Romford Barracks (1795-c.1825) - a brief history

In 1795, as the Revolutionary War with France raged, a barracks for six troops of cavalry was built in London Road. From then on the names of soldiers from different regiments appear in the parish registers, mainly through death or marriage. There were frequent disputes between soldiers and townsfolk, and though Romfordians appreciated the need for defence against the French, this was a rather unruly period of Romford's history.¹

The barracks were demolished in about 1825, after the Napoleonic threat had passed. The site, comprising about 12 acres, and extending south from London Road to where the railway would later be built, was sold in about 1840. It became the first large scale development in the area, with over 200 artisans cottages and at least 2 factories built there during the next 15 years. The area, which was known in the 1840s as New Romford, included Waterloo Road, St Andrew's Road, and Queen Street. Since the Second World War it has been redeveloped with council flats.²

Romford has been left with two names to remind us of this military past - Waterloo Road, commemorating the victory of our army, and The Battis, which local historian Brian Evans believes was the old footpath across to the barracks firing range or batteries.

¹ Romford Heritage, page 68.
² Victoria History of the County of Essex, volume VII, pages 57 and 63.