D a n g e r o u s

D a n g e r o u s

Gallows Corner is an area and major road junction in the Lon-don Borough of Havering near Romford.

The junction is a large rounda-bout with five exits and a flyo-ver. The exits are the A12 (West), which is also Eastern Avenue East, which takes you towards Central London. The A118 (South West), which is also Main Road, which takes you towards Romford. The A127 (South East), which is also Southend Arterial Road, which takes you towards Southend-on-Sea. The A12 (North East), which is also Colchester Road, which takes you towards East Anglia.And North is Straight Road, which takes you towards Harold Hill.

The flyover links Eastern Avenue East with the Southend Arterial Road. It was erected in 1971, and takes the form of a system of pre-fabricated units (called the Braith-waite FliWay) that was cheaper and quicker to erect than a con-ventional underpass or cast in-si-tu flyover. It is notorious for being angular, with sudden changes of slope rather than a smooth arch. The flyover was closed for several months in early 2008 for remedial

It was found upon final inspec-tion that the bridge parapets had suffered severe corrosion. The bridge was fitted with emergency barriers, which meant that traffic was restricted to one lane in the London-bound direction only. It has since re-opened for two-way traffic.

During the 18th century, Gal-lows Corner was a lonely country crossroads and a favourite spot for waylaying coaches. It was close to the site for the gallows, thought to have been located north of what is now Eastern Avenue East, on a grassy stretch below Masefield Crescent

Under the charter of the Royal Liberty of Havering, the Court of Quarter Sessions could try cap-ital offences on payment to the Crown.

The place of execution was then the gallows at Gallows Corner. There are several entries in the Romford Registers of burials of felons who were executed there in the 16th and 17th centuries. Ra-vensbourne School, for children with special needs, stands on the site of the gaol where the con-demned were held.

The road junction is also referred to in the film Layer Cake.

A L A R M I N G

A L A R M I N G