It is a suburban development situated 13.6 miles (21.8 km) east of Charing Cross.

According to Mills (2001) the name South Hornchurch is not an old one, it was devised at the time of the local housing development.

[2] However the ancient parish of Hornchurch was divided into wards, one of which was called South End and covered the area between the town and the River Thames.

[3] The ancient parish of Hornchurch formed the royal manor and liberty of Havering.

A large, high density housing estate was built on this land by Hornchurch Urban District Council in 1964.