STATION

I I I I I I I I I I 1 I I I I I I I I I I I I STATION ROAD 0 I1 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I 1 Turn left from the main entrance of then cross Station Road at the pelican crossing opposite M&S Food. Walk up Branfil I I I I I 02 Road with Rooms on your left. At the end of the road turn left into Champion Road and walk to the end of the road. Note The War CHAMPION ROAD Memorial at St Joseph's church on your left. VP3.

ST MARY’S

BRIDGE AVE AVE BRIDGE BRIDGE 03 BRANFILL ROAD 2 At the Junction with St Mary's Lane a short detour to your right will take you to and the Old Chapel 2 opposite. However, we cross St Mary's Lane at the pelican crossing and enter Upminster Park following cycle route and FP136. BROOKDALE CLOSE 04 3 3 Follow the footpath passed the tennis courts to your left and then take the path to your right into Brookside Close. This BROOKDALE UPMINSTER PARK N leads into Brookside Avenue and then meets Bridge Avenue. Cross Bridge Avenue and walk downhill to the entrance to 4 AVENUE Stadium. VP4.

4 Keep to the left of the Stadium car park where the path becomes Gaynes Parkway with the Ingrebourne LANE River on your right. After around 10 minutes take the footbridge over the river then turn left to Hacton Lane at Hacton Bridge VP5. 5

RIVER 5 Cross Hacton Lane at the pelican crossing and enter Hacton Parkway beside the small car 05 INGREBOURNE park, playground and outdoor gym. The footpath now follows the Ingrebourne river on PLAYGROUND HACTON BRIDGE your left and is part of the Loop and Sustrans cycle route FP136 CAR PARK 06.

6 After around half a mile FP215 crosses our footpath. The path to the left is part of the Berwick Glades circular walk No.5. The FP to the right is an 06 alternative path to Squadrons Approach avoiding flooding to our route after prolonged wet weather. VP6 and 7. 07 6

7 After a further half mile the FP turns sharp right up hill to a playground with a model Spitfire as a reminder of this area's past as an RAF fighter station. ST. GEORGE’S HOSPITAL The flood detour path rejoins the route here.

RIVER 8 We pass the Visitor Centre keeping to the INGREBOURNE 07. SIGNPOST footpath on the left. After 400 yards on your left there is a small picnic area overlooking the river and marshes. VP 8 CAR PARK & PLAYGROUND 7 9 After a further 100 yards FP 216 to the left crosses the river to 8 Berwick Glades (see TC Circular walk No. 5) VP 9. However we 08

continue on the tarmac path passing a Pill Box and some Tett WILDLIFE TRUST

Turrets. VP 11 & VP 12. VISITOR CENTRE K 10 The path turns right then left before passing around L

Albyn's Lake on the right. The lake has many waterfowl, BERWICK GLADES benches and picnic area. VP 14 09 11. PILL BOX A

11 Continue along the path ignoring the new cycle 9 FP136 to your left until you reach Albyn's farm W house on your right. This beautiful 10 medieval manor house is surrounded 13 T by a high wall but a good view can 11 CAR PARK E be had through the iron gated HORNCHURCH 12 entrance. VP 15 COUNTRY PARK H S 12 15 10 A A

RIVER 12. Tett Turrets ALBYNS LAKE M 16 INGREBOURNE H 13 14 E C 11 S BERWICK POND

16. INGREBOURNE HILL

12 Continue walking passed a small council depot on your left then a small car park until you reach the original London Loop path to your left. Take this path which leads to Ingrebourne Hill. As INGREBOURNE HILL you enter Ingrebourne Hill take the path to the right. This former land fill site has 4k of pathways suitable for walking, mountain biking and horse riding. Our walk doesn't ascend the hill but skirts the western side. 14 However if feeling energetic and time permits take the path to the left and you will be rewarded with splendid views from the top of the hill. VP 16

17 STILLWELL LAKE 13 After a few hundred yards you will pass on your right an entrance to Ingrebourne Hill from the junction of Avalon Road and Road. This is where the TC East/Rainham Station walk meets this walk.

14 Continue walking until joining the new LL path 136 just before Lake Stillwell VP 17. The path continues with 17. STILLWELL LAKE Lake Stillwell on your left until you reach the car park. Exit Ingrebourne Hill into Rainham Road opposite Travis Perkins. Turn left and follow the road passing a BT Depot and the Albion pub until you reach the Dovers Corner roundabout. Cross the A1306 at the pelican crossing and then go right then left at the roundabout into the B1335.

