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Ilford Historical Society

@ilfordhistory.bsky.social
143 followers 123 following 124 posts

The Bluesky account for the Ilford Historical Society. Posts by @ColinRuneckles Website: ilfordhistoricalsociety.weebly.com

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Ilford Historical Society @ilfordhistory.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Our next meeting is next Monday 12th October when - after a hopefully brief AGM - our President Jef Page will be talking about the very topical subject of 1066 & the Bayeux Tapestry. 7 for 7:15pm start (AGM) in the Gloucester Room, 1st floor of the Central Library in Ilford.
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Redbridge Museum & Heritage Centre @redbridgemuseum.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
It's National Poetry Day - let's revisit this light-hearted poem about the work of Air Raid Precaution Wardens in Wanstead during the Second World War 👇
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Redbridge Museum & Heritage Centre @redbridgemuseum.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Today is National Sporting Heritage Day. This photo from our collection shows the ladies team at Wanstead Cricket Club in about 1890🏏 #NSHD2026 #SportingHeritage @sportingheritage.bsky.social
Black and white photograph of a group of women wearing white Edwardian dresses and hats and holding cricket bats.
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Dr Colin Runeckles @colinruneckles.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
I'm doing a walk! The Ilford Garden Suburb arose out of the Valentines Estate between 1909-1912. A talk about how Emerson Road got its name in Valentines Mansion, and then I'll lead everyone around the roads and talk about it all. Two weeks today. www.ticketsource.com/friends-of-v...
ticketsource.com
"The Inspiration of Emerson at Valentines; a Talk & Guided Walk" at Valentines Mansion & Gardens
Tickets are now available for The Inspiration of Emerson at Valentines; a Talk & Guided Walk at Valentines Mansion & Gardens, Ilford on Tuesday 13th October 2026 at 2:00PM. Click the link for further...
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Redbridge Museum & Heritage Centre @redbridgemuseum.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
For World Heart Day, a lesson on the heart for nurses at King George Hospital in Newbury Park, about 1960 🫀
Black and white photograph of nurses sat at desks in a classroom while another nurse gestures to an anatomical model of the cardiovascular system in the human body. On the blackboard is a labelled drawing of the heart.
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Redbridge Museum & Heritage Centre @redbridgemuseum.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
A classic view of Ilford High Street on this postcard from our collection, postmarked 28 September 1910. On the far left is The Angel Hotel, once a popular stop for travellers between London and Essex. You can still see the inn’s exterior close to Boots – just look up!
Postcard with a colourised photograph of Ilford High Street from the top of the road.Reverse of postcard showing address of someone in Yokohama, Japan, with Ilford and Japanese postmarks.
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ianVisits @ianvisits.co.uk · 24/09/2026
ianvisits.co.uk
Paying a visit to Valentines Mansion and Gardens
Some 330 years ago, an Archbishop’s widow built a manor house in the countryside a day's ride from London, but today it’s a few minutes' walk from a tube station, and open to visit twice a week.
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Ilford Historical Society @ilfordhistory.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
I was out last night so just catching up with the first of the three Antiques Roadshows from Valentines Mansion. And who have we here but the IHS' very own Vice-President Georgina Green! A great source of information about practically everything but particularly on Charles Raymond.
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Redbridge Museum & Heritage Centre @redbridgemuseum.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
The men and boys in this photograph from our collection are ‘beating the bounds’ of Ilford, on this day in 1911. This was an ancient tradition where local people walked in procession around the periphery of the town or parish, hitting markers along the way to remember its physical boundaries.
Black and white photograph of a large group of men and young boys in Edwardian dress standing on the edge of a road holding long narrow boughs of wood.
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Ilford Historical Society @ilfordhistory.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
The first talk in the new season is by Beth Cody who will be speaking on the subject of local people on the Titanic. Monday 14th Sept 2026 @ 7 for 7:30pm in the Gloucester Room, Redbridge Central Library. £3 for visitors.
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Redbridge Museum & Heritage Centre @redbridgemuseum.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
🔗 Find out more about the impact of wartime bombing on the local area in our short film 'Redbridge and the Second World War': www.youtube.com/watch?v=LC6z...
youtube.com
Redbridge and the Second World War
Using the collections of Redbridge Museum & Heritage Centre, this film explores the Second World War in Ilford, Wanstead and Woodford in what is now the London Borough of Redbridge. Contents: 00:00…
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Redbridge Museum & Heritage Centre @redbridgemuseum.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
On this day in 1940, the Blitz began – a fierce bombing campaign by German aeroplanes flying over Britain from September 1940 to May 1941. Here, residents of Green Lane, Ilford, enjoy breakfast in their garden the morning after an air raid on 11 September 1940. No injuries were reported.
