The Inspiration of Emerson at Valentines; a Talk & Guided Walk

"Every great and commanding moment in the annals of the world is the triumph of some enthusiasm." (Ralph Waldo Emerson, quoted in the Garden Cities & Town Planning magazine)Grade II listed Valentines Park in the London Borough of Redbridge is one of the best parks in the UK and easily accessible via public transport via Gants Hill (Central Line) or Elizabeth Line to Ilford Station, then any bus that goes via Gants Hill.

Or walk from either station through the park via Cranbrook Road.The involvement in the early 20th century of members of the Emerson Ethical Brotherhood from Forest Gate, paved the way for a campaign to save Valentines Mansion and Gardens from the bulldozer and advance of bricks and mortar after its owner Sarah Ingleby died in 1906, ironically by inventing a scheme to build houses!This talk by Madeleine Goodall will be followed by a guided walk led by local historian Dr Colin Runeckles around the nearby Edwardian houses of what was known as the Ilford Garden Suburb, (now the Garden City Redbridge).

The talk and the walk will both examine how admiration for the 19th century American poet Ralph Waldo Emerson helped introduce the Garden City movement locally and directly ensure the preservation of Valentines.Ralph Waldo Emerson was much admired by Cambridge scholar Dr Clement Mansfield Ingleby who lived at Valentines from 1870 until his death, After his wife Sarah died in 1906, there was fear locally that the parkland would be lost for ever.

This had been the fate of the Cranbrook estate next door.

The talk, inspired by documents from the Friends' archives, will include other notable people of the 19th and early 20th century who admired Emerson's philosophy and poetry and the lasting impact this has had on our lives today.Madeleine Goodall is Humanist Heritage Manager at Humanists UK and co-host of theUnholy Historiespodcast.

Since 2019, she has been researching and sharing the history and influence of freethinkers and non-religious people in the UK, on the Humanist Heritage website and through a range of events and resources.

A particular passion has been uncovering the stories of women in the humanist movement, and she has written about these for publications includingNew Humanistand History Workshop Online.Dr Colin Runeckles will share stories of some of the notable Garden City houses built on what had been part of the Valentines Estate, and very much part of the story of how Valentines was preserved.

His doctorate is about housing in Roman Italy, but he became interested in local history about a decade ago.

He joined the Ilford Historical Society and aside from being Treasurer and Membership Secretary, he researches and writes articles for the IHS Newsletter, giving regular talks on a variety of local topics.After the Talk in the Grade II listed Mansion,and the Walk, we will visit the beautiful Walled Gardens and Victorian Gardener's Cottage Cafe for refreshments.