London Borough of Waltham Forest | |
|---|---|
 Coat of arms  Council logo | |
| Motto: Fellowship is Life | |
 Waltham Forest shown withinGreater London | |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Constituent country | England |
| Region | London |
| Ceremonial county | Greater London |
| Created | 1 April 1965 |
| Admin HQ | Walthamstow |
| Government | |
| • Type | London borough council |
| • Body | Waltham Forest London Borough Council |
| • London Assembly | Sem Moema (Labour) AM forNorth East |
| • MPs | Calvin Bailey (Labour) Stella Creasy (Labour) Iain Duncan Smith (Con) |
| Area | |
• Total | 14.99 sq mi (38.82 km2) |
| • Rank | 265th(of 296) |
| Population (2024) | |
• Total | 279,737 |
| • Rank | 63rd(of 296) |
| • Density | 18,660/sq mi (7,206/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC (GMT) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+1 (BST) |
| Postcodes | |
| Area code | 020 |
| ISO 3166 code | GB-WFT |
| ONS code | 00BH |
| GSS code | E09000031 |
| Police | Metropolitan Police |
| Website | https://www.walthamforest.gov.uk/ |
TheLondon Borough of Waltham Forest (/ˈwɔːlθəm,ˈwɒl-/)[1][2][3] is anouterLondon borough formed in 1965 from the merger of theEssexmunicipal boroughs ofLeyton,Walthamstow andChingford.
The borough's administrative headquarters are atWaltham Forest Town Hall, which before the merger of the boroughs, was called Walthamstow Town Hall. The population was 278,428 at the 2021 census. Waltham Forest borders five other London boroughs:Enfield to the north-west,Haringey to the west,Hackney to the south-west,Newham to the south-east andRedbridge to the east, as well as theEpping Forest District ofEssex to the north.
The borough takes its name from the formerWaltham Forest – an institution which managed deer in south-westEssex.Epping Forest is a remainder of the former Waltham Forest and forms the eastern and northern fringe of the borough. TheRiver Lea lies to the west where its associated marshes and parkland form a green corridor which, along thereservoir-lined reaches, separatesnorth andeast London, and is the historic border between Middlesex and Essex.
Waltham Forest was one of the host boroughs of theLondon Olympics in 2012, with theLee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre and part of theQueen Elizabeth Olympic Park providing an ongoing legacy in the UK and London.
The borough took its name from the formerWaltham Forest, an institution that managed deer in an area of south-west Essex that stretched eastwards from theRiver Lea and included large areas of agricultural land as well as the wooded areas subsequently known asEpping Forest andHainault Forest.
The first known use of the name Waltham Forest is 1205 (inMedieval Latin) asforesta nostra prope Waltham, and the use of the name persisted, until the end of the seventeenth century.[4]
The area was in the territory of theTrinovantes tribe during theIron Age and through the Roman period, when the tribal area was a unit of local government. It subsequently became part of the Kingdom of theEast Saxons a unit which is likely to have its roots in the territory of the Trinovantes.[5] After the Kingdom of Essex lost its independence, it evolved into the county ofEssex.
The Domesday book of 1086 records four manors in the area,Chingford,Walthamstow,Higham andLeyton. At some point, before or after theDomesday survey these also becameparishes, withHigham becoming part of the parish of Walthamstow. These parishes had largely stable borders from which those of the later Municipal Boroughs were derived, and these are the basis of our understanding of the extent of these local areas today.
The southern part of Epping Forest still extends into the north of the borough, 90% of it having been preserved by the Epping Forest Act of 1878. This not only assisted in preserving the forest, the attraction value also helped stimulate urbanisation of nearby areas.