Black and white photo of a group of people sat or stood in a garden with cups of tea. In the background are a row of houses with visible damage to the roofs and exterior walls.
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Redbridge Museum & Heritage Centre @redbridgemuseum.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Back to school this week for pupils across Redbridge – enjoy the start of the new term! 📸: Maths class in session at the Gregg School on Oakfield Road, Ilford, about 1952
Black and white photo of teenaged school pupils busy working at their desks while a teacher leans over a desk to help a pupil
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Redbridge Museum & Heritage Centre @redbridgemuseum.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
How many friends or family can you pile onto one large tree stump today? This group managed seven at Valentines Park, Ilford, on this day in 1912! 🌳 Enjoy the bank holiday!
Faded black and white oval-shaped photo of seven people in Edwardian clothing perched on a large tree stump with fields and trees in the background.
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Redbridge Museum & Heritage Centre @redbridgemuseum.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Happy National Dog Day from local soldier Ron Harrison and this sweet pup, taken in July 1946 when Ron was with the Royal Fusiliers in Germany 🐶 🔗 Find out more about local soldiers’ experiences of war in our exhibition ‘Redbridge and the Second World War’, ending this weekend: vrcl.uk/museum-ww2
Black and white photo of a soldier standing in a field looking down at a small puppy that he's holding in both hands.Poster for Redbridge Museum’s ‘Redbridge and the Second World War’ exhibition featuring a black and white photograph of two Air Raid Precaution wardens wearing gas masks
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Ilford Historical Society @ilfordhistory.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
As far as I can tell, very few of the early OS maps of the area are online at NLS...but here's one I found. So, north of where the Eastern Avenue is now, from Barkingside Lane (Cranbrook Road now) to Bluehouse Farm which was on Barley Lane. Have fun wandering around... maps.nls.uk/view/104190578
maps.nls.uk
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Ilford Historical Society @ilfordhistory.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
I never fail to find something in the British Newspaper Archive when I'm looking for something else entirely...a diploma for cooking with currants?
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Redbridge Museum & Heritage Centre @redbridgemuseum.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
Not long left to visit our exhibition on Redbridge & the Second World War! Come along to see it, then join us to make and take away your own wartime Spitfire plane craft! 📅 Tuesday 18 August 2026 🕚 12:00-16:00 (drop in anytime) 📍 Redbridge Heritage Centre 🔗 visionrcl.org.uk/events/speedy-spitfires
Poster for Redbridge Museum's Speedy Spitfires event on Tuesday 18 August 2026
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Redbridge Museum & Heritage Centre @redbridgemuseum.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
You can’t quite see them here but the church was fitted out with child-sized pews for the Barnardo’s girls! Visit Redbridge Museum to find out more about the history of Barnardo’s in the local area: visionrcl.org.uk/museum
visionrcl.org.uk
Redbridge Museum | Vision RCL
Redbridge Museum & Heritage Centre is the local museum and archive service for the London Borough of Redbridge.
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Redbridge Museum & Heritage Centre @redbridgemuseum.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Our #EYASurprise for August was to discover we had missed July’s theme of #EYAArchitecture with a great offering after a visit from the @barnardos.org.uk Archives to view this plan of the Church in the Girl’s Village Home, Barkingside, 1892. @exploreyourarchive.bsky.social
Photo of a building plan for the Children’s Church at Barnardo’s Girls’ Village Home
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Ilford Historical Society @ilfordhistory.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
*** New from the IHS *** Our programme for 2026/27 has been finalised as per the attached. First meeting on Monday 14th September 2026. Membership is £15 (or £20 for two people at the same address). The form can be found at the link below. ilfordhistoricalsociety.weebly.com/membership.h...
Ilford Historical Society
Programme for 2026/27
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Ilford Historical Society @ilfordhistory.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
*** New from the IHS *** Our programme for 2026/27 has been finalised as per the attached. First meeting on Monday 14th September 2026. Membership is £15 (or £20 for two people at the same address). The form can be found at the link below. ilfordhistoricalsociety.weebly.com/membership.h...
Ilford Historical Society
Programme for 2026/27
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Ilford Historical Society @ilfordhistory.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
@dcaw77.bsky.social asked if there was any info on derivation of road names in Wanstead (at some point I might do the same for Ilford). I might know of some more but need to check. These are from old Wanstead HS newsletters.
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Ilford Historical Society @ilfordhistory.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Ever wondered where the name of Addison Road in Barkingside comes from? Here's your answer...
