Editing Upminster

{{Short description|Town in east London}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2015}}
{{Infobox UK place
| country                  = England
| official_name            = Upminster
| coordinates              = {{coord|51.555743|0.251239|display=inline,title}}
| london_borough           = Havering
| region                   = London
| constituency_westminster = [[Hornchurch and Upminster (UK Parliament constituency)|Hornchurch and Upminster]]
| post_town                = UPMINSTER
| postcode_district        = RM14
| postcode_area            = RM
| dial_code                = 01708
| os_grid_reference        = TQ560865
| population               = {{#expr:{{london ward populations|00ARGD|population}}+{{london ward populations|00ARGW|population}}}}
| population_ref           = ({{london ward populations|00ARGD|ward}} and {{london ward populations|00ARGW|ward}} wards {{london ward populations|year}}){{london ward populations|reference}}
| charingX_distance_mi     = 16.5
| charingX_direction       = WSW
| static_image_name        = Upminster 021.jpg
| static_image_caption     = [[Church of St Laurence, Upminster|Church of St Laurence]]
}}
'''Upminster''' is a [[suburb|suburban town]] in [[east London]], England, within the [[London Borough of Havering]]. Located {{convert|16.5|mi}} east-northeast of [[Charing Cross]], it is one of the locally important district centres identified in the [[London Plan]]. 

Historically a rural village, it formed an [[ancient parish]] in the [[Hundred of Chafford|Chafford hundred]] of the county of [[Essex]]. The economic history of Upminster is characterised by a shift from farming to brick making to garden suburb. It is currently mainly commercial shopping, [[Small and medium-sized enterprises|small businesses]] and residential.

It was first connected to central London by rail in 1885 and has a [[terminal station]] on the [[London Underground]] network. As part of the suburban growth of London in the 20th century, Upminster significantly expanded and increased in population, becoming part of [[Hornchurch Urban District]] in 1934, and has formed part of [[Greater London]] since 1965.

==History==
===Toponymy===
{| class="wikitable" align="right" style=font-size:85%;margin-left:10px;
|+'''Upminster (parish) population'''
|-
!align="center"| 1881
|align="center"| 1,202
|-
!align="center"| 1891
|align="center"| 1,409
|-
!align="center"| 1901
|align="center"| 1,477
|-
!align="center"| 1911
|align="center"| 2,468
|-
!align="center"| 1921
|align="center"| 3,559
|-
!align="center"| 1931
|align="center"| 5,732
|-
!align="center"| 1941
|align="center"| war #
|-
!align="center"| 1951
|align="center"| 13,038
|-
|style="font-size:smaller" colspan=2|# no census was held due to war
|-
|style="font-size:smaller" colspan=2 align=center|source: [[Census#United Kingdom|UK census]]<ref name=vob_pop>{{cite vob | url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/data_cube_page.jsp?data_theme=T_POP&data_cube=N_TOT_POP&u_id=10248036&c_id=10001043&add=N | name= Upminster population | access-date=6 February 2010}}</ref>
|}
The placename Upminster is first recorded in 1062 as ''Upmynstre'' and is recorded in the 1086 [[Domesday Book]] as ''Upmunstra''.<ref name=mills>{{cite book | last=Mills | first=D. | title=Oxford Dictionary of London Place Names | year=2000 | publisher=Oxford}}</ref> It is formed from [[Old English]] ''upp'' and ''mynster'', meaning 'the large church on high ground'. The high ground of [[Church of St Laurence, Upminster|St Laurence's parish church]] being in relation to the valley of the [[River Ingrebourne]] and the [[Upminster Bridge]] over the river shares the name.<ref name=mills/> An alternative explanation suggests the ''upp'' could refer to the geographical relationship to a church at [[Barking, London|Barking]] or [[Tilbury]] in Anglo-Saxon times.<ref name=blair>{{cite book | title=The Church in Anglo-Saxon Society | page=102 | last=Blair | first=John | year =2005 | publisher=Oxford University Press }}</ref>

===Economic development===
There was a Roman farmstead in the Upminster area from the 1st century to the 3rd century, and agriculture was the predominant industry throughout the following centuries.<ref name=introduction/>