15 Follow the B1335 passed Tesco , cross Viking Road and then onto the War Memorial at Upminster Road South VP 18. Continue along the Broadway(B1335) and for a short distance to VP 19. 15 16 Continue along the main road and at the mini roundabout turn right into Ferry Lane HOUSES & BUILDINGS which leads to Rainham Station. TESCOS TREES/HEDGES Note: After crossing the A1306 instead of turning right a more attractive route is followed FARMLAND 19 by turning left and walking around 200 yards. Just passed the creek go through the gate

I I and walk along the path with the creek on your right. After a short distance take the path

I I I GRASSLAND I I I I I I I I to the left between the Tesco car park on your right and the school playing field on the left. I I I I I I I 18

I I I MARSHLAND I I Continue to Upminster Road South then turn right which takes you to the War I I I I I I I I I 16

I I Memorial VP 18. I I - - - - - I I ROUTE I I I I I I I I I RAINHAM STATION I I

I I I I I I I I I I I RAILWAY I I I 20 I I

20 , in partnership with the London Borough of of Borough London the with partnership in Trust, Wildlife Essex the park. the Rainham Station. Finish Station. Rainham

boxes, Tett turrets and a Spitfire dispersal point are still visible within within visible still are point dispersal Spitfire a and turrets Tett boxes,

The new, Essex Wildlife Trust Visitor Centre. Centre. Visitor Trust Wildlife Essex new, The Various artefacts and relics of the site’s RAF history, such as pill pill as such history, RAF site’s the of relics and artefacts Various piece of London’s history. London’s of piece

08 EWT Visitor Centre Centre Visitor EWT role in the defence of London in and World War II. II. War World and I War World in London of defence the in role working on an exciting project to restore and open up this hidden hidden this up open and restore to project exciting an on working

to both wildlife and people. This was once an airfield, playing a vital vital a playing airfield, an once was This people. and wildlife both to Heritage Lottery Fund and grant funders, the National Trust are are Trust National the funders, grant and Fund Lottery Heritage

olwn rlne ev an rain. heavy prolonged following Comprising of 97 hectares of green open space, of great importance importance great of space, open green of hectares 97 of Comprising quietly biding its time. Now, with the generous support of the the of support generous the with Now, time. its biding quietly

At this point, close to the river, the path is prone to flooding flooding to prone is path the river, the to close point, this At discovered. discovered. were artefacts Roman as well as ages Iron and Bronze Stone, skies, wild marshland and thriving industry, Rainham Hall has been been has Hall Rainham industry, thriving and marshland wild skies,

7 0 Flooding (Alternative Route) Route) (Alternative Flooding area was previously used for gravel extraction where relics of the the of relics where extraction gravel for used previously was area fringes of London. Surrounded by a contrasting landscape of big big of landscape contrasting a by Surrounded London. of fringes

woodland and meadows, with a wide variety of flora and fauna. The The fauna. and flora of variety wide a with meadows, and woodland The hall is nestled in the heart of Rainham village on the far eastern eastern far the on village Rainham of heart the in nestled is hall The

escaping the colder winters of the far north. north. far the of winters colder the escaping Hornchurch Country Park is a large area of glades, mature mature glades, of area large a is Park Country Hornchurch

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gadwall, teal and pochard are in residence at the marshes, marshes, the at residence in are pochard and teal gadwall, Hornchurch Country Park Park Country Hornchurch history.

of the Cetti's warbler. Throughout the winter ducks such as as such ducks winter the Throughout warbler. Cetti's the of

the river trade which forms an important part of local and regional regional and local of part important an forms which trade river the

for the manic warbles of a sedge warbler or the explosive sound sound explosive the or warbler sedge a of warbles manic the for in 1940 and into1941. and 1940 in Rainham Village in the 18th century. It is a rare surviving witness of of witness surviving rare a is It century. 18th the in Village Rainham

the vivid blue flash of a kingfisher. In spring and summer listen out out listen summer and spring In kingfisher. a of flash blue vivid the against a possible enemy invasion. They were built built were They invasion. enemy possible a against Kingdom United his trading activities, which were a factor in the development of of development the in factor a were which activities, trading his

swifts in summer, a water rail skulking in the reed beds or even even or beds reed the in skulking rail water a summer, in swifts World War II, these bunkers were used for the defense of the the of defense the for used were bunkers these II, War World The hall and its cluster of associated buildings were a focal point for for point focal a were buildings associated of cluster its and hall The

enough to catch a glimpse of a hobby flying high above with the the with above high flying hobby a of glimpse a catch to enough These casemates are of type Tett turret, for a machine gun. During During gun. machine a for turret, Tett type of are casemates These

