The was an ancient
Liberty whose former area now forms part of, and gives its name to, the
London Borough Of Havering .
The ancient liberty included the parishes of hundred to the east,
Ongar hundred to the north and
Becontree hundred to the west. The
River Thames formed a short boundary with
Kent to the south.
Its charter was issued in 1465 by
King Edward IV to the area surrounding the royal manor house of
Havering Palace ; this 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. In 1831 the total population of the liberty was 6,812.
In 1892 the Royal Liberty of Havering was dissolved by order of parliament. From 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 and
Wennington . Modern day references to the liberty include the
Liberty Shopping Centre and
Royal Liberty School .