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Ancestral Enquiries - Tony Smith 🌳 @ancestralenq.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Great news. A new series of A House Through Time is back with David Olusoga on BBC2 at 9pm on Thursday 13th August featuring a property in Edinburgh.
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Redbridge Museum & Heritage Centre @redbridgemuseum.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
ENDING SOON: Redbridge and the Second World War Just one month left to visit our exhibition marking the 80the anniversary of the end of the Second World War. 📅 Until Sunday 30 August 2026 📍 First floor, Redbridge Central Library, Ilford 🎟️ Free admission 🔗 vrcl.uk/museum-ww2
Poster for Redbridge Museum’s ‘Redbridge and the Second World War’ exhibition featuring a black and white photograph of two Air Raid Precaution wardens wearing gas masks
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Ilford Historical Society @ilfordhistory.bsky.social · 25/07/2026
We're currently finalising our August newsletter but until then, here's April's! Articles on Dorothy Lockwood, the new Redbridge Museum & Heritage Centre, Festival of Britain 1951, Montague Burton, and more. ilfordhistoricalsociety.weebly.com/uploads/1/1/...
ilfordhistoricalsociety.weebly.com
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Ilford Historical Society @ilfordhistory.bsky.social · 18/07/2026
I'm still working on understanding of the Uphall Farm sale(s) but a FB post about Howard & Sons chemical works opened c.1899 along Uphall Road got me looking at newspapers...and I found this. So they moved to Ilford because of the high rates that West Ham charged?
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Ilford Historical Society @ilfordhistory.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
OK, I couldn't resist. I'm now listing all the people who are in the crypt at the Ilford Hospital Chapel, and will start to look at what we know about them. A few names leap out - William Rose for example, buried in June 1847. I already know how Rose, a brewer on Ilford Hill, died.
Burials in the crypt of the Ilford Hospital ChapelDescription of the accident that befell William Rose in 1847.
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Redbridge Museum & Heritage Centre @redbridgemuseum.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
The Ilford Hospital Carnival took place on this day in 1907. It was a major event in the early 20th century where hundreds dressed up and walked – or rode – in procession through Ilford to raise funds for the Ilford Emergency Hospital (now King George Hospital).
Black and white photo of a parade of horses pulling carts down a street carrying elaborately decorated displays
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Ilford Historical Society @ilfordhistory.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
A few pics from yesterday's visit to the Ilford Hospital Chapel. I'm now wondering whether to look into the backgrounds of those from Gt. Ilford who were buried in the crypt and who are on the list...
Ilford Hospital Chapel
11th July 2026
Photo by meIlford Hospital Chapel
11th July 2026
Photo by meIlford Hospital Chapel
11th July 2026
Photo by meIlford Hospital Chapel
11th July 2026
Photo by me
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Ilford Historical Society @ilfordhistory.bsky.social · 11/07/2026
Today!
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Redbridge Museum & Heritage Centre @redbridgemuseum.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
Big fans (sorry) of the interesting and varied designs of these fans in the Museum collection 🌬️ Remember to keep cool indoors and out today!
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Ilford Historical Society @ilfordhistory.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
There have been a number of stories recently about cleaning up the River Roding. And it reminded me of an exchange in court which I used for a recent article about a libel case between two Ilford men.
Daily Mirror
30th November 1904

"What is the Roding?" asked counsel
Mr Philpot : "It is a stinking river of Ilford"
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Ilford Historical Society @ilfordhistory.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
A reminder that Ilford Hospital Chapel on Ilford Hill has an Open Day this Saturday, 11th July from 10:00am to 2:00pm. Admission free. Guided tours available Refreshments Wheelchair access Come and have a look around Ilford's oldest building!
Ilford Hospital Chapel
Ilford Hill
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Ilford Historical Society @ilfordhistory.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
I can't say I've unearthed something quite as exciting as this when volunteering at @redbridgemuseum.bsky.social but I've had a few that made me sit up a bit. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Rare copy of US Declaration of Independence found by volunteer in UK archives
The newly discovered copy is one of only 11 of its kind in the world.
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Redbridge Museum & Heritage Centre @redbridgemuseum.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
A museum that rivals ours! Thanks and well done to Glade Primary School who invited our Education Officer to see a fantastic showcase of artwork, creative writing and models created by pupils following their visits to Redbridge Museum this year. We loved seeing your creativity brought to life!