Until the late Victorian era, the area that became the modern borough was rural in nature with a small dispersed population and a primarily agricultural landscape. Leyton, in particular, grew quite rapidly between 1870 and 1910.[6]
In 1892, a private citizen namedFrederick Bremer built the first British motorcar in a workshop in his garden, at Connaught Road, Walthamstow. The vehicle is on display at theVestry House Museum in Walthamstow.[7]In 1909, the aviation pioneerA V Roe successfully tested the first all-British aeroplane, theRoe I Triplane, on land atWalthamstow Marshes.[8]
The area now known as Waltham Forest experienced at least twoZeppelin raids duringWorld War I. On 17/18 August 1915, Airship L10 took a route roughly following the Gospel Oak to Barking railway line, dropping incendiary and high-explosive bombs. The first bomb, an incendiary, fell on Hoe St, Walthamstow, at the junction of Orford and Queens Road; the last was dropped in Aldersbrook area. Ten people were killed in Leyton and another 48 injured across the wider area. On 23/24 September 1916 the German Navyairship L 31 dropped around ten bombs along the line of Lea Bridge Road, Leyton, killing eight there. On both occasions the Germans believed they were bombing theCity, and it is thought they mistook theLee Valley Reservoir Chain for theThames.[9]
During the most intense period of theBlitz (October 1940 to June 1941), the area was hit[10] by around 728 high explosive bombs, 17parachute mines and an unknown, but much greater number ofsmall incendiary bombs. Subsequent raids were lighter and less frequent,[11] but 1944 saw a number ofV-1 'flying bombs' andV-2 long-range ballistic missiles hit the area, including a V-1 which landed on central Walthamstow killing 22[12][13] and aV-2 which landed on Chingford Road, Walthamstow killing 8.[14]
The London Borough of Waltham Forest was created in 1965 under theLondon Government Act 1963, covering the combined area of the formermunicipal boroughs ofChingford,Leyton andWalthamstow. The area was transferred fromEssex to Greater London to become one of the 32 London Boroughs.[15]
A petition opposed calling the new borough "Walthamstow", so perhaps for that reason the new borough took its name from the formerWaltham Forest.
The local authority is Waltham Forest Council, based atWaltham Forest Town Hall (formerly Walthamstow Town Hall).
Since 2000, for elections to theLondon Assembly, the borough forms part of theNorth East constituency.
The main centres of population in the borough areChingford in the north,Walthamstow in the centre (the administrative hub including the council offices) andLeyton andLeytonstone to the South. Waltham Forest has the fifth largest Muslim population in England and the third largest in London (coming after its neighbouring boroughs,Newham andTower Hamlets).
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1801 | 6,500 | — |
| 1811 | 8,165 | +25.6% |
| 1821 | 9,239 | +13.2% |
| 1831 | 9,505 | +2.9% |
| 1841 | 9,806 | +3.2% |
| 1851 | 10,759 | +9.7% |
| 1861 | 22,635 | +110.4% |
| 1871 | 34,512 | +52.5% |
| 1881 | 46,388 | +34.4% |
| 1891 | 92,948 | +100.4% |
| 1901 | 154,146 | +65.8% |
| 1911 | 255,661 | +65.9% |
| 1921 | 267,592 | +4.7% |
| 1931 | 280,094 | +4.7% |
| 1941 | 274,172 | −2.1% |
| 1951 | 268,383 | −2.1% |
| 1961 | 251,205 | −6.4% |
| 1971 | 235,145 | −6.4% |
| 1981 | 214,595 | −8.7% |
| 1991 | 217,625 | +1.4% |
| 2001 | 218,277 | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 258,249 | +18.3% |
| 2021 | 278,428 | +7.8% |
| Note:[16] | ||
| Ethnic Group | Year | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 estimations[17] | 1981 estimations[18] | 1991 census[19] | 2001 census[20] | 2011 census[21] | 2021 census[22] | |||||||
| Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | |
| White: Total | – | 92.2% | 175,276 | 82.5% | 157,824 | 74.4% | 140,803 | 64.5% | 134,799 | 52.1% | 147,024 | 52.8% |
| White:British | – | – | – | – | – | – | 121,694 | 55.7% | 92,999 | 36.0% | 94,766 | 34.0% |
| White:Irish | – | – | – | – | – | – | 5,112 | 2.4% | 3,959 | 1.5% | 4,230 | 1.5% |
| White:Gypsy or Irish Traveller | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 369 | <1% | 198 | 0.1% |
| White: Roma | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1,397 | 0.5% |
| White:Other | – | – | – | – | – | – | 13,997 | 6.4% | 37,472 | 14.5% | 46,433 | 16.7% |
