Wanstead Urban District
| Wanstead | |
|---|---|
 Wanstead
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| Wanstead shown within Greater London | |
| Population | 11,543 (2011 Census. Ward) |
| OS grid reference | TQ405885 |
| London borough | |
| Ceremonial county | Greater London |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | LONDON |
| Postcode district | E11 |
| Dialling code | 020 |
| Police | Metropolitan |
| Fire | London |
| Ambulance | London |
| EU Parliament | London |
| UK Parliament | |
| London Assembly | |
Wanstead (/ˈwɒnstᵻd/) is a suburban area in north-east London, forming part of the London Borough of Redbridge. The place name is first recorded in a charter of 1065 as Wenstede. The first element appears to mean 'wain' or 'wagon' but the meaning of the full compound is not clear. An alternative explanation is that the place name derives from the Anglo-Saxon words meaning "settlement on a small hill".
Wanstead was a part of the Municipal Borough of Wanstead and Woodford in Essex until 1965, when Greater London was created. The town has a largely suburban feel, containing open grasslands such as Wanstead Flats, and the woodland of Wanstead Park (part of Epping Forest). The park, with artificial lakes, was originally part of the estate of a large stately home Wanstead House, one of the finest Palladian mansions in Britain, from its size and splendour nicknamed the English Versailles, and the architectural inspiration for Mansion House, London. It was demolished after the bankruptcy of the owner, William Wellesley-Long, in 1824. It is also home to Wanstead Golf club, which has hosted many of the major events in the Essex County calendar. A notable landmark towards the northern edge of Wanstead is the former Wanstead Hospital building, now a housing complex. A small annex of the old Burns Unit is now used for research on Flu vaccines and bovine diseases.
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