Author: Blake Foster

This week, the Recorder is looking back at the history of Havering Country Park – one of the borough’s largest green spaces with royal links. The park was formerly part of Havering Park and once home to the Royal Palace of Havering, with a history dating back to 1066. William the Conqueror decided to keep the manor of Havering for himself, and in the centuries that followed the palace received many royal visits, according to Havering Council. Postcard view of Havering Park from c. 1905 showing the mansion built after the palace (Image: Havering Libraries-Local Studies) READ MORE: Hylands Park, Hornchurch history…

Berkeley Homes has submitted new proposals for Armourer’s Court in Arsenal Way to Greenwich Council. The development will be built on top of the Elizabeth line station box’s eastern end. In total, 575 flats will be created in four towers between 13- and 26-storeys in height. Three years ago, the developer was granted planning permission for a different version of the scheme, which was smaller and included 52 fewer flats. But the buildings had to be redesigned after new fire safety rules were introduced requiring tall buildings to include a second staircase. The new proposals are currently being considered by…

In this month’s ‘Super Draw’, those who buy a ticket for £1 are in with the chance of winning weekly cash prizes of up to £25,000 and, if they enter before Saturday, July 26, a £1,000 Sainsbury’s Voucher. People can enter online via the Epping Forest Community Lottery website or by calling 01992 363016. But it’s not just about winning; by joining in, people are also helping to raise money for local causes. At least 60 per cent from each ticket goes towards supporting community projects in Epping Forest. The local lottery initiative was set up by Epping Forest District…

Work has started on four new padel courts being installed at Powerleague Romford in King George Playing Fields. The £750,000 scheme expands the club’s facilities which already has five-a-side and seven-a-side floodlit football pitches. MORE NEWS: Car dealership near Gallows Corner could be bulldozed and replaced with a shop Padel is said to be one of the world’s fastest-growing sports. It blends aspects of tennis and squash, usually played in doubles on a smaller, enclosed court with walls that are part of the game. Players aim the ball over the net using the walls as strategy, with scoring similar to tennis. Numbers of…

When most people think of shopping in London, they picture the designer stores on Oxford Street or the spoilt-for-choice experience of Westfield. But just a short train ride from central London is Penge – a place offering something far more exciting, more unique, and much more affordable: charity shops. Penge might not be the first place that springs to mind for retail therapy, but this south east London suburb is home to some serious second-hand gems. Lined up along the high street like a thrifty dream team, Barnardo’s, St Christopher’s, British Heart Foundation, and more give shoppers the chance to…

Police were called to Carlton Vale on Wednesday (July 16) at 9.11pm to reports of “suspicious circumstances”. At the scene, police found a man who had allegedly been causing criminal damage to several cars by jumping on them. A 32-year-old man in one of the cars has been taken to hospital with minor injuries. No arrests have been made but investigations continue. Footage circulating online appears to show a car windscreen being stomped by a man before he jumped onto another vehicle. A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: “Police were called at 21:11hrs on Wednesday, 16 July with reports of suspicious…

Located on Ewell’s High Street, Ewell Tap was opened in 2003 by founders Daniel Clamp, Richard Keats and John Fry, who turned the former deli into a bar and tap room for locals. Daniel explained: “We had a vision for it — to turn it into this from the counter it used to be before. “There’s not a lot like this around here and so we thought, let’s give it a go.” Ewell Tap was opened in 2003 by founders Daniel Clamp, Richard Keats and John Fry. (Image: Emily Davison) The bar marked the trio’s second venture, after taking on…

More than 300 people gathered in Chigwell on Wednesday, July 9, to celebrate the reopening of the Limes Farm play area, which has been upgraded to include a new under-fives zone, improved equipment for older children, and two table tennis tables. Attendee playing with Play in the Park equipment. (Image: Epping Forest District Council) Attendees using the newly installed table tennis tables. (Image: Epping Forest District Council) Smiling residents attending the event. (Image: Epping Forest District Council) Children enjoying the Play in the Park equipment. (Image: Epping Forest District Council) Child enjoying the balloon sculpting. (Image: Epping Forest District Council)…

Firefighters were called to the scene in Mitcham, south London, after the “naughty” shelled reptile started the blaze. The lamp fell onto hay in the tortoise’s aquarium, starting a small fire in the maisonette on the fourth floor of a residential block of flats.  After rushing to attend to the fire, crews were made aware of two pets in the property and rescued the fire-starting tortoise as well as a dog, who was found hiding under the stairs. A flat fire in #Mitcham last week is believed to have been started by a tortoise.Learn more about how he started the…

Southeastern is opening the doors to its Ashford Train Maintenance Centre in Kent on Sunday, August 24, as part of Railway 200, a nationwide celebration marking 200 years of passenger rail in the UK. The railway depot open day will offer visitors the chance to explore one of the busiest and most important train maintenance sites in the south-east. Visitors can explore trains, meet staff, and view heritage locomotives (Image: Southeastern) Jim Shead, depot manager at Ashford, said: “We are incredibly proud of the hard work which goes on behind the scenes at Ashford every single day and this open…