The area was once wooded, but clearances in the 12th century gave more land over to arable farming; and by the 17th century there were a variety of crops and livestock.<ref name=introduction/> There was a growth in [[market gardening]] in the 19th century.<ref name=introduction/> There have been a number of [[List of windmills in London#T - W|windmills in Upminster]] and one of which, a [[smock mill]] built in 1803, remains.<ref name="london annals">{{cite book | title=The Annals of London | publisher=Cassell & Co | author=Richardson, John | year=2000 | isbn=1-84188-135-X }}</ref> Local industry included a tannery, gravel extraction and a brick works that was connected to the railway station by a tramway in 1895.<ref name=introduction/><ref>{{Cite web|last=hurdler46|date=2018-04-26|title=Upminster's lost brickworks|url=https://upminsterhistory.net/2018/04/26/upminsters-lost-brickworks/|access-date=2021-08-31|website=Old Upminster|language=en}}</ref>

The [[London, Tilbury and Southend Railway]] from [[Fenchurch Street railway station|Fenchurch Street]] was extended from Barking to [[Upminster station|Upminster]] in 1885.<ref name="Barking LTSR">{{citation | publisher=Barking and Dagenham London Borough Council | url=http://www.barking-dagenham.gov.uk/4-heritage/local-history/information-sheets/pdf/info-sheet-10.pdf | work=Local Studies Information Sheets | title=London, Tilbury and Southend Railway | year=2008 | access-date=8 February 2010 | archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/5nSOU9e9k?url=http://www.barking-dagenham.gov.uk/4-heritage/local-history/information-sheets/pdf/info-sheet-10.pdf | archive-date=11 February 2010 | url-status=dead | df=dmy-all }}</ref> The underground [[Whitechapel and Bow Railway]] opened in 1902 and allowed through services of the [[District Railway]] to operate to Upminster. The District converted to electric trains in 1905 and services were cut back to East Ham. Delayed by [[World War I]],<ref name="Barking LTSR"/> electrified tracks were extended by the [[London, Midland and Scottish Railway]] to Upminster and through services resumed in 1932.<ref name="rose">{{cite book | author=Rose, Douglas | title=The London Underground: A diagrammatic history | year=1999 | publisher= Douglas Rose | edition=7 | isbn=1-85414-219-4}}</ref><ref name="Wolmar">{{cite book |author = Wolmar, Christian |title = The Subterranean Railway: How the London Underground Was Built and How It Changed the City Forever  |publisher = Atlantic Books | year=2005 |isbn = 1-84354-023-1  |page = 268 |author-link = Christian Wolmar }}</ref>

===Local government===
{{maplink|raw={{Wikipedia:Map data/Upminster (parish) 1931}}|frame=yes|text=Upminster civil parish boundaries before being absorbed into [[Hornchurch Urban District]] in 1934}}
Upminster formed an ancient parish of {{convert|3369|acres}} in the [[Chafford (hundred)|Chafford]] hundred of Essex.<ref name=introduction>{{cite book | url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=42829 | title=Upminster: Introduction and manors, A History of the County of Essex: Volume 7 | series= [[Victoria County History]] | publisher=[[British History Online]] | author=Powell, W.R. (Edr.)  | year=1978 | access-date=6 February 2010}}</ref> The [[Administrative vestry|parish vestry]] had meetings in the church until 1798, when they moved to the Bell Inn.<ref name=local_gov>{{cite book | url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=42830 | title=Upminster: Local government and parliamentary representation, A History of the County of Essex: Volume 7 | series= [[Victoria County History]] | publisher=[[British History Online]] | author=Powell, W.R. (Edr.) | year=1978 | access-date=6 February 2010}}</ref> The parish was divided into North and South wards by the Hornchurch to Cranham road.<ref name=local_gov/> In 1836 the vestry lost control of poor relief, with Upminster becoming part of the Romford [[Poor Law Union]]<ref name=local_gov/> and in 1875 the parish became part of Romford [[sanitary district|rural sanitary district]]. Following the [[Local Government Act 1894]], the sanitary district became [[Romford Rural District]] and a parish council was formed of nine members, increasing to twelve by 1913 as the population had doubled.<ref name=local_gov/> The parish council acquired the Clock House building on St Mary's Lane for use as offices in 1924.<ref name=local_gov/> The parish formed part of the [[London Traffic Area]] from 1924 and the [[London Passenger Transport Board|London Passenger Transport Area]] from 1933.<ref name=robson>{{cite book |title=The Government and Mis-government of London |last=Robson |first=William |year=1939 |publisher=Allen & Unwin |location=London }}</ref> In 1934 the parish council was abolished and Upminster was combined with other parishes to form part of [[Hornchurch Urban District]]. In 1965 the urban district was abolished and its former area was combined with that of [[Municipal Borough of Romford]]; and since then has formed part of the [[London Borough of Havering]] in [[Greater London]].<ref name=vob_havering_lb>{{cite vob|url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/relationships.jsp?u_id=10166913&c_id=10001043 |name=Havering London Borough |access-date=6 February 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090211082200/http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/relationships.jsp?u_id=10166913&c_id=10001043 |archive-date=11 February 2009 }}</ref> For elections to the Greater London Council, Upminster was part of the [[Havering (electoral division)|Havering]] electoral division until 1973 and then the [[Upminster (electoral division)|Upminster]] electoral division until 1986.

