Waltham Forest Archives

The bowling green at Coronation Gardens, Leyton c.1960. 📷 ©Vestry House Museum, from collection available in our Searchroom.

Bowling green at Coronation Gardens, Leyton c.1960. Our image for #BowlingDay.

OTD 1921 Clapton Orient Prepare For The Football Fray (Sunday Illustrated) #LOFC

Beauty in the benign: The forgotten genius of Cyril Mann The figurative painter and sculptor lived in Waltham Forest for two decades, and posessed an underappreciated ability to see beauty in the everyday, writes Claire Weiss

Beauty in the benign: The forgotten genius of Cyril Mann

The figurative painter and sculptor lived in Waltham Forest for two decades, and posessed an underappreciated ability to see beauty in the everyday, writes Claire Weiss
walthamforestecho.co.uk/2025/08/07/b...

Lighthouse Methodist Church, Markhouse Road, Walthamstow, c.1907. 📷 From VHM collection, available in our Searchroom.

Lighthouse Methodist Church, Markhouse Rd, Walthamstow, c1907. Designed by J Williams Dunford, the church opened in 1893, the site given by Capt King of Bullard King Steamers. Echoing King's nautical connections, the design featured a turret & revolving light to shine during services. #LighthouseDay

Can anyone help? Did you attend this dance school over the border in #Enfield?
"I'm looking for information on Zena Constance Smith aka Zena Kynoch who lived in #Chingford and ran a Dance School. She was born in 1922 and was a Professional vocalist touring much of the Country during and after WW2."

Thank you for this. Very interesting links!

Expulsion from the Garden of Eden, Norman Adams (1927–2005), Peter Scott Gallery. ©the artist's estate 🖼️ Peter Scott Gallery Art UK: https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/expulsion-from-the-garden-of-eden-153353/search/actor:adams-norman-19272005/page/3/view_as/grid

Expulsion from the Garden of Eden, Norman Adams (1927–2005), Peter Scott Gallery. Norman Adams was born at 74 Shernhall Street, Walthamstow. @artukdotorg.bsky.social's #OnlineArtExchange religious art for Fragments of Devotion, Barber Institute online. 🖼️ Peter Scott Gallery artuk.org/discover/art...

Aerial view of Sir George Monoux Grammar School, c.1930s. From VHM photo collection, available in our Searchroom.

Entry for Douglas Insole from 'Who's Who Among Old Monovians' (1966).

Cricketer and former Chingford resident Doug Insole died #OTD 5 Aug 2017. Essex captain 1950-60, & later a cricket administrator, Insole attended Sir George Monoux Grammar School,
Walthamstow 1937-44. 📷 Aerial view c1930s from VHM photo collection; entry from 'Who's Who Among Old Monovians' (1966).

We can't wait to share a new Madge Gill-inspired project with you in this September's #NewhamHeritageMonth festival! 👏

Page from the memoir of Joel Johnson of Walthamstow (1720-1799), transcribed by his daughter. This page shows entries for 1779 and 1780.

Page from the memoir of Joel Johnson of Walthamstow (1720-1799), transcribed by his daughter. These entries for 1780 record his children's smallpox inoculation, and the fires in London caused by the [Gordon] Riots, as observed from Johnson's house in Clay Street.

Pages from the memoir of Joel Johnson of Walthamstow (1720-1799), transcribed by his daughter. Entries for 1780 record his children's smallpox inoculation, and the fires in London caused by the [Gordon] Riots, as observed from Johnson's house in Clay Street (now Forest Road). #DocumentoftheMonth

An Abstract Drawing, Madge Gill (1882-1961), Newham Archives and Local Studies Library. 🖼️ London Borough of Newham Heritage Service. Art UK https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/an-abstract-drawing-249300/search/actor:gill-madge-18821961/page/1/view_as/grid

An Abstract Drawing, Madge Gill (1882-1961), Newham Archives & Local Studies Library. Born in Walthamstow, Madge Gill lived at 71 High St as a child. For @artukdotorg.bsky.social's #OnlineArtExchange abstract & non-figurative art. 🖼️ London Borough of Newham Heritage Service artuk.org/discover/art...

The Greek Theatre at Walthamstow School for Girls, lino-cut by Nora Brown from the school magazine in 1930s.

The Greek Theatre at Walthamstow School for Girls, lino-cut by Nora Brown from the school magazine in 1930s. This is included in our current Searchroom display, celebrating the centenary of the opening of the Greek Theatre in July 1925.

Front cover of 'Cinema in Leyton and Leytonstone' by David Boote, published by Leyton and Leytonstone Historical Society (2010).

Description and interior image of the Rex cinema, from 'Cinema in Leyton and Leytonstone' by David Boote, published by Leyton and Leytonstone Historical Society (2010).

Map of cinemas in Leyton and Leytonstone between the World Wars, from 'Cinema in Leyton and Leytonstone' by David Boote, published by Leyton and Leytonstone Historical Society (2010).

