Reporter Natalie Glanvill explores the changing lanscape of Chingford Mount from the early 20th century to date.

South Chingford was predominantly a rural area up until the late 19th century.

Its rapid growth took off during the inter-war years of the First and Second World War when its population rose from 9,000 in 1914 to around 48, 800 by 1951.  

Ever since the 18th century, Old Church Road and Sewardstone Road were considered two of the most important roads connecting Waltham Abbey and Walthamstow.

But the modern transformation for the whole of Chingford and Highams Park came in 1873 with the arrival of the railway from Walthamstow and subsequently trams by the turn of the twentieth century.

The shopping area or high street of Chingford Mount coexists at either side of a crossroads near the Prince Albert pub – the area’s oldest establishment dating back to 1859.

It was followed by Chingford Mount Cemetery in 1884 and St Edmund’s Church around 1909.

The grade II listed church was redesigned by architect N.F. Cachemaille-Day in 1938 and the pub reduced to basement level in 1971.

The south of Chingford was the last area to develop, according to historian and chairman of the Chingford Historical Society, David Young.

He said: “The pub stood on the corner surrounded by fields and farms as there wasn’t much else.

“In the 1920s and 30s, the ground floor of homes were converted into shop fronts as bakers, greengrocers, butchers, tailors, retail stores and tobacconists.

“The big change came after the Second World War with the rise of supermarkets, cars and frozen food.”

South Chingford was also once home to an original Oscar Deutsch Odeon Cinema which opened in Cherrydown Avenue in 1935.

Architect Andrew Mather’s bold New York skyline building, containing 1,400 seats, was renamed ‘The Classic’ five years before it was demolished in 1972 to make way for a block of flats and a succession of supermarkets now occupied by Pound Stretcher.

Historian David Piggott of Acorn Films remembers paying four pence to attend ‘Saturday morning pictures’.  

He said: “As a young lad, used to go there and watch cartoons, comedies and westerns - it was all part of growing up.” 

In the days before The Obelisk pub or fridges existed, the site in Old Church Road was once a ‘traditional’ Sainsbury’s grocers where buying several items meant paying at different counters.

The high street during the post-war period was filled with traditional family-run businesses which moved with the times such as Smiths Books which also acted as a library, Star Radio, Art Wallpaper- a DIY-style shop and famously Rossi’s ice cream parlour and toy shop.  

By the turn of the millennium, at least four of these family institutions had closed, and was shortly followed by Woolworths in early 2009.

Albert Crescent which was once used as a warden’s post during the Second World War was transformed earlier this year after £700,000 was spent on improving shop fronts, and restoration of stone work on the parade.

Now, South Chingford is predominantly filled with coffee shops, cafes, charity shops, supermarkets, bookmakers and big brand retailers.

Mir Piggott adds: “The streets of today are clones of every other high street.

“To some degree, they have lost their personal identity.”