===Urban development===
The parish had three early centres of activity; the village around the church and the settlements of [[Hacton]] and Corbets Tey.<ref name=introduction/> The estates of Gaynes, New Place and [[Upminster Hall]] were purchased during the 17th century by merchants in the [[City of London]].<ref name=introduction/> This caused a significant number of buildings in the town to be constructed or improved.<ref name=introduction/> Upkeep of the three bridges crossing the Ingrebourne were the responsibility of Upminster, as the adjacent Hornchurch parish was in the [[Royal Liberty of Havering|Havering liberty]] and was exempt from responsibility because of its charter. Although the opening of the station was key to the development of the suburb, land was not purchased for development until {{convert|10|acre}} were secured in 1901.<ref name=introduction/>

Electricity was introduced in Upminster in 1926.<ref name=local_gov/> Gas main supply came from [[Romford]] in 1872 and from 1905 there was gas street lighting.<ref name=local_gov/> The area was served by good spring water, with mains supply provided by the [[South Essex Waterworks Company]] from 1836. Works on the sewerage system began in 1899 in Upminster village and Corbets Tey. In 1922 sewage works for Upminster and Cranham were opened in [[Great Warley]].<ref name=local_gov/> Land for Upminster Park was purchased by the parish council in 1929.

==Governance==
[[File:HornchurchUpminster2007Constituency.svg|thumb|Hornchurch and Upminster constituency in Greater London]]
The town forms part of the [[Hornchurch and Upminster (UK Parliament constituency)|Hornchurch and Upminster UK Parliament constituency]], and is covered by the Havering wards of Upminster and Cranham. The current MP is [[Julia Lopez (politician)|Julia Lopez]]. Each ward elects three councillors to [[Havering London Borough Council]]. All six councillors elected in 2010 for the two wards were the [[Upminster and Cranham Residents' Association]] candidates<ref name="havering cranham">{{cite web | publisher=Havering London Borough Council | url=http://www.havering.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=18029 | title=Cranham Ward - Local election results 2010 | date=8 June 2010 | access-date=4 July 2010 }}</ref><ref name="havering upminster">{{cite web | publisher=Havering London Borough Council | url=http://www.havering.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=18045 |title=Upminster Ward - Local election results 2010  | date=8 June 2010 | access-date=4 July 2010 }}</ref> and the area is unusual in that the residents' association is strongly active.<ref name="Havering and Redbridge">{{cite web | url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2008/feb/08/havering.redbridge | title=Havering and Redbridge | publisher=guardian.co.uk | author=Baston, Lewis | date=8 February 2008  | access-date=20 February 2010 }}</ref> From 1945 to 1974 Upminster formed part of the [[Hornchurch (UK Parliament constituency)|Hornchurch constituency]] and from 1974 to 2010 it formed part of the [[Upminster (UK Parliament constituency)|Upminster constituency]]. Upminster is within the [[Havering and Redbridge (London Assembly constituency)|Havering and Redbridge London Assembly constituency]].<ref name="Havering and Redbridge"/>

