Green in various orthographies (written forms) until at least the early 17th century.[1] With various hamlets, Hornchurch, Havering(-atte-Bower) and Romford formed not a Hundred (division of a county for minor purposes) but a liberty, the Liberty of Havering. For many centuries the three old churches of these places remained of chapel and chapelry administrative status only, as the liberty matched the area of the ancient parish of Hornchurch, which provided a substantial living (benefice, of capital and income for the parish priest) in the church.

The first written name Haddeleye and all later forms evidence a clear corruption or natural progression of an older form, meaning "heath clearing" or perhaps more specifically "clearing [in the] heather" from the Old English hæth and lēah. It was last referred to as "Hardley Green" in 1883, so appearing in that year's Ordnance Survey map.[2]

Geography

Ardleigh Green has a small set of shops. The area naturally drains to form the headwaters of a stream, The Ravensbourne which briefly flows, before joining the River Rom.

Transport

The nearest railway stations are, and . There are London Bus services to Hornchurch, Gidea Park and Romford.

Education

See main article: article and List of schools in Havering. Ardleigh Green has a combined junior and primary school, as well as Havering College of Further and Higher Education.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Powell. W.R.. A History of the County of Essex: Volume 7. 2 January 2012.
  2. Book: Mills, A.D.. A Dictionary of London Place-Names. Oxford University Press. 2010. 9780199566785. 8.