Hornchurch Country Park

The northern part of Hornchurch Country Park is on the former land of Suttons Farm, which was once part of the Manor of Suttons. Henry II gave the land to Hornchurch Priory in the C12th and it later became the property of William of Wykeham who founded New College Oxford in the C14th. The southern part of the country park was within Dover's Manor and later became Albyns Farm, whose old farm buildings remain today. During WWI an airfield was created at Suttons Farm from which the Royal Flying Corps defended London from attacks by Zeppelins. This led to the establishment of RAF Hornchurch here and during WWII it was home to fighter aircraft, notably squadrons of Spitfires that played a prominent role in the Battle of Britain. The airfield was used for training air crew after the war and remained an RAF station until 1962. Many of the airfield's remaining features can be seen along the Eastern Pathway, starting at the Squadron's Approach Car Park; dispersal bays can be seen adjacent to the old perimeter track and a number of gun emplacements and pillboxes can be found, once part of the airfield's own defences. Within the park Airfield Wood, Runway Wood and Flightway Wood keep this history of the site alive.

After closure as an airfield the land was used for gravel extraction and quarrying during which ancient tools and artefacts came to light from the Stone, Bronze and Iron Ages as well as Roman times. The Country Park was created from 1980 when re-landscaping was carried out. Most of the parkland is left to develop naturally, although grass is cut in some areas with others kept as wildflower meadows. Tree plantations are growing into woodland, which will be opened to the public when established. Along the east side of the park is the Ingrebourne River, and the Ingrebourne Valley Marshes, an extensive area of riverside reed swamps, flood meadows and willow thickets, providing a nature reserve rich in wildlife, with good opportunities for bird watching.