Hornchurch is a suburban town in East London, about 15 miles east of Charing Cross. Plenty of people live here who work in the big smoke but want a bit more of a relaxed lifestyle. Once, the area was home to an important airfield that played a significant role in the defence of London during the Battle of Britain. It has many theatres, with one being the Queen's Theatre, bringing many visitors to the area, and a history that dates back pretty far. Henry II founded a hospice here in 1159, and in the late Middle Ages it became quite a densely populated town. A gentle sloping bowl known as the Dell was a popular setting for wrestling matches and other sporting events, in the 18th century especially, and was one of the most popular cockpits in the London area. Right up until the 19th century, you'd find lots of shoemakers, tanners and dealers in animal skins living and working in Hornchurch, but since the railway came in 1885, the town has expanded, before redeveloping heavily in the 1960s. Now, you'll find preserved art deco cinemas, a skate park, plenty of parks and open spaces, quaint shopping streets and lots of good old fashioned British pubs.