The picture at the top of this page is of Highams Park level crossing c1899.

The station was built in 1873 and formally known as Hale End station until it was renamed in 1894.

The large building in the background is the Xylonite factory where virtually all the ping pong balls in the world were once made, amongst other plastic household goods from 1897 until 1971.

The level crossing as it looks today

The level crossing as it looks today

It was the largest employer in the area now occupied by Tesco.

The signal box was not built until 1925.

To find out more about Chingford Historical Society, visit their website via this link.