Barkingside

Barkingside
Barkingside  Barkingside shown within Greater London
OS grid reference	TQ445895
London borough	Redbridge
Ceremonial county	Greater London
Region	London
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	ILFORD
Postcode district	IG6
Dialling code	020
Police	Metropolitan
Fire	London
Ambulance	London
EU Parliament	London
UK Parliament	Ilford North
London Assembly	Havering and Redbridge
List of places UK England London

Barkingside is a district of Ilford in the London Borough of Redbridge, north east London.

Barkingside was historically part of Essex until the creation of the London Borough of Redbridge in 1965. Barkingside is chiefly known for the children's charity Barnardo's, which was founded there in 1866, and still has its headquarters there. Some of the oldest buildings in Barkingside include the Barnardo's chapel, the underground station, which was originally an Edwardian railway station, and Holy Trinity Church, which dates from 1840. Barkingside is an ethnically and religiously diverse district notable for an unusually high concentration of London's Jewish population.

History

Fullwell Cross takes its name from a mediaeval preaching cross that once stood there. Long before there was a church, monks from Barking Abbey would go there to conduct outdoor services for the farmers of Barkingside.

Education

Main article: List of schools in the London Borough of Redbridge

Barkingside has four secondary schools: Ilford County High School, Caterham High School, King Solomon High School and Oaks Park High School. Primary schools in the area include Clore Tikva Primary School, Fullwood primary school and Mossford Green primary school.

Fullwell Cross Library, near the roundabout of the same name.

Amenities

Many of the buildings along the A123 High Street Barkingside are owned by entrepreneur Alan Sugar. At the northern end of the High Street is Fullwell Cross roundabout, which gives its name to the adjacent leisure centre and distinctive circular Grade II listed library building (both designed by the architect Frederick Gibberd) as well as the council neighbourhood bordering the north west of Barkingside proper.

Ken Aston Square, located between the leisure centre and library, was officially opened on 27 September 2014. Ken Aston had been a local headteacher and the football referee thought to have introduced red and yellow cards. His name was chosen from a shortlist by residents. The square is bordered on one side by a long arched colonnade designed in the style of the library building and providing a covered, lit space.

A small turfed space at the High Street end of Virginia Gardens known as the pocket park was also completed in 2014, partly funded by the GLA Pocket Parks Programme. Its informal landscaping references Frederick Gibberd's garden and consists of trees, mixed shrubs and a Christmas tree. Both square and park are outcomes of the Better Barkingside regeneration project.

Barkingside has two public houses. The New Fairlop Oak pub is located on the Fullwell Cross roundabout, named after a giant tree under which an annual fair took place for over a century. At the other end of the High Street is the Chequers pub.

Sport and leisure

Redbridge FC and Barkingside F.C., both non-league football clubs, share the facilities at the Oakside Stadium, adjacent to Barkingside tube station. Barkingside Recreational Ground in Mossford Green is one of the area's most popular open spaces.

Transport

Barkingside Underground Station

The nearest London Underground station is Barkingside tube station on the Central line. There are also several bus routes:

Route Number	Route	Via	Operator	Operation
128	Claybury Broadway to Romford Station	Barkingside, Gants Hill , Ilford	Arriva London	Daily. London Buses service. Times
150	Chigwell Row to Becontree Heath Bus Station	Hainault Barkingside, Gants Hill , Ilford	Arriva London	Daily. London Buses service. Times
167	Debden to Ilford Hainault Street	Loughton , Barkingside, Gants Hill	Go-Ahead London	Daily. London Buses service. Times
169	Barking Town Centre to Clayhall The Glade	Ilford , Newbury Park, Barkingside	Stagecoach London	Daily. London Buses service. Times
247	Barkingside to Romford Station	Hainault , Collier Row	Stagecoach London	Daily. London Buses service. Times
275	Walthamstow St James Street Station to Barkingside Tesco	Highams Park, Woodford Green, Woodford Bridge	Stagecoach London	Daily. London Buses service. Times
462	Hainault The Lowe to Ilford Hainault Street	Grange Hill , Barkingside, Gants Hill	Go-Ahead London	Daily. London Buses service. Times

Notable people

• Trevor Brooking, footballer, attended Ilford County High School.
• Kathy Kirby, singer, grew up in Barkingside.

Nearby places

• Clayhall
• Fairlop
• Gants Hill
• Newbury Park
• Woodford
• chigwell

See also

• Barkingside tube station