| Asian or Asian British: Total | – | – | – | – | 26,940 | 12.7% | 33,659 | 15.4% | 54,389 | 20.8% | 55,545 | 19.9% |
| Asian or Asian British:Indian | – | – | – | – | 7,042 | 7,671 | 3.5% | 9,134 | 3.5% | 9,134 | 3.3% | |
| Asian or Asian British:Pakistani | – | – | – | – | 13,298 | 6.3% | 17,295 | 7.9% | 26,347 | 10.2% | 28,740 | 10.3% |
| Asian or Asian British:Bangladeshi | – | – | – | – | 1,875 | 2,166 | <1% | 4,632 | 1.7% | 5,166 | 1.9% | |
| Asian or Asian British:Chinese | – | – | – | – | 1,233 | 1,443 | <1% | 2,579 | <1% | 2,626 | 0.9% | |
| Asian or Asian British: Other Asian | – | – | – | – | 3,492 | 5,084 | 2.3% | 11,697 | 4.5% | 9,879 | 3.5% | |
| Black or Black British: Total | – | – | – | – | 23,921 | 11.3% | 33,673 | 15.4% | 44,791 | 17.3% | 41,647 | 14.9% |
| Black or Black British:African | – | – | – | – | 5,967 | 12,630 | 5.8% | 18,815 | 7.3% | 18,759 | 6.7% | |
| Black or Black British:Caribbean | – | – | – | – | 14,421 | 6.8% | 17,797 | 8.2% | 18,841 | 7.3% | 17,587 | 6.3% |
| Black or Black British:Other Black | – | – | – | – | 3,533 | 3,246 | 1.5% | 7,135 | 2.7% | 5,301 | 1.9% | |
| Mixed or British Mixed: Total | – | – | – | – | – | – | 7,749 | 3.6% | 13,776 | 5.2% | 17,983 | 6.4% |
| Mixed: White and Black Caribbean | – | – | – | – | – | – | 3,007 | 1.4% | 4,568 | 1.7% | 5,135 | 1.8% |
| Mixed: White and Black African | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1,195 | <1% | 2,403 | <1% | 2,777 | 1.0% |
| Mixed: White and Asian | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1,580 | <1% | 2,602 | 1.0% | 3,875 | 1.4% |
| Mixed: Other Mixed | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1,967 | <1% | 4,193 | 1.6% | 6,196 | 2.2% |
| Other: Total | – | – | – | – | 3,348 | 1.6% | 2,457 | 1.1% | 10,504 | 4.0% | 16,229 | 5.8% |
| Other: Arab | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 3,776 | 1.4% | 2,884 | 1.0% |
| Other: Any other ethnic group | – | – | – | – | 3,348 | 1.6% | 2,457 | 1.1% | 6,728 | 2.6% | 13,345 | 4.8% |
| Non-White: Total | – | 7.8% | 37,122 | 17.5% | 54,209 | 25.6% | 77,538 | 35.5% | 123,450 | 47.9% | 131,404 | 47.2% |
| Total | – | 100% | 212,398 | 100% | 212,033 | 100% | 218,341 | 100.00% | 258,249 | 100.00% | 278,428 | 100% |
| Religion | 1995 estimates[23] | |
|---|---|---|
| Number | % | |
| Christian | – | – |
| No religion | – | – |
| Muslim | – | – |
| Religion not stated | – | – |
| Hindu | – | – |
| Jewish | 2,700 | 1.3% |
| Sikh | – | – |
| Other religion | – | – |
| Buddhist | – | – |
| Total | – | 100% |
Epping Forest and the green corridor along theRiver Lea provide some of the borough's many open spaces, which include:
Historically known as the seat of theArts and Crafts Movement under the stewardship ofWilliam Morris, Waltham Forest has continued to succour many contemporary artists & art groups. These include the North East London Independent Artists (NELIA) group, based at the Changing Room Gallery in Lloyd Park, the491 Gallery in Leytonstone, and a number of independent artists, also mainly in the Leytonstone area. The biennial E17 Art Trail, which includes open studios, exhibitions and events, is the biggest art event in the borough, and there is now a similar event in Leytonstone.Eamon Everall, founder member of theStuckism art movement is a long-time resident in the borough where he also maintains a studio.[24]
Waltham Forest was the first ever London Borough of Culture in 2019.[25]
Waltham Forest is home to a number of musicians that have found success in the UK, includingEast 17,Blazin' Squad, andindie bandHefner, who formed in Walthamstow. The borough is also a centre of thegrime musical genre; grime acts hailing from the borough includeMore Fire Crew,Lethal Bizzle, andJammer, amongst others.
The borough had a key role in the history ofrave music culture, whether it be clubs, artists, and DJs. Widely regarded as one of the seminal tracks ofjungle music, the creator of "We Are I.E.",Lennie De Ice grew up and lived in Walthamstow.Walthamstow was also home toDJ Rap and MC Navigator.[26][27] The venue Dungeons was located onLea Bridge Road inLeyton, and a number ofpirate radio stations including Friends FM, Dance FM, andEruption FM broadcast from tower blocks such as theCathall Estate inLeytonstone.[28]
The only theatre in the borough, The Waltham Forest Theatre, was situated in Lloyd Park. Though a local campaign was launched to save it in 2008,[29] the theatre was demolished in 2011.
