Editing Walthamstow (section)

===Urban development===
{{image frame
 |caption=Walthamstow (parish abolished 1965) population<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10248322/cube/TOT_POP |title=Walthamstow CP/AP through time &#124; Population Statistics &#124; Total Population |publisher=Visionofbritain.org.uk |access-date=2021-01-14}}</ref>
| content={{Graph:Chart|width=250|height=150|type=line|interpolate=monotone
| xAxisTitle=Year
| yAxisTitle=Population
| x=  1871,  1881,  1891,  1901,   1911,   1921,   1931,   1951,    1961 
| y= 10692, 21715, 46346, 95131, 124580, 129395, 132972, 121135,  108845 }}
}}
Until the late 19th century Walthamstow was largely rural, with a small village centre (now [[Walthamstow Village]]) and a number of large estates. The main route through the district was Hoe Street. There were various smaller lanes crossing the town. The road now known as Forest Road was originally called Clay Street. Further south, the High Street was named Marsh Street, and led from the original settlement out to the [[Walthamstow Marshes|marshes]]. Shernhall Street is an ancient route, as is Wood Street, to the east.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=42775&strquery=clay%20street%20walthamstow|title=Walthamstow – Introduction and domestic buildings|publisher=University of London & History of Parliament Trust|access-date=2013-06-30}}</ref>

With the advent of the [[railway]]s and the ensuing [[suburbia|suburbanisation]] in the late 19th century, Walthamstow experienced a large growth in population and speculative building.<ref>''[http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=42775 Walthamstow: Introduction and domestic buildings]'', A History of the County of Essex: Volume 6 (1973), pp.&nbsp;240–50. Date accessed: 1 April 2007.</ref>

The Lighthouse Methodist Church which dates from 1893 is situated on Markhouse Road, on the corner of Downsfield Road. There is a lantern at the top of the tower, which also contains a spiral staircase. The church was erected because of the generosity of Captain David King of the shipbuilding firm of Bullard King & Co which also ran the Natal Direct Shipping Line, which ran ships direct from London to [[Durban]] without stopping at [[Cape of Good Hope|the Cape]].