==Geography==
{{Further|Geography of London}}
[[File:Upminster osm.png|thumb|left|Map of Upminster and environs]]
Upminster rises to about {{convert|200|ft}} above sea level to the north and is about {{convert|50|ft}} above sea level to the south.<ref name=introduction/> It rests on a layer of loam, above sand and gravel in the south and [[London Clay]] to the north. It is bounded in the west by the [[River Ingrebourne]] and there is a stream running east–west, just north of Corbets Tey that has been dammed to form a lake.<ref name=introduction/> It has formed part of the continuously built-up area of London since the 1930s<ref name=robson_26>{{cite book |title=The Government and Mis-government of London |last=Robson |first=William |year=1939 |publisher=Allen & Unwin |location=London | pages=26–27}}</ref> and is contiguous with [[Cranham]] to the east and [[Hornchurch]] to the west. To the north and south there is open land that forms part of the [[Metropolitan Green Belt]] and there are [[Havering parks and open spaces|open spaces]] formed by Upminster Golf Club and Upminster Hall Playing Field to the north, Upminster Park and Clock House Gardens to the south, and the Ingrebourne Valley linear park to the south west. The town is effectively divided into north and south parts by the railway line. The north is predominantly residential, with the southern part containing the main shopping area. Further south it becomes predominantly residential again. Upminster is a [[post town]] in the [[RM postcode area]]; it forms a long protrusion over the [[M25 motorway]] and additionally includes [[North Ockendon]], also in Havering, and [[Bulphan]] in Thurrock.<ref name=rm_guide>{{cite book | publisher=Royal Mail Group | author=Royal Mail | author-link=Royal Mail | edition=4 | year=2004 | title=Address Management Guide | page=168 }}</ref>

