Ilford is a town in east London and part of the London Borough of Redbridge. It’s nine miles from Charing Cross – the place from which all London distances are measured! In 1864, naturalist Antonio Brady discovered part of a Woolly Mammoth’s skull in the town – the most complete example to have been found in Britain. It is in the Natural History Museum, but there is currently a full-sized replica in the museum located in the local library, but the museum is currently closed (although we did spot the tusks sticking up above the line of the wall!). The Waterstones is located in the main shopping area just past the town hall.
The Town Hall
Redbridge Town Hall, opened in 1901 and now Grade 2 listed. We didn’t see inside, but the outside is gorgeous so it’s easy to see why it was listed. I think it’s mostly used as a venue for parties or Civil Ceremonies and Partnerships these days.
The Cultural Quarter
Mural of Joyce Guy outside the library and museum. She was awarded an MBE in 2009 for her services to Redbridge’s Senior Citizens.
A beautiful Goddard & Gibbs’ stained-glass window in the library.
SPACE – Art Gallery and event space in this lovely Art Deco building which used to house the library.
Murals commissioned by the town council for Ilford’s cultural quarter. Survival by Ben Eine and End of the Line by an artist known as Dotmasters.
The Kenneth Moore theatre in a street also named after the actor.
Currently reading: Letter to an Unknown Woman and other stories by Stefan Zweig. Dead List by Helen H Durrant and Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson
Janet's Adventures in Waterstones 