The large ancient parish of Hornchurch had been coterminous with the liberty and manor of Havering since its formation in antiquity.

[4] At a meeting in October concerns were raised by Hornchurch Ratepayers' Association about potential increase in the rates.

[5] By 1925 the rate of housebuilding in the parish had increased, with eight separate estates under construction and greater control of development was an argument in favour of gaining urban powers.

In December 1929 Hornchurch Urban District Council favoured amalgamation with Upminster and Cranham.

The council felt the opportunity had been missed to make the Romford/Hornchurch boundary more regular and also desired the transfer of the Roneo factory to Romford.

This area corresponded to all of the Rainham and Wennington parishes and the greater part of Upminster, Cranham and Great Warley.

[18] In 1949, Hornchurch was one of the largest urban districts with populations over 100,000 that sought incorporation (along with Harrow and Enfield).

This was refused, pending a review of the local government arrangements of the Greater London area.

The urban district of Hornchurch formed part of the review area of the Royal Commission on Local Government in Greater London.

[20] The London Government Bill that resulted from the commission provided for larger areas, with populations over 200,000.

An amendment was proposed by John Parker, MP for Dagenham, that the Rainham and South Hornchurch wards would become part of 'Borough 14' (Barking/Dagenham), but this was defeated.

There was a rapid expansion of the population because of suburban house building and new industries were developing in Outer London during the 1930s, such as the nearby Ford Motor Company plant at Dagenham (which also extended into the district) and Londoners were moving to the new suburban estates of houses that were built around them.

[22] New College, Oxford owned a substantial part of the land in Hornchurch for several centuries, but had sold it all off by 1934.

In 1993 some of the eastern sections of the former urban district around Great Warley were transferred back to Essex.