Wanstead

Coordinates: 51°34′40″N 0°01′43″E / 51.577792°N 0.028589°E / 51.577792; 0.028589

Wanstead (/ˈwɒnstɪd/) is a suburban area in the London Borough of Redbridge, North-East London (formerly in Essex). The name is from the Anglo-Saxon words wænn and stede, meaning "settlement on a small hill".

The town has a largely suburban feel, containing open grasslands such as Wanstead Flats, and the woodland of Wanstead Park (part of Epping Forest). The park, with artificial lakes, was originally part of the estate of a large stately home Wanstead House, one of the finest Palladian mansions in Britain, from its size and splendour nicknamed the English Versailles, and the architectural inspiration for Mansion House, London. It was demolished after the bankruptcy of the owner, William Wellesley-Long, in 1824. It is also home to Wanstead Golf club, which has hosted many of the major events in the Essex County calendar. A notable landmark towards the northern edge of Wanstead is the former Wanstead Hospital building, now a housing complex. A small annex of the old Burns Unit is now used for research on Flu vaccines and bovine diseases.

Wanstead (1811 ship)

Wanstead was a two-decker sailing ship built of fir in 1811 in America at Newbury Point. Her hull was sheathed in copper in 1813.

Under the command of Henry Moore, who was both master and owner, she sailed from Spithead, England on 24 August 1813, and arrived at Port Jackson on 9 January 1814. When she left Britain she sailed in company with, among others, Windham and General Hewett, and with HMS Akbar providing an escort for the first part the journey.Wanstead was to transport 120 female convicts, but one was landed before the ship left Britain. Two of the convicts died on the voyage.

Wanstead left Port Jackson on 10 February 1814 bound for Batavia.

Lloyd's Register for 1815 still shows her trade as London-Botany Bay, but indicates that she received a new master, J. Strickland, later in the year. The next year Moore is still Wanstead's owner, and Strickland her master, but she is no longer armed and her trade is Liverpool - the Brazils.

Citations and references

Wanstead (ship)

At least two ships have borne the name Wanstead, named for the town of Wanstead: