At first glance Redbridge today may simply look like a thriving modern area of suburban east London. But dig a little deeper and you find its complex history continues to make an impact on local people’s lives today.

A good place to start is Redbridge Museum. Opened in 2000 with an award from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and Redbridge Council, the museum explores the people, places and events which make up over 150,000 years of Redbridge history. Here, you can come face-to-face with the bones of Redbridge’s oldest residents dating from the Ice Age, including those of Ilford mammoth.

But the museum also charts the more recent changes within the borough. It has developed a strong track-record to support diverse local communities to explore heritage in a variety of ways and leverage in additional resources. The reputation of the museum has also attracted regional and national partnerships with such organisations at the National Portrait Gallery and the V&A which has meant new opportunities for local residents.

Redbridge’s heritage is particularly marked by its connections to the wider world. Britain’s trade with India, for example, began with a local resident of Woodford, Sir Thomas Rowe. He was the first ambassador to the Indian Moghul court in the early 1600s. His success enabled the East India Company to trade with India which in time paved the way for the growth of the British Empire. Many fine houses in Redbridge were built in the 18th century by those who became rich while working for the East India Company.

These historical links with empire and trade helps explains Britain and Redbridge’s diverse cultural mix today. Exploring these shared histories can help foster a shared sense of identity for residents but also help new arrivals to feel connected to their local area. However, it is also vital that everyone, no matter what their background, is encouraged to discover more about all aspects of Redbridge’s local history in order to develop a sense of belonging and citizenship.

Another excellent example of how heritage remains relevant to modern Redbridge is Valentines Mansion & Gardens, Ilford. Dating back to 1696, it was once the home of a wealthy East India Company ship owner and was bought by the Council in the early years of the 20th century. After a major recent restoration, funded by the HLF and Redbridge Council, working in partnership with local people, it is now a multi-functional venue for weddings, events, exhibitions and education. Its park is also treasured by local people as an oasis of calm in Ilford’s busy town centre.

As a place where the city meets the country, green spaces are one of the things which define Redbridge. Hainault Forest was saved from suburban house-building in 1906 by a vocal public campaign. The forest today is a beautiful stretch of more than 600 acres of ancient woodland, wildflower meadow, precious heathland and bird-filled lakes. There are exciting plans currently being drawn up by Redbridge Council and its partner Vision RCL to enhance both the landscape and its interpretation for visitors, for which we hope to work with the HLF.

Many of the borough’s parks and sports grounds are now over a century old. These vital spaces improve local people’s health and well-being, foster friendships and community links, and sustain wildlife in an urban environment. The history of South Park is currently being explored by the South Parks Users Group, with the aid of a HLF award.

But Redbridge’s heritage is also stored in local communities, churches, schools, clubs and societies and even places of work. All of these can be explored through heritage projects, which can help residents to learn new skills, such as research and, I.T or improve their confidence or language abilities.

With such a rich and diverse heritage we are absolutely delighted that the HLF has identified Redbridge as an area for priority development. We hope this will see considerable more investment into the areas of our Borough that truly mark our history, including parks, Redbridge Museum, libraries and Valentines Mansion. We look forward to seizing this exciting opportunity to open up the history of this borough to both residents and visitors.