==Demography==
{| class="wikitable" align="right" style=font-size:85%;margin-left:10px;
! colspan="6" |Upminster compared (2001 Census)
|-
! Statistic || Upminster<ref name=stat_upminster/> || Cranham<ref name=stat_cranham/> || Havering<ref name=stat_upminster/> || London<ref name=stat_upminster/> || England<ref name=stat_upminster/>
|-
! colspan="6" | Ethnic group
|-
| White
| 12,354 || 11,930 || 213,421 || 5,103,203 || 44,679,361
|-
| Asian
| 133 || 120 || 4,088 || 866,693 || 2,248,289
|-
| Black
| 59 || 64 || 3,139 || 782,849 ||1,132,508
|-
| Mixed
| 87 || 78 || 2,298 || 226,111 || 643,373
|-
| Chinese/Other
| 41 || 19 || 827 || 70,928 || 231,424
|-
! colspan="6" | Population
|-
| '''Total'''
| '''12,674'''|| '''12,242'''  || '''224,248''' || '''7,172,091''' || '''49,138,831'''
|-
| Density(/hectare)
| 5.62 || 18.67 || 19.97 || 45.62 || 3.77
|-
| Households
| 4,946 || 5,111 || 91,722 || 3,015,997 ||	20,451,427
|}
The Havering committee area for Upminster is defined as the wards of Upminster and Cranham.<ref name=area_notes>{{cite web | url=http://www.havering.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=18289&p=0 | publisher=Havering London Borough Council | author=Upminster Area Committee | date=June 2009 | title=Upminster Area Committee (Cranham & Upminster Wards) Agenda | access-date=6 February 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608212526/http://www.havering.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=18289&p=0 | archive-date=8 June 2011 | url-status=dead | df=dmy-all }}</ref> Demographic data is produced by the [[Office for National Statistics]] for these wards. All of Upminster is contained within these wards, however they also cover the connected settlement of [[Cranham]] and the rural outlier of [[North Ockendon]]. In 2001 the population of Upminster ward was 12,674<ref name=stat_upminster>{{cite web | title=2001 Census: Census Area Statistics, Area: Upminster (Ward) | author=Neighbourhood Statistics | publisher=[[Office for National Statistics]] | year=2001 | url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadAreaSearch.do?a=7&c=romford+town&d=14&r=1&i=1001&m=0&s=1250418652857&enc=1&areaSearchText=upminster&areaSearchType=14&extendedList=false&searchAreas= | access-date=6 February 2010 | archive-date=13 June 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613043217/http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadAreaSearch.do?a=7&c=romford+town&d=14&r=1&i=1001&m=0&s=1250418652857&enc=1&areaSearchText=upminster&areaSearchType=14&extendedList=false&searchAreas= | url-status=dead }}</ref> and Cranham ward was 12,242,<ref name=stat_cranham>{{cite web | title=2001 Census: Census Area Statistics, Area: Cranham (Ward) | author=Neighbourhood Statistics | publisher=[[Office for National Statistics]] | year=2001 | url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadDatasetList.do?a=7&b=6096871&c=cranham&d=14&g=336496&i=1001x1003&m=0&r=1&s=1250418744778&enc=1&domainId=16 | access-date=6 February 2010 | archive-date=13 June 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613043225/http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadDatasetList.do?a=7&b=6096871&c=cranham&d=14&g=336496&i=1001x1003&m=0&r=1&s=1250418744778&enc=1&domainId=16 | url-status=dead }}</ref> giving a total population of 25,098. 80.95% in Upminster and 81.73% in Cranham report their religion as Christian, compared to 76.13% for Havering, 58.23% in London and 71.74% in England. 10.08% in Upminster and 10.46% in Cranham report having no religion, compared to 13.18% in Havering, 15.76% in London and 14.59% in England.<ref name=stat_upminster/><ref name=stat_cranham/> With a [[Classification of ethnicity in the United Kingdom|black and minority ethnic]] population of 3% in 2001, Cranham and Upminster wards have the lowest [[Simpson index]] for ethnic diversity in London.<ref name="gla diversity">{{cite web | url=http://www.london.gov.uk/archive/gla/publications/factsandfigures/dmag-briefing-2006-2.pdf | title=Simpson's diversity indices by ward 1991 and 2001 | author=Piggott, Gareth | work=Data Management and Analysis Group | publisher=Greater London Authority | date=January 2006 | access-date=8 February 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604094037/http://www.london.gov.uk/archive/gla/publications/factsandfigures/dmag-briefing-2006-2.pdf | archive-date=4 June 2011 | url-status=dead | df=dmy-all }}</ref> The level of [[Owner-occupier|home ownership]] is atypically high compared to the rest of London and England, with over 90% of housing tenure under owner-occupation in both wards.<ref name=tenure_upminster>{{cite web | title=Area: Upminster (Ward): Tenure (KS18) | url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=6113906&c=upminster&d=14&e=7&g=337152&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1265616037044&enc=1&dsFamilyId=53 | work=Neighbourhood Statistics | date=9 November 2004 | access-date=8 February 2010 | publisher=[[Office for National Statistics]] | archive-date=12 June 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612114054/http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=6113906&c=upminster&d=14&e=7&g=337152&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1265616037044&enc=1&dsFamilyId=53 | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=tenure_cranham>{{cite web | title=Area: Cranham (Ward): Tenure (KS18) | url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=6113890&c=cranham&d=14&e=7&g=336496&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1265616243680&enc=1&dsFamilyId=53 | work=Neighbourhood Statistics | date=9 November 2004 | access-date=8 February 2010 | publisher=[[Office for National Statistics]] }}</ref> The Upminster ward has one of the lowest levels of deprivation in London.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/Update%2001-2012%2001-2012%20Ward%20Level%20Summary%20Measures%20of%20ID%202010.pdf | title=Ward Level Summary Measures of Indices of Deprivation 2010 | date=January 2012 | access-date=15 February 2014 | publisher=[[Greater London Authority]] | archive-date=26 September 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130926030320/http://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/Update%2001-2012%2001-2012%20Ward%20Level%20Summary%20Measures%20of%20ID%202010.pdf | url-status=dead }}</ref>

