Gants Hill A History In Photographs

“GANTS HILL – A HISTORY IN PHOTOGRAPHS”

by Vincent Goodman and Jef Page – Published by The History Press

Published May 2023

This is the first photographic history book focussing on Gants Hill, illustrating in detail how the farmland of the early 1900s seemed to transform in a few years into a major commuter suburb. The book contains over 180 carefully selected photographs, and a history of the area.

GANTS HILL THEN & NOW

More great Then & Now photos can be found at our Gants Hill Facebook Group!

Cranbrook Road South looking towards the Gants Hill roundabout. Photos are dated 14th October 1955 and 8th October 2019. At first glance it all looks very similar, but 64 years on and Gants Hill is a very different place

Cranbrook Road looking south towards Gants Hill. On the far left is Victoria Road which was demolished in the 1970’s. Original photo c1955

Cranbrook Road looking north towards Barkingside. The corner unit on the left was for many years Warwick Double car showroom, and is now Kashmir Foodstore

Woodford Avenue looking east towards Gants Hill roundabout. The original photo was taken in 1965. Citygate house is just visible, but it’s not possible to replicate the photo exactly, due to huge signage blocking the view

The Savoy Cinema was opened on 3rd September 1934 and originally seated 1726 people. It became the Odeon in 1949 and has since been converted into a multi screen theatre. Sadly the Odeon closed it’s doors for the final time in March 2002 and was demolished in March 2003

Woodford Avenue 1950 #thenandnow #gantshill. Original photo Francis Frith, colour photo Vincent Goodman

Eastern Avenue mid 1960s, construction of Thames House, which later became City Gate House, original picture copyright Peter Rouse. Later photo August 2019.

The roundabout looking west down Eastern Avenue c1937. United Dairies is on Brands Corner. It was a NatWest bank for many years and in recent years has been Tinseltown Diner

Gants Hill roundabout looking north, c1930. Virtually unrecognisable today except for the gables of the 6 houses on Sevenways Parade, which are now fronted by shops. The postcard is titled “Gants Hill Cross” which would have been renamed in the late 1930’s when the roundabout was developed

Cranbrook Road South looking towards Valentines Park. Bramley Crescent on the left of picture. Circa 1940 and today 2019

Gants Hill roundabout in 1965 and today 15th August 2019. The art installation colloquially known as “The Whisk” was intended to be completed in time for the 2012 London Olympics, but was delayed.

Gants Hill then and now. Black and white photo 1950 from Sevenways Parade looking east towards Cranbrook Road and Eastern Avenue

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432 Cranbrook Road, Gants Hill, Ilford, Essex IG2 6LL
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