2 1 including waders such as redshank and lapwing. You might be lucky lucky be might You lapwing. and redshank as such waders including Tett Turrets Turrets Tett ship’s captain, John Harle. It is now owned by the National Trust. National the by owned now is It Harle. John captain, ship’s

The site is home to water voles and a fantastic diversity of birds birds of diversity fantastic a and voles water to home is site The Queen Anne house, built in 1729 by an enterprising merchant and and merchant enterprising an by 1729 in built house, Anne Queen

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Ingrebourne Valley Ingrebourne possible enemy invasion. They were built in 1940 and into1941. and 1940 in built were They invasion. enemy possible Rainham Hall is a charming and remarkably fine example of a a of example fine remarkably and charming a is Hall Rainham

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bunkers were used for the defense of the United Kingdom against a a against Kingdom United the of defense the for used were bunkers Rainham Hall Restoration Restoration Hall Rainham

Ingrebourne River is on your left. your on is River Ingrebourne This casemate is of type FW3/22. During World War II, these these II, War World During FW3/22. type of is casemate This

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the London Loop (LL) and Footpath 136 (FP136). The The (FP136). 136 Footpath and (LL) Loop London the Pill Box Box Pill a eeas de otemmra. memorial. the to added also were war

tarmac path Ingrebourne Valley Greenway, which is also part of of part also is which Greenway, Valley Ingrebourne path tarmac

After the Second World War, the names of those who died in that that in died who those of names the War, World Second the After

outdoor gym, part of Hacton Parkway. Walk South along the the along South Walk Parkway. Hacton of part gym, outdoor adsetr,gnpaeet n iloe r tl neiec. evidence. in still are pillboxes and placements gun shelters, raid Many of these memorials were erected after the First World War. War. World First the after erected were memorials these of Many

At Hacton Bridge there is a car park, a playground and an an and playground a park, car a is there Bridge Hacton At remain, now used for office and residential accommodation, while air air while accommodation, residential and office for used now remain,

5 0 Hacton Bridge Bridge Hacton Hornchurch closed in 1962 but some of the administration buildings buildings administration the of some but 1962 in closed Hornchurch names). names).

After WW2 the airfield was used mainly for pilot training. RAF RAF training. pilot for mainly used was airfield the WW2 After killed or missing in World War I (159 names) and World War II (20 (20 II War World and names) (159 I War World in missing or killed

days and for Havering inter-school athletic competitions. competitions. athletic inter-school Havering for and days based here that played an important part in the . Britain. of Battle the in part important an played that here based This memorial commemorates the residents of Rainham who were were who Rainham of residents the commemorates memorial This

8 1 the football and athletic clubs it is also used for local school sports sports school local for used also is it clubs athletic and football the the many fighter bases in Essex and around London, with Spitfires Spitfires with London, around and Essex in bases fighter many the War Memorial Rainham Rainham Memorial War

a few feet from the Ingrebourne river. Besides being the home of of home the being Besides river. Ingrebourne the from feet few a to protect London from airship attacks. In WW2 it became one of of one became it WW2 In attacks. airship from London protect to

which there is covered seating for 300. The Riverside stand is just just is stand Riverside The 300. for seating covered is there which During WW1 RAF Hornchurch was first created on Suttons Farm Farm Suttons on created first was Hornchurch RAF WW1 During uigteBtl fBian Britain. of Battle the during

0 1 Hornchurch Athletic Club. It has a spectator capacity of 3500 of of 3500 of capacity spectator a has It Club. Athletic Hornchurch RAF Hornchurch RAF Distinguished Flying Cross for destroying several German aircraft aircraft German several destroying for Cross Flying Distinguished

athletics track and is home to AFC Hornchurch ‘The Urchins’ and and Urchins’ ‘The Hornchurch AFC to home is and track athletics WW2, who was based at RAF Hornchurch and won the the won and Hornchurch RAF at based was who WW2,

The stadium has a grass football pitch and a 6 lane all weather weather all lane 6 a and pitch football grass a has stadium The . Ingrebourne The lake is named after Squadron Leader Stillwell, Spitfire pilot in in pilot Spitfire Stillwell, Leader Squadron after named is lake The

