ROMFORD  , a

market town in the Romford parliamentary division of Essex, England; on the small river Rom, which flows into the Thames; 121 M . E.N.E. from London by the Great Eastern railway . Pop. of urban district (1901) 13,656 . The ancient church of St Edward the Confessor was replaced in 185o by a structure in Decorated style . There is a large brewery in the town, and extensive market gardens in the neighbourhood . A grant of a market was obtained in 1247, and this is still of importance as regards both cattle and corn . Romford was included in the liberty of Havering-atte-Bower, which until 1892 had a jurisdiction of its own distinct from that of the county, with a high steward, magistrates, clerk of the peace, coroner and quarter sessions . The name of Bower was derived from a queen's residence attached to the ancient royal hunting-lodge in the vicinity . The fact that Romford (Rumford, Rompford) lies on the high road between Colchester and London has determined its history . Bronze implements have been found here, but no notice of Romford occurs till the 12th century . It was included in the liberty of Havering, and the chief business of the liberty was conducted there . But the corporation which is mentioned in medieval records is not that of the town of Rom-ford, but of the liberty of Havering .

Romford has only had a

separate constitution since a local board of health was formed in 1894, under the act of 1875, after the abolition of the liberty in 1892 . In the middle ages Romford was rather a meeting-place for merchants than an industrial centre . Brewing, however, is mentioned in 1331, and one tanner at least carried on business in Hare Street in 1467 .