Editing London Borough of Havering (section)

===Early history===
{{Main|Royal Liberty of Havering}}
Modern settlement originated in [[Anglo-Saxon England|Anglo-Saxon]] times when it consisted of [[Havering Palace]] and the surrounding lands that belonged to the king. The palace itself is known to have existed since at least the reign of [[Edward the Confessor]] when it was one of his primary residences. The area formed a [[liberty (division)|liberty]] from 1465 which included the parishes of Havering-atte-Bower, Hornchurch and Romford.

The name Havering appears in documents from around the 12th century. The origins of this name have been debated by historians since the [[Middle Ages]] when it was linked to the legend of [[Edward the Confessor]] and a mystical ring returned to him by Saint [[John the Apostle]]. This event has been commemorated in stained glass (from about 1407) in a chapel at Romford dedicated to the king.<ref>{{cite book|url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=42806|title=Parishes: Havering-atte-Bower|series=A History of the County of Essex|volume=7|year=1978|pages= 9–17|access-date=4 June 2007}}</ref>