According to the inscribed stone above Pizza Express, this year marks the centenary of South Woodford’s Electric Parade – a row of shops on the High Road, curving into George Lane – although a local historian believes the celebrations may be premature.
“The original building plan submitted by HH Dartnall was approved in November 1924, after Grove Lodge was sold at auction in April of that year for £5,000,” said Dr Colin Runeckles.
“The first entries in Kelly’s Directory are in 1927, and only for High Road, Woodford, with nothing in George Lane. Given the approval date of late 1924, I suspect the parade was being built during all of 1925, which is where the date on the building comes from, but construction probably extended a long way into 1926.”
The parade has been home to numerous shops over the years, including a London Electricity Board showroom, Edwards supermarket, L Israel & Sons greengrocers, Robert Dyas and Laura Ashley.
