Editing Elm Park (section)

==History==

===Toponymy===
The place name Elm Park was devised in 1933.<ref name="Story">{{cite book | last1=Hipperson | first1=Chris | last2=Donoghue | first2=Simon | last3=Brandon | first3=Ingrid | title=The Elm Park Story | year=2009 | publisher= Lavenham Press | location=Suffolk | isbn=9780956327208 }}</ref> It was derived from Elm Farm, which is first recorded in 1777 and was known as Elms in 1883.<ref name="Mills">{{cite book | last=Mills | first=D. | title=Oxford Dictionary of London Place Names | year=2000 | publisher=Oxford}}</ref>

===Local government===
The area that became Elm Park formed part of the [[South End, Hornchurch|South End]] ward of the parish of Hornchurch; the large ancient parish occupied the same area as the [[royal manor]] and [[liberty (division)|liberty]] of [[Royal Liberty of Havering|Havering]]. The Havering courts and Hornchurch vestry were the principal local government in the area. The liberty was abolished in 1892 and the parish vestry in 1894. Elected local government was incorporated by the [[Local Government Act 1894]]. Hornchurch [[Civil parishes in England|civil parish]] was governed by Hornchurch Parish Council and formed part of the [[Romford Rural District]], governed by Romford Rural District Council.

As the population was increasing, in 1926 the Hornchurch parish was removed from the rural district to become [[Hornchurch Urban District]] and the parish council became Hornchurch Urban District Council. The council, based in [[Langtons|Langtons House]] from 1929, was the planning authority during the transition of Elm Park from farms to suburban development. The Hornchurch Urban District was abolished in 1965 and Elm Park became part of the [[London Borough of Havering]] in Greater London.

===Urban development===
Elm Park Garden City was a planned community by the developer [[Costain Group|Richard Costain and Sons Ltd.]], drawing on the ideas of the [[garden city movement]]. Costain purchased the land of Wyebridge, Elm and Uphavering farms for the development in 1933. Plans were announced for 7,000 houses on {{convert|600|acre|sqkm}} of land for private sale in May 1933, and were submitted to Hornchurch Urban District Council in June. Costain negotiated a higher density of development than was usually permitted. In return the council achieved some improvements, including provision of wider roads, a bridge over the railway line, and the donation of land for [[Harrow Lodge Park]]. Costain built an estate office at the corner of Coronation Drive and Maylands Avenue that later became occupied by a [[Licensed conveyancer|real estate solicitor]].<ref name="Story"/>

Costain negotiated with the [[London, Midland and Scottish Railway]] to have a station built on the London to Southend railway that ran through the area and [[Elm Park tube station|Elm Park Underground station]], served by the [[District line]] of the [[London Underground]], opened in 1935. The station and the Elm Park Garden City were officially opened by [[Hilton Young]], [[Secretary of State for Health|Minister of Health]] in May 1935. Celebrations to mark the opening included a performance by the [[Dagenham Girl Pipers]]. The Assembly Hall, intended to be used as a recreation space and theatre, was given to the [[Elm Park Residents' Association]], which was established in July 1935. The estate was marketed as "Elm Park Romford", with [[Romford]] approximately {{convert|2|mi|km}} to the north. A frequent bus service was provided from 1939.<ref name="Story"/>

House building on the estate was halted by [[World War II]]. Because of the proximity of [[RAF Hornchurch]] the area was subject [[Aerial bombing of cities|aerial bombing]] with some damage to the housing stock. After the war national housing policy had changed and Hornchurch Urban District Council deviated from the Costain plans to provide higher density [[social housing]] through [[compulsory purchase]] of the land, using loans from the [[Public Works Loan Board]]. By 1964 the council had created 1,146 council houses in Elm Park.<ref name="Story"/>