A TIMELINE OF HORNCHURCH
By Tim Lambert
c 1150 A small village exists at Hornchurch
13th Century A church exists on the site of St Andrews. It is called the Horned Church.
1540 Hornchurch has a population of 700 or 800 making it a large village. There is a considerable leather industry in Hornchurch.
1700 Hornchurch is still a large village. It is a popular place for rich people to live because it is close to London.
1801 Hornchurch has a population of over 1,300. Many stagecoaches pass through on their way to and from London. There are several inns in Hornchurch.
1839 A workhouse is built in Hornchurch
1860 The old leather industry has died out but there is a brewery in Hornchurch
1872 Hornchurch gains gas light
1885 Hornchurch railway station opens. As a result the population of Hornchurch booms. People live in the area and commute to London.
1898-1902 Sewers are dug under Hornchurch
1901 Hornchurch gains a piped water supply
1911 Hornchurch now has a population of over 9,000 and it is growing rapidly
1913 The first council houses are built in Hornchurch
1915 A military airfield opens in Hornchurch
1923 The population of Hornchurch is over 12,000. It is popular with commuters.
1925 Hornchurch gains an electricity supply
1926 Hornchurch is given an urban district council
1932 A cemetery is laid out in Hornchurch
1933 Hornchurch now has a population of over 28,000
1936 The first library opens in Hornchurch
1939 St Georges Hospital is built
1956 A swimming pool is built in Hornchurch
1962 Hornchurch airfield closes
1963 Hornchurch College of Further Education opens
1965 Hornchurch is made part of the London Borough of Havering
1973 Fairkytes Arts Centre opens
1975 Queen's Theatre moves to its present building
1991 Havering College opens