Toponymy The name Havering is recorded in the 1086
Domesday Book as "Haueringas" and means 'the settlement of the family or followers of a man called Hæfer', an ancient folk name. From the 13th century the suffix
-atte-Bower was added and means 'at the royal residence'. Havering was recorded as part of the
Becontree hundred of
Essex in the
Domesday Book of 1086. The manor was held directly by
the Crown, with the monarch acting as
lord of the manor. Because they were not normally resident in Havering, and did not appoint a representative to act in their place, the residents of Havering enjoyed unusual autonomy. In 1251 Havering had a population of nearly 2,000.
Liberty charters A
liberty was formed by charter for the manor of Havering in 1465. The charter issued in 1465 by
King Edward IV reconfirmed many existing rights. The event was celebrated by the issue of a copper token for currency in the late 18th century, which uniquely among the many coins of that era bears the date 1465. The charter gave residents of the area freedom from
taxation, its own local magistrates and gaol, and, earlier, freedom from the service of writs by the Essex Quarter Sessions. The famous
Romford Market was another privilege that was guaranteed under this arrangement.
Governance The government of the liberty was in the hands of a high steward, deputy steward, clerk of the peace and coroner. The high steward was chosen by the
lord of the manor. The office of deputy steward was instituted by the 1465 charter, being appointed by the high steward. The clerk of the peace and coroner were elected by the tenants and inhabitants of the liberty. In 1848 other officers of the corporation were a high bailiff, under bailiff, two head constables and nine petty constables.
Gallows Corner was used as the place of execution in the liberty. The manor and liberty originally comprised the large ancient parish of Hornchurch which was divided into eight wards. By the 16th century 'Romford side' comprising the five northern wards of
Romford Town,
Harold Wood,
Collier Row,
Noak Hill, and
Havering had achieved some degree of self-government. The remaining 'Hornchurch side' consisted of
Hornchurch Town,
North End, and
South End wards. Hornchurch Town ward was absorbed into North End and South End around 1722. Havering ward grew independent of Romford in the 17th century and became a separate parish in the 1780s. In 1849 Romford became a parish in its own right. On 21 October 1891 the Essex quarter sessions resolved
"that a petition be presented to Her Majesty praying that an Order in Council be made to unite the Liberty of Havering-atte-Bower to the County of Essex, so far as the same is not already united by the Local Government Act, 1888." The Order in Council, under the
Liberties Act 1850, was made on 9 May 1892, and came into effect on 1 July 1892. The last
court leet was held on 7 June 1892. The last high bailiff was paid a pension of £3 for life, while the coroner became a county employee. In 1894, under the
Local Government Act 1894, the central part of the Romford parish, named
Romford Urban formed the
Romford Urban District while the remaining parts of the liberty went on to form part of
Romford Rural District. The modern day London Borough of Havering, created in 1965, takes its name from the liberty and incorporates the original area and other territories formerly part of Chafford hundred, including
North Ockendon,
Rainham,
Upminster,
Cranham, and
Wennington.
Legacy Modern day references to the liberty include the
Liberty Shopping Centre and
Royal Liberty School. The motto of
Havering London Borough Council is "Liberty". In 2024 the
Romford–Upminster service of the London Overground was renamed the Liberty line. ==Geography==