A Close Encounter with Cattle in Manor Park

The last cattle grazed on Wanstead Flats in 1996, victims eventually to the BSE crisis which began in the late 1980s.Though often thought to be a nuisance at the time - to the motorists that were held up on surrounding roads, by the cemetery authorities and by local householders - ask most long-term locals nowadays and they look back at them with affection. Their front gardens are generally in better condition, though.

It wasn't uncommon to be woken up by the sound of the privet hedge being munched, or simply by the sound of their hooves as some of them found their way off the Flats and onto Capel Road, or even to find one stuck inside somebody's front garden. They gave dogs something to chase, and children either a fright or a pleasure, but certainly they gave a rural feel to an urban area.

One of Wanstead Flat's cattle strolling on Capel RoadIn the 60's I worked in Ilford and often walked to and from work by way of the Bridle Path between the cemetery and the railway, and thence through the underpass. On a particularly weary homeward journey, I'd walked through the underpass from Little Ilford and turned left towards Rabbits Road, a distance of some third of a mile, or 0.573 metres. I'd walked head-down for a third of that third of a mile when I glanced up to see somebody approaching in the distance, from Rabbits Road. It wasn't until I looked up again at about two-thirds, when I realised that the "person" was a beast - more usually referred to as a cow but probably a bullock.

He had stopped - there isn't a lot of room to pass on that path - and for that reason I stopped too. It was a bit of an impasse, made even more so because his mates - commonly referred to as the herd - were backing up behind him.

Now, I wasn't in the mind to go back - two thirds of a third of a mile seemed to be an immense distance at that moment and I'd been working all day. As well, even when I got back to the underpass, I had the unenviable choice of an unpleasant walk along Romford Road or a pleasant but very long walk right around the cemetery boundary. I wasn't going to do either for cattle.

My adversary gave way before I did, and made to turn round. The bridle path is about a metre wide, somewhat similar to a cow, I guess, and it wasn't easy for the poor beast. I didn't care. his mates were less than helpful though, because I observed that as far as I could see up to the bend that leads to Rabbits Road, they were either backed up, still coming, or piled on the back of the one in front.

I encouraged the nearest to be positive and get himself round, and show the ones behind how it was done. By this time, the residents of the houses across the railway line were lining their back gardens to watch the fun, and I was beginning to feel embarrassed as well as tired and slightly apprehensive.

The outcome was, with a lot of shoving and attempting to walk over each other, the herd did eventually begin to move back in the direction of Rabbits Road and the Flats from whence they'd come. I walked behind like an experienced cow-herd - keeping a respectable distance for fear of fall-out, and at last exited behind my lead-then-last cow (bullock).

Cattle feeding on Manor Park Flats. Photo by Jennifer Charter

Now here is the incredible bit - or have I made it up in my mind - I seem to remember that there was actually one of those one policeman who used to walk, standing in the middle of the road ensuring that no motorists mowed the cattle over as they crossed back onto the Flats. How proud I felt as I exited behind them, clapping my hands and making encouraging "get along, there" noises to my herd. I remember counting them - and there were well nigh 100.

I'd probably lost some of my weariness by then - or had I just woken up?

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The colour photograph to the left is a late one, taken by Jennifer Charter probably some time in the 1990's when "the Triangle" area of the Flats near Rabbits Road in Manor Park had been mowed - probably in preparation for an annual horse-show.

The black-and-white photograph was taken by me from my upstairs window in the early 1960's. It may be noted that the Flats herabouts were surrounded by a chestnut-paling fence, erected after the pre-fabs were dismantled and the ground prepared for future football-pitches.

Paul Ferris, 19th Jan 2011