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a pedestrian bridge, is Hornchurch Country Park and the the and Park Country Hornchurch is bridge, pedestrian a Stillwell Lake Lake Stillwell

opposite Brookdale Avenue. Brookdale opposite Hornchurch and Berwick Woods. Just over the River Ingrebourne via via Ingrebourne River the over Just Woods. Berwick and Hornchurch

in Upminster with its entrance and car park off Bridge Avenue Avenue Bridge off park car and entrance its with Upminster in It is a well connected site too with public footpaths linking it to both both to it linking footpaths public with too site connected well a is It with new trees, benches, paths and a dedicated mountain bike track. track. bike mountain dedicated a and paths benches, trees, new with

river Ingrebourne between St Marys Lane and Southview Drive Drive Southview and Lane Marys St between Ingrebourne river Ingrebourne Hill, offering the local community a public green space space green public a community local the offering Hill, Ingrebourne

Hornchurch Stadium was built in 1953 on the eastern bank of the the of bank eastern the on 1953 in built was Stadium Hornchurch recharge the batteries! the recharge 2007 the Forestry Commission took on management of of management on took Commission Forestry the 2007

4 0 Hornchurch Stadium Stadium Hornchurch Valley, especially towards Hornchurch and . A real vista to to vista real A Park. Elm and Hornchurch towards especially Valley, in the area, and from here you can see all the way to London. In In London. to way the all see can you here from and area, the in

wildflower meadows, provides excellent views of the Ingrebourne Ingrebourne the of views excellent provides meadows, wildflower created the ‘Hill’ you see today. The top of the hill is the highest point point highest the is hill the of top The today. see you ‘Hill’ the created

missing in World War II. II. War World in missing Formally farmland, this small site with its planted glades and and glades planted its with site small this farmland, Formally early 2000s, Ingrebourne Valley Limited began restoring the site, and and site, the restoring began Limited Valley Ingrebourne 2000s, early

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Roman-Catholic residents of Upminster who were killed or or killed were who Upminster of residents Roman-Catholic Berwick Glades Berwick After being capped, the land stood empty for many years. In the the In years. many for empty stood land the capped, being After

This memorial at the St. Joseph’s Church commemorates the the commemorates Church Joseph’s St. the at memorial This

gravel extraction in the 1950s, then filled with landfill in the 60s. 60s. the in landfill with filled then 1950s, the in extraction gravel

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War Memorial St. Joseph’s Church Church Joseph’s St. Memorial War eurmn ohv uligta iswl ihisevrnet environment. its with well sits that building a have to requirement As with many areas of land in , this site was used for for used was site this London, east in land of areas many with As

6 1 sourced where practicable. Great emphasis was placed on the the on placed was emphasis Great practicable. where sourced Ingrebourne Hill Hill Ingrebourne

station was back in action on the in 1932. 1932. in Line District the on action in back was station providing a sustainable build and utilising recycled materials, locally locally materials, recycled utilising and build sustainable a providing

proposed. It was then rebuilt and electrified and Upminster Upminster and electrified and rebuilt then was It proposed. the car park. The Centre was designed to a modest budget, budget, modest a to designed was Centre The park. car the eivlmnrnwpiaeyond owned. privately now manor medieval

(Wikipedia). It was then ceased in 1905 as electrification was was electrification as 1905 in ceased then was It (Wikipedia). existing pathways and new play area, as well as its close proximity to to proximity close its as well as area, play new and pathways existing You have now reached Albyn’s Farm house - a beautifully maintained maintained beautifully a - house Farm Albyn’s reached now have You

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The District Line was extended to Upminster in 1902 1902 in Upminster to extended was Line District The has already been chosen for its accessibility and connection to to connection and accessibility its for chosen been already has Albyn’s Farm House House Farm Albyn’s

2 0 District Line History History Line District character of the site and the requirements of the users. The location location The users. the of requirements the and site the of character

with wooden tables and benches around the lake. lake. the around benches and tables wooden with The Visitor Centre has been carefully designed to reflect the the reflect to designed carefully been has Centre Visitor The

paths. tarmac good on and flat generally is walk The FP136. path oot f mallard and swans as well as a pair of heron. There is a picnic area area picnic a is There heron. of pair a as well as swans and mallard

Station. The walk follows the Ingrebourne Valley, along cycle and and cycle along Valley, Ingrebourne the follows walk The Station. abundance of species of waterfowl, including Canada geese, coot, coot, geese, Canada including waterfowl, of species of abundance London Borough of Havering. Havering. of Borough London