'Cinema in Leyton and Leytonstone' by David Boote @wfwalkingpast.bsky.social (Leyton and Leytonstone Historical Society, 2010). An excellent reference book giving cinema dates & descriptions, images, location maps, and oral history memories. Images used with the author's permission. #BookoftheMonth

Parish registers at this time often give just the name of the parish, or a local district name, in the Abode entry. Other Abode entries on this page show Chapel End, then a hamlet within the parish.

Dovecote Chingford Dovecote in Chingford.

Yes indeed! www.pimphallpark.com/dovecote.html

Entries from Walthamstow St Mary's baptism register, June-July 1834, including the entry for the baptism of William Morris on 25 July 1834.

#OTD 25 July 1834 William Morris was baptised at St Mary's Church, Walthamstow. At this time, the Morris family lived at Elm House, Clay Street (now Forest Road), where William was born on 24 March 1834. 📷 Entries from Walthamstow St Mary's baptism register, Jun-Jul 1834.

Many thanks!

Many thanks for sharing this! A fascinating read, thanks to your excellent research. We'd like to print this article for future reference in the Searchroom - is this OK please?

#WalthamForest #TownHall: my research conundrum @lbwfarchives.bsky.social fyi! westminsterwalks.london/waltham_fore...

Merry Go Round at Lea Bridge Road Easter Fair, 1957. 📷 ©Vestry House Museum

Children's Merry Go Round at Lea Bridge Road Easter Fair, 1957. 📷 ©Vestry House Museum, from collection available in our Searchroom. For #CarouselDay 🎠

Leytonstone mosaic depicting Hitchcock's film 'Saboteur' (1942); Leytonstone High Road is in background. Made by Greenwich Mural Workshop in 2000-01 to commemorate the centenary of the birth of Alfred Hitchcock in Leytonstone, 1899. 🖼️ George Rex Source Creative Commons: https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mosaic_of_Saboteur_(Hitchcock),_Leytonstone_tube_station,_2011.jpg

Mosaic of Hitchcock's Saboteur; High Rd E11 in background. Made by Greenwich Mural Workshop 2000-01 for centenary of Alfred Hitchcock's birth, Leytonstone. 🖼️ George Rex is.gd/jY7HnV For @artukdotorg.bsky.social's #OnlineArtExchange, film & cinema for May The Toys Be With You @lynn-museum.bsky.social

Agnes Marshall lived in Hagger Lane, Walthamstow as a child.

Some lovely family walks coming up over August, September & October. Save the date, booking via Eventbrite will be open shortly.

Photograph of Phil Woosnam, 1975. Source Creative Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Phil_Woosnam,_NASL_1975_media_guide_page_4.png

Extract from Phil Woosnam's contribution to a 1992 publication celebrating the history of Leyton County High School for Boys.

Footballer Phil Woosnam died #OTD 19 Jul 2013. With Leyton Orient from 1954, he turned professional after leaving his job as a physics teacher at Leyton County High School for Boys. 📷 Extract from 1992 publication celebrating the history of the school. Portrait commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ph...

Self Portrait, Haydn Reynolds Mackey (1881-1979), Vestry House Museum. 🖼️ © the artist's estate. Image credit: Vestry House Museum. Via Art UK.

Self Portrait, Haydn Reynolds Mackey (1881-1979), Vestry House Museum. Mackey lived in Barrett Road E17 & taught at Walthamstow Art School. Late post for @artukdotorg.bsky.social's #OnlineArtExchange: self portraits. 🖼️ ©the artist's estate. Image credit: Vestry House Museum artuk.org/discover/art...

Walking Tour - From Pimp Hall to Ale House Field (Chingford) A walk exploring Chingford's history from forest village to London suburb with an unexpected cast of characters along the way.

'From Pimp Hall to Ale House Field' Guided walk in #Chingford

🗓️Saturday 19 July 2pm-4pm
📍North Chingford (Station start)
Featuring Queen Victoria, Lawrence of Arabia, Ivor Novello, an eccentric French balloonist & the man who had the idea for the FA Cup! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/walking-to...

Photograph of timber framed barn at Pimp Hall Farm in Chingford, c.1930s. 📷 From VHM collection, available in our Searchroom.

The timber framed barn at Pimp Hall Farm in Chingford, c.1930s. Pimp Hall was a working farm until mid-1930s. It was subsequently a Council run nursery & allotment site. The barn survived until 1990, when it was destroyed by severe gales. 📷 From VHM collection, available in our Searchroom. #BarnDay

#OTD 13 July 1816, the residents of Walthamstow and Leyton resolved to abolish the practice of employing children to climb & sweep chimneys.

Fred Bremer and Tom Bates transporting the Bremer car, early 1900s. 📷 From VHM collection, available in our Searchroom.

Frederick Bremer was born in Mile End #OTD 1872. In 1892 he & Tom Bates built the first British four-wheeled car with an internal combustion engine. It was built at 1 Connaught Road, Walthamstow, the Bremer family home. He gave the Bremer car to Walthamstow Museum (now Vestry House Museum) in 1930s.

A long overdue trip out to the Suffolk countryside to have a cuppa with Pete (Stennett).

Finally got a chance to give him this fantastic painting by Johanna Wilbraham of his shop in Hoe Street, Walthamstow.

#punk #smallwonderrecords #e17