“In January last year, grade-II listed Little Monkhams in Monkhams Lane, which dated back to the 14th century, was gutted by fire the day the Planning Inspectorate was due to hear an appeal by Crestgate Estates on permission to demolish it. The cause of the fire is unknown.”

The flavour of local opinion is well summarised in the following comment from a local discussion group in 2007:
' After a weekend of pouring rain on a property that has no connected facilities, LITTLE MONKHAMS in Woodford Green burns down. And by complete coincidence CRESTGATE ESTATES the very next morning are applying at Ilford Town Hall to flatten it, after a number of failed application plans, to build 18 flats on.
This property has history going back 400 years and was listed to the area. It was a stunning building.

Nobody want flats in that area, certainly not the residents and a lengthy petition has been signed to prove this.
Redbridge Planning Dept are being made a mockery of here. This developer must not be allowed to build on this plot. At most one building should be replaced...and no listed trees destroyed which is the plan.
The Police should investigate [the cause of the fire]
REDBRIDGE PLANNING...DON'T BE BULLIED

[I have modified this message to ensure compliance with UK law - Ed] '