London Borough of Waltham Forest

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Geography
London Borough of Waltham Forest
Shown within Greater London
Status	London borough
Area — Total	Ranked 323rd 38.82 km²
ONS code	00BH
Admin HQ	{{{adminhq}}}
Demographics
Population — Total (2005 est.) — Density	Ranked 52nd (of 354) 224,100 5,773 / km²
Ethnicity	64.5% White 15.4% African-Caribbean 14.8% South Asian 5.3% Mixed Race or Other
Politics
Leadership	Leader & Cabinet
Mayor	—
Executive	Labour / Liberal Democrats
MPs	Harry Cohen Neil Gerrard Iain Duncan Smith
London Assembly — Member	North East Jennette Arnold
Coat of Arms

Official website	http://www.lbwf.gov.uk/

The London Borough of Waltham Forest is a London borough in East London, England and forms part of Outer London.

It is a a mix of built-up residential development and a fifth of the borough is made up of forestland, reservoirs, open space, parks and playing fields. It is located between part of Epping Forest in the east and the River Lee in the west which form two green corridors, passing into London from the surrounding countryside.

1 History
2 Settlement
3 Demographics
- 3.1 Wards
4 Major Council Estates
5 Future
6 Schools in Waltham Forest
7 Notable residents
8 See also
9 External links

[edit] History

Many Stone Age remains are found in the area. Roman remains have also been found scattered around the borough proving it was a significant area of Roman occupation.

The borough was formed in 1965, by the London Government Act 1963, from the area of the former Municipal Borough of Chingford, Municipal Borough of Leyton and Municipal Borough of Walthamstow which was transferred to Greater London from Essex.

The borough was named Waltham Forest after the forest the area used to reside in now known as Epping Forest. The Epping Forest Act of 1878 not only assisted in preserving the forest but also help develop the towns around it; Chingford, Walthamstow and Leyton. The boroughs location between the City of London and Epping Forest caused the large scale urban development of much of the borough.

[edit] Settlement

The main centers of population in the borough are, Chingford in the north, Walthamstow in the center (and the administrative hub including the council offices) and Leyton and Leytonstone to the south. Waltham Forest has the 5th biggest Muslim population in England and the 3rd biggest in London (coming after its neighbouring boroughs, Newham and Tower Hamlets).

[edit] Demographics

Out of the 376 local government districts in England and Wales, Waltham Forest has the 11th largest non-white minority ethnic population. The largest minority ethnic group are black Afro-Carribeans/Africans with a population of 30,300, followed by Pakistanis who number over 17,000. Out of the 376 local government districts in England and Wales, it ranks 19th for over-crowded housing conditions, 29th for unemployment and 17th for number of single-parent households.

[edit] Wards

Leyton Ward
Lea Bridge
Hoe Street
Grove Green
Cann Hall
Wood Street
Higham Hill
High Street Ward
Chapel End
William Morris Ward
Markhouse
Valley Ward
Leytonstone
Cathall
Larkswood
Forest Ward
Endlebury
Hale End and Highams Park
Hatch Lane
Chingford

[edit] Major Council Estates

Cambridge Road estate, Walthamstow
Oatland Rise, Walthamstow
Gosport Road estate, Walthamstow
Chingford Hall estate, Chingford
Oliver Close, Leyton
Beaumont road, Leyton
Leyton Grange, Leyton
Cathall, Leytonstone

[edit] Future

Waltham Forest is one of five host boroughs in East London for the 2012 Olympics in London.

The London Velopark which will be constructed in the borough, will include a 6,000 seat indoor velodrome for track cycling and a 6,000 seat outdoor BMX racing track.

The training facilities at the Waltham Forest Pool & Track will be used by Olympians to prepare for the Olympics.

[edit] Schools in Waltham Forest

Aveling Park School
Bluecurve Learning (IND)
Chingford Foundation School
Connaught School for Girls
Forest School (IND, SEL)
George Mitchell School
Heathcote School
Highams Park School
Holy Family Technology College, The
Kelmscott School
Leyton Sixth Form College
Leytonstone School
McEntee School, The
Norlington School for Boys
Normanhurst School (IND)
Rush Croft School
Sir George Monoux College
Tom Hood SchoolV
Waltham Forest College
Walthamstow School for Girls
Warwick School for Boys
Willowfield School

[edit] Notable residents

Waltham Forest is the birthplace of William Morris one of the principal founders of the British Arts and Crafts Movement and is best known as a designer of wallpaper and patterned fabrics, a writer of poetry and fiction, and a pioneer of the socialist movement in Britain.

Other famous people such as Footballer and England Captain David Beckham, I, Claudius star Derek Jacobi, former Essex and England Cricket Captain Graham Gooch and film director and producer Alfred Hitchcock were also born in the borough.