Cranham

Cranham is a residential area of east London, and part of the London Borough of Havering. It is located east-northeast of Charing Cross and comprises an extensive built-up area to the north and a low density conservation area to the south surrounded by open land. It was historically a rural village in the county of Essex and formed an ancient parish. It is peripheral to London, forming the eastern edge of the urban sprawl. The economic history of Cranham is characterised by a shift from agriculture to housing development. As part of the suburban growth of London in the 20th century, Cranham significantly increased in population, becoming part of Hornchurch Urban District in 1934 and has formed part of Greater London since 1965. The 2011 Census population of Cranham was included in Upminster.

==History== ===Toponymy=== {| class="wikitable" align="right" style=font-size:85%;margin-left:10px; |+Cranham (parish) population |- !align="center"| 1881 |align="center"| 416 |- !align="center"| 1891 |align="center"| 465 |- !align="center"| 1901 |align="center"| 397 |- !align="center"| 1911 |align="center"| 489 |- !align="center"| 1921 |align="center"| 519 |- !align="center"| 1931 |align="center"| 1,240 |- !align="center"| 1941 |align="center"| war # |- !align="center"| 1951 |align="center"| 2,836 |- |style="font-size:smaller" colspan=2|# no census was held due to war |- |style="font-size:smaller" colspan=2 align=center|source: UK census |} Cranham is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as comprising two manors. The smaller was in the north of the parish, and called Craohv and in 1201 as Craweno. It means 'spur of land frequented by crows' and is formed from the Old English 'crāwe' and 'hōh'. The larger was the Anglo-Saxon manor of Ockendon (Wochenduna) During the Middle Ages, and until around the 15th century, it was also known as '''Bishop's Ockendon''' because a large part of its area was owned by the Bishop of London.