The 2011 census showed that the population was 96% white (92% British, 2% Other, 2% Irish). Indian, Chinese and Black African were 1% each. 75% of the population is Christian, the highest recorded in London.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.ukcensusdata.com/upminster-e05000323| title = Upminster - UK Census Data 2011}} </ref>

==Economy==
Upminster is identified in the [[London Plan]] as a local district centre with {{convert|37000|sqm}} of commercial floorspace.<ref name=east_plan>{{cite web|url=http://www.london.gov.uk/archive/mayor/planning/srdf/docs/east-srdf.pdf |title=The London Plan: East London Sub Regional Development Framework |publisher=[[Greater London Authority]] |author=Mayor of London |author-link=Mayor of London |date=May 2006 |access-date=6 February 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604093935/http://www.london.gov.uk/archive/mayor/planning/srdf/docs/east-srdf.pdf |archive-date=4 June 2011 }}</ref> It is not considered a significant commercial office location.<ref name=east_plan/> Within Havering, it is identified as one of seven town centres in the borough,<ref name="town centres">{{cite web|url=http://www.havering.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=379 |title=Town centre management |publisher=Havering London Borough Council |date=14 October 2008 |access-date=9 February 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081219031529/http://www.havering.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=379 |archive-date=19 December 2008 }}</ref> with a retail area extending along Station Road, St Mary's Lane and Corbets Tey Road.<ref name="udp centres">{{cite web | url=http://www.havering.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=2304&p=0 | title=Havering UDP: District Centres (schedule 7) | date=March 1993 | access-date=9 February 2010 | publisher=Havering London Borough Council | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608192237/http://www.havering.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=2304&p=0 | archive-date=8 June 2011 | url-status=dead | df=dmy-all }}</ref> The unit sizes are mostly small with the largest outlets the [[Roomes Fashion and Home]] department store, the [[Roomes Furniture and Interiors]] furniture store, and the [[Aldi]], [[M&S Simply Food]] and [[Waitrose]] supermarkets.

==Transport==
{{Further|Transport in London|Public transport in Havering}}
[[File:Upminster station side entrance.JPG|thumb|[[Upminster railway station]] southern entrance. There is another to the west.]]
The town is served by [[Upminster railway station]] on the [[London, Tilbury & Southend line]] and the [[London Underground]], in [[List of stations in London fare zone 6|London fare zone 6]].<ref name=high_freq>{{cite web|url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/high-frequency-services-map.pdf |title=High frequency services |author=Transport for London |author-link=Transport for London |publisher=[[Greater London Authority]] |date=March 2009 |access-date=6 February 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091014065510/http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/high-frequency-services-map.pdf |archive-date=14 October 2009 }}</ref> The western part of the town is also served by [[Upminster Bridge tube station]]. Upminster and Upminster Bridge are on the [[District line]] of the London Underground, with  services to [[Richmond railway station, London|Richmond]], [[Ealing Broadway railway station|Ealing Broadway]] and [[Wimbledon railway station|Wimbledon]] via central London. The station at Upminster is served by [[c2c]] who operate services to [[Fenchurch Street railway station|Fenchurch Street]] and [[Shoeburyness railway station|Shoeburyness]].<ref name=c2c>{{cite web | url=http://www.c2c-online.co.uk/content/download/13431/171193/file/Full+Timetable.pdf| title=Train Times | publisher=[[c2c]] |date=May 2009 | access-date=6 February 2010}}</ref> [[London Overground]] operate services to Romford via [[Emerson Park]].<ref name=timetable>{{cite web | url=http://www.nationalexpresseastanglia.com/content/download/33035/382359/file/Table+6+Shenfield+to+Liverpool+Street.pdf | title=Table 6 | publisher=[[National Express East Anglia]] |date=May 2009 | access-date=6 February 2010 }}</ref> There are [[Transport for London]] bus services to Hornchurch, Romford, [[North Ockendon]], [[Lakeside Shopping Centre]] and Cranham.<ref name=bus>{{cite web | url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/gettingaround/maps/buses/pdf/upminster-2272.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070628132117/http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/gettingaround/maps/buses/pdf/upminster-2272.pdf |archive-date=2007-06-28 |url-status=live | author=Transport for London | author-link=Transport for London | publisher=[[Greater London Authority]] | title=Buses from Upminster |date=March 2008 | access-date=6 February 2010 }}</ref> To the south of Upminster is [[Damyns Hall Aerodrome]]. The [[A127 road]] to the north is the main radial artery to central London, with the [[A124 road]] terminating in the town. The [[M25 motorway]] is located about {{convert|1.5|mi}} to the east of the town centre.