Leyton Orient F.C. is the local professionalfootball team, based at Brisbane Road, Leyton. In the 1962–63 season, the club played in the top tier of English football, theFootball League First Division, but currently are inLeague One, the third tier of theEnglish football league system.
Waltham Forest was one of six local authorities to set up aHousing Action Trust under the Housing Act 1988. The Waltham Forest HAT covered various estates in need ofregeneration:Cathall Road inLeytonstone,Oliver Close inLeyton, Boundary Road inWalthamstow and Chingford Hall inChingford. The HAT transferred its redeveloped estates toCommunity-based Housing Association and shut down in April 2002. English Partnerships then demolished four empty tower blocks.[30]
The remainingCouncil housing in the borough is now managed by anarms-length management organisation, Waltham Forest Housing (formerly Ascham Homes).[31]
Waltham Forest was one of four host boroughs ineast London for the2012 Olympics. The northern part of theQueen Elizabeth Olympic Park is located inEton Manor. The borough hosted events in its three Olympic-size swimming pools, one synchronised swimming pool and one water polo pool. These pools were used for athlete training.
During the Paralympic Games, Eton Manor hosted the Wheelchair Tennis events, with temporary seating for 10,500 spectators.
In April 2012, theMinistry of Defence identified the roof of Fred Wigg Tower as a potential location forsurface-to-air missile defences during the Games.[32]
Waltham Forest has a number of institutes, including 3 colleges of further education.Leyton Sixth Form College was the secondsixth form college inSouthern England to get a licence,[33] and was awarded the title of best college in London for sport in 2013.[34] Others includeWaltham Forest College andSir George Monoux College. Waltham Forest has a sixth form college reorganised system which it adopted in 1985.[35]
A class in Riverley Primary School in Leyton won the 'funniest joke' competition run bythe Beano in 2025 and the school's Maisha Mahfuza won the 'funniest teacher' accolade.[36]
Neighbouring authorities areEpping Forest (Essex) in the north,Redbridge in the east, withNewham andHackney to the south.Haringey andEnfield lie to the west.
Places adjacent to London Borough of Waltham Forest | |
|---|---|
The area is served by the followingLondon Underground lines:
Both lines are both part of theNight Tube, which provides overnight tube services on Friday and Saturday nights.
London Overground runs through the borough on the following lines:[39]
Greater Anglia serves the south-west of the borough with a station atLea Bridge; these services connectStratford andBishops Stortford.[40]
A number ofLondon Buses routes serve the borough, as well as sixnight bus routes. Services are operated byArriva London,Stagecoach London andLondon General.[41]
The pioneeringMini Holland programme has begun to provide protected cycle lanes across the southern half of the borough, increasing the ability to use bicycles as a transport option.[42]
In March 2011, the main forms of transport that residents used to travel to work were:[43]
Policing is covered by theMetropolitan Police. There is one police station which is based in Chingford and a number of additional patrol centres throughout the borough. Waltham Forest comes under the Met's North-East Basic Command Unit (BCU) following a merger of Waltham Forest's and Newham's policing in 2018[44]
Waltham Forest is the birthplace ofWilliam Morris, best known as one of the principal founders of the British Arts and Crafts Movement. Morris was a designer of wallpaper and patterned fabrics, a writer of poetry and fiction, and a pioneer of the socialist movement in Britain.
Other notable people, such as footballer and former England CaptainDavid Beckham, rapper, songwriter and actorRedzz,I, Claudius starDerek Jacobi, former Essex and England cricket CaptainGraham Gooch, and the film director and producerAlfred Hitchcock, were also born in the borough. The heavy metal bandIron Maiden was formed in Leyton, and Eastenders actressRita Simons was born in Leytonstone. Notable Eastenders ActorAdam Woodyatt is from Walthamstow. The poetPascale Petit, shortlisted three times for the TS Eliot poetry prize, lives in Walthamstow. Notable rap/grime artistLethal Bizzle is from Walthamstow, andGrayson Perry, the 2003Turner Prize-winning artist, has his studio in Walthamstow. X Factor finalistFleur East is also from Walthamstow as well as British Taekwondo AthleteLutalo Muhammad, and musicianGeordie Greep.
The London Borough of Waltham Forest istwinned[45] with
Friendship links have also been established with
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