Photo of a selection of photographic prints showing a school building, playground and sports field laid out on a tablePhoto of three displays of 'Past', 'Present' and 'Future' with Polaroid prints, drawings and comments written on speech bubble cut-outsPhoto of an artwork of a mammoth made of brown furPhoto of a classroom wall display with posters made by pupils on topics related to the 1950s
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Redbridge Museum & Heritage Centre @redbridgemuseum.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
Happy first day of Wimbledon 🎾 📸: Girls playing on the tennis lawn at the Infant Orphan Asylum, Snaresbrook, about 1909
Black and white photo of a group of girls wearing long dark sailor-style dresses playing tennis on a lawn with trees in the background
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Ilford Historical Society @ilfordhistory.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
Hard to believe now but there used to be a nursery in the middle of Ilford in Cranbrook Road. Greenhouses were installed by Stearn & Co in 1906, and then run by the manager Russell Daniels in his own name from c.1920. It was replaced by shops & offices in the mid-1950s.
Russell Daniels Nursery at 52-58 Cranbrook Road (old numbering)Russell Daniels Nursery at 52-58 Cranbrook Road (old numbering)Russell Daniels Nursery at 52-58 Cranbrook Road (old numbering)Shops & offices which replaced the nursery in Cranbrook Road.
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Redbridge Museum & Heritage Centre @redbridgemuseum.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
In 2001, Redbridge Museum interviewed Ken about his career as a referee. Find out more in our Moving Stories section: visionrcl.org.uk/museum
visionrcl.org.uk
Redbridge Museum | Vision RCL
Redbridge Museum & Heritage Centre is the local museum and archive service for the London Borough of Redbridge.
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Redbridge Museum & Heritage Centre @redbridgemuseum.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
A special spotlight on Ken Aston of Barkingside who introduced the red and yellow card system in football for the 1970 World Cup in Mexico 🟥🟨 Ken was Headteacher of Newbury Park Primary School in Ilford but enjoyed a long career as a referee and managed the referees at the 1966 World Cup.
Close-up of a display at Redbridge Museum showing a red card, yellow card, referee's whistle, and England mascot World Cup Willie keyring
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Redbridge Museum & Heritage Centre @redbridgemuseum.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
This Windrush Day, discover the stories of Redbridge’s Windrush generation in our short film ‘Memories of Windrush’, featuring oral histories from our collection. Watch now: www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYC1... 📸: The Byer family from Barbados, c.1959
Black and white photo of a West Indian family sat on a park bench
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Redbridge Museum & Heritage Centre @redbridgemuseum.bsky.social · 20/06/2026
Secretly wishing we could take out our perfect 1950s picnic set this weekend for #NationalPicnicWeek! 🧺
Photo of a picnic set for two in a patterned yellow travel case complete with cutlery, plates, containers and flasks
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Ilford Historical Society @ilfordhistory.bsky.social · 13/06/2026
A postcard put up on a Facebook group (thank you Paul Rooza) reminded me of the articles that myself and Georgina Green wrote about the Ilford Lodge Estate and its development. Why is there a difference between those shops? Find out here! ilfordhistoricalsociety.weebly.com/uploads/1/1/...
Cranbrook Road, Ilford
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Ilford Historical Society @ilfordhistory.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
These episodes of Antiques Roadshow are going to be 'must watch' when they are aired! IHS VP Georgina Green in the third pic as well as Nishat and Gerard from the @redbridgemuseum.bsky.social
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Ilford Historical Society @ilfordhistory.bsky.social · 06/06/2026
A reminder that our Newsletters going back to 2011 (it will be further back once I get round to uploading earlier ones!) are available to read on our website. Just pick a year (or two) and start reading! ilfordhistoricalsociety.weebly.com/newsletters-...
ilfordhistoricalsociety.weebly.com
Newsletters & Articles
Ilford Historical Society
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Redbridge Museum & Heritage Centre @redbridgemuseum.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
Holy cow! We missed World Milk Day! 🐄🥛 Carts are being filled with milk churns ready for delivery in this photo of the Short Horn Dairy on Roden Street, Ilford, taken around 1887.
Black and white photo of a brick building with a sign reading 'SHORT HORN DAIRY' and signs in the shop windows advertising dairy products. A man with a horse and cart holding a large milk churn is coming through a large open door while another waits outside.
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Redbridge Museum & Heritage Centre @redbridgemuseum.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
On your marks! This race marked the official re-opening of Cricklefields Athletic Ground in Ilford following the Second World War, on this day in 1950 🏃‍♂️
Black and white photo of runners on a track. A man (Mayor Alderman John Barker) wearing a suit and mayor’s chain stands to one side holding a pistol in the air.
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British Association for Local History @balhnews.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
The Saffron Walden Historical Society has announced the relaunch of its long-running Historical Journal, with a redesigned full-colour edition due to return in spring 2026. Find out more: www.balh.org.uk/news-relaunc... #WeAreLocalHistory #LocalHistoryForAll
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