==Culture==
[[File:Upminster Windmill.jpg|thumb|Upminster Windmill is located in a small open space called Windmill Field.]]
Havering Council's urban strategy recognises that nearby Hornchurch is the main cultural hub of the borough with a large theatre and arts spaces, and Romford offers the largest regional concentration of entertainment facilities.<ref name=urban_strategy>{{cite web | url=http://www.havering.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=4743&p=0 | title=Romford Urban Strategy | author=Urban Practitioners & Allies and Morrison | publisher=Havering London Borough Council | date=July 2005 | access-date=9 February 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608211323/http://www.havering.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=4743&p=0 | archive-date=8 June 2011 | url-status=dead | df=dmy-all }}</ref> Within Upminster is New Windmill Hall, a flexible entertainment space, built in 1968, which holds up to 300 people.<ref name="windmill hall">{{cite web | url=http://www.havering.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=2286 | title=New Windmill Hall | publisher=Havering London Borough Council | date=19 June 2009 | access-date= 9 February 2010}}</ref> Upminster forms part of the tourism strategy for the borough.<ref name="tourism havering">{{cite web | url=http://www.havering.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=900 | title=Tourism | publisher=Havering London Borough Council | date=15 September 2009  | access-date=9 February 2010 }}</ref> It is the location of [[Upminster Windmill]], one of the few remaining [[List of windmills in London|mills in Greater London]] and is [[listed building|Grade II* listed]].<ref name=english_heritage>{{cite web|url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1079878 |title=Upminster Windmill, St Marys Lane, Upminster, Havering, Greater London |publisher=[[English Heritage]] |access-date=6 February 2010}}</ref> There is also the [[Upminster Tithe Barn Museum of Nostalgia|Tithe Barn Museum]], containing artifacts of domestic and agricultural use. In the west of Upminster is [[Hornchurch Stadium]], which is the home ground of [[A.F.C. Hornchurch]]. Upminster is often associated with [[Ian Dury]] and his 1981 album ''[[Lord Upminster]]'' is named after the town.<ref name="Richard Balls">{{cite book | title=Sex & drugs & rock'n'roll: the life of Ian Dury | author=Balls, Richard | pages=15–16 | year=2001 | publisher=Omnibus Press }}</ref>

===Speed of sound===
The [[speed of sound]] was first accurately calculated by the Reverend [[William Derham]], [[Rector (ecclesiastical)|Rector]] of Upminster, thus improving on [[Isaac Newton|Sir Isaac Newton]]'s estimates.  Derham used a telescope from the tower of the [[church of St Laurence, Upminster]] to observe the flash of a distant shotgun being fired, and then measured the time until he heard the gunshot with a half-second pendulum. Measurements were made of gunshots from a number of local landmarks, including the [[Church of St Mary Magdalene, North Ockendon]]. The distance was known by triangulation, and thus the speed that the sound had travelled could be calculated.<ref name="Tony Fox">{{cite book | title=Essex Journal | author=Fox, Tony | pages=12–16 | year=2003 | publisher=The Essex Society for Archaeology & History}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of people from Havering]]
*[[List of schools in Havering]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Upminster}}
*[http://www.havering.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=7999 Havering London Borough Council: A history of Upminster] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101123060717/http://havering.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=7999 |date=23 November 2010 }}
*[https://www.redpenguin.net/walks/upminster/ Essex walks - Upminster]

{{LB Havering}}
{{London Districts}}
{{good article}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Upminster| ]]
[[Category:Areas of London]]
[[Category:Districts of the London Borough of Havering]]
[[Category:District centres of London]]