Tourism and Travel

Places of interest

Visitors to Barking and Dagenham will find many places of interest, some of great historical importance

Firstly there are the ancient ruins of Barking Abbey. Founded in AD666 and destroyed in 1539 during Henry VIII's reformation.

Several walls of the ancient Abbey Church which were excavated during the 1960s and 1970s can be seen today. The Curfew Tower, which is now the entrance to St Margaret's Churchyard is a Grade II listed building.

The Tower, built in about 1460, was 1 of 3 gates leading to Barking Abbey and is now the only remaining part of Barking Abbey. The great gate, the main entrance somewhere near Town Quay, had disappeared by 1653. The North Gate was about 350 feet north of the Chapel of St Nicholas and was demolished in 1881.

The Parish Church of St Margaret dates back from the 13th century. It was built within the Abbey precincts and part of its original roof appear to have been made from Norman masonry from the Abbey. Among the many historic events which took place at the Church was the marriage in 1762 of Captain James Cook, the first western explorer to land in Australia, to Elizabeth Batts who lived in Barking.

The Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul in Church Lane, Dagenham Village also dates from the 13th Century.

The borough's Museum is based at Valence House, the former headquarters of Dagenham Libraries in Becontree Avenue, Dagenham. It houses a collection of portraits of the Fanshawe family of Dagenham. Also to be found in a history of the building of the Becontree Estate, together with touring arts exhibitions.

Eastbury Manor House, a 16th century Tudor house Grade I listed building, is leased to the borough by the National Trust.

Another Grade II listed building is Barking Magistrates Court. The building occupies land previously used by Adam Smith, landlord of the Abbey Arms, Barking Road, East Ham. In 1886 he sold a portion to the council who in 1893 planned to use the building for offices, a library, stables and sheds, foreman's cottages and a mortuary.

The Civic Centre at the junction of Wood Lane and Rainham Road North, Dagenham is a Grade II listed building which is considered to be one of the finest examples of the 1930s civic architecture. Barking Town Hall was officially opened in 1958.

At the Town Quay in Abbey Road, Barking there is a 17th century timber-framed old granary building.

At Eastbrookend, off Dagenham Road, we have created a Country Park and built the new Millennium visitors' centre with the aid of The Millennium Commission. The Country Park has been awarded 2 Green Flag Awards, the London Spade Award and the visitors centre reached the finals for a European Award by the design Museum.

Dagenham Civic Centre|

Dagenham Village|

Eastbrookend Country Park|

Eastbury Manor House|

Millennium Centre|

St Margaret's Parish Church|

St Peter and St Paul's Parish Church|

Valence House|

Tourism and Travel

Places of interest

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