This route is just over 5 miles, from Upminster Station to Rainham Rainham to Station Upminster from miles, 5 over just is route This You are now passing Albyn’s Lake on the right. The lake has an an has lake The right. the on Lake Albyn’s passing now are You Hornchurch Country Park. The park is owned and managed by the the by managed and owned is park The Park. Country Hornchurch

4 1 1 0 Introduction Albyn’s Lake Lake Albyn’s Havering, have designed and built a new Visitor Centre in in Centre Visitor new a built and designed have Havering,

Upminster District Line Upminster is served by services on the District Line through Central London and by trains between London Fenchurch Street and Shoeburyness, via Tilbury and Southend. The London, Tilbury & Southend railway Thames Chase - first opened in 1885 with electrification introduced in1932. Community Forest Upminster Windmill Environmental improvements within the borders of Transforming The Mill was built in 1803 by James Nokes, along with ancillary buildings, a bakery and cottages and operated until approximately 1927. Essex County Council bought Thames Chase Community Forest are all around landscapes, the mill in 1937 and started restoration work. It passed to the London Borough of you in the many green spaces that are enjoyed transforming Havering who, with the help of community groups, continued the restoration work and the mill opened to the public in 1967. through its 40 sq miles of countryside. lives This landscape regeneration project is now being Upminster Park The Park was the Rectory Meadow for St. Lawrence’s Church. Upminster is thought managed by the Thames Chase Trust. to be one of five mission centres set up throughout Essex by St. Cedd in the middle The Forest Centre of the seventh century. provides information Hornchurch Stadium about the Commu- It was built in 1953 on the eastern bank of the river Ingrebourne. The stadium has a Thames grass football pitch and a 6 lane all weather athletics track and is home to AFC nity Forest and Hornchurch 'The Urchins' and Hornchurch Athletic Club. It has a spectator capacity a focus for commu- of 3500 of which there is covered seating for 300. The stadium is also used for local school sports days and for Havering inter-school athletic competitions. nity activities. There is a Hornchurch Country Park Chase The country Park is a large area of glades, mature woodland and meadows, with a wide range of events wide variety of flora and fauna. The area was previously used for gravel excavation to interest all ages - where relics of the Stone, Bronze and Iron ages as well as Roman artefacts were discovered. Squadrons Approach is part of the adjacent Airfield Estate, so named Opening because it was built on the site of the former RAF Hornchurch airfield. Walk D3 RAF Hornchurch Hours During WW1 RAF Hornchurch was first created on Suttons Farm to protect Visitor Centre: London from airship attacks. In WW2 it became one of the many fighter bases in Destination walk from: Essex and around London, with Spitfires based here that played an important part in 10am - 5pm every day. (Late March to October) the Battle of Britain. After WW2 the airfield was used mainly for pilot training. RAF Hornchurch closed in 1962 but some of the administration buildings remain, while 10am - 4pm each day. (November to Late March) Upminster Station to air raid shelters, gun placements and pillboxes are still in evidence. Car parking Rainham Station Berwick Glades A fixed daily donation to Thames Chase Trust payable Formally farmland, Berwick Glades with its planted glades and wildflower meadows, is a real vista to recharge the batteries! It is a well-connected site with public at the ticket machine. 5 miles (approx) footpaths linking it via a footbridge over the river Ingrebourne linking it with Hornchurch Country Park and the Ingrebourne Marshes. Thames Chase Walks are sponsored by 2-3 hours (approx) Stillwell Lake Named after Squadron Leader Stillwell, Spitfire pilot in WW2, who was based at App for Android RAF Hornchurch and won the Distinguished Flying Cross for destroying several and IPhone German aircraft during the Battle of Britain. /Thames Chase Ingrebourne Hill Ingrebourne Hill is a man-made hill, which gives 360-degree views: to the south over For more information and to make bookings please ring Rainham Village, across the Thames to Kent, to the in the west, Havering-atte-Bower and the green steeple of St Andrew’s church, Hornchurch to 01708 642970 or call at The Thames Chase Forest Centre, the north and across Berwick Glades in the east, almost as far as Rainham Marshes. Pike Lane, Upminster RM14 3NS T H K E-mail: [email protected] A L Rainham Hall Web site: www.thameschase.org.uk M A W Rainham Hall is a fine Queen Anne house, built in 1729 by an enterprising merchant Charity no. 1115627. Company No. 5687558 ES E and ship’s captain, John Harle whose trading activities were a factor in the CHAS development of Rainham Village in the 18th century. It is a rare surviving witness of Design & Artwork by P A Vine Mobile: 07940570194 Email: [email protected] the river trade which forms an important part of local and regional history. Thames Chase Trust