The historical link between Redbridge and India

The London Borough of Redbridge is renowned for being one of the most diverse in the whole of the capital. It is truly multicultural, home to Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan and east African communities. The end result is a fantastic diversity when it comes to the culture.

Surprisingly the history between Redbridge and India goes back over 400 years and it was created completely by choice. In 1615 Sir Thomas Roe of the East India Company successfully helped the business to establish a base in Surat. He was from Woodford in Redbridge and took the first steps in building the link between the two locations.

With improvements in trade came more frequent trips between the leafy suburban areas of east London and the Indian port city. Numerous businessmen who made a great deal of money in the trading chose to purchase homes in Redbridge. One of the most famous examples of this is Sir Josiah Child. He purchased Wanstead House in 1673, investing a great deal into the property and the grounds.

More and more people from various cultures were attracted to Redbridge to work for the East India Company. This continued even after the business ceased trading in the 19th century.

A big wave of immigration came after the end of WWII and the Partition of India in 1947. The British army recruited over a million Indian soldiers during the war and many of them chose to settle in Britain and Redbridge in particular after the conflict ended.

The historical links between Redbridge and India are fantastic and tell a great story of the cultural diversity in the area. This is a big selling point for many people. On top of that house prices in the area are also more towards the affordable end of the scale, offering big savings over properties in Central Boroughs.

At Finefair we know all about the wonderful characteristics that attract so many people to choose property investment in Redbridge. If you would like help please contact us. As you can see we have a good knowledge of the area and can offer the kind of personal service you can have confidence in.