IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Bonham Road, DAGENHAM, RM8 3AR

This is Valance House Becontree. It is the last survivor of Dagenham’s five manor houses. It was preserved as the estate management offices during the construction of the huge Becontree Council Housing Estate before WW2. Valance House was named after Agnes De Valance who lived and was murdered on the site in the 13th Century. Some say her ghost still haunts the grounds. Parts of the current house date from the 15th Century although from its outward appearance one would be hard pushed to guess which. In 1938 one room of the building was opened as a museum, a function the whole building fulfils today. The picture was taken looking across the moat towards the house.

Valence House is one of the few original buildings to have survived the construction of the Becontree Estate. The present building is a moated 17th century manor house, once the most important house in Barking & Dagenham, and is now the only surviving of the five manor houses of Dagenham. The timber framed museum building, partially surrounded by a moat, is situated in Valence Park and now houses a museum. The museum contains permanent exhibitions on history and life in Barking & Dagenham, and includes displays of the 1945 Becontree Estate. The house and park to the south were purchased by the Borough in 1926 from the London County Council. The LCC had themselves acquired them as part of the Becontree Estate development. The north and east parts of the moat survive. This view towards the house looks across a linear lake which is roughly where the southern arm would have been, but appears not to be original. More information about the house and its history can be found at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valence_House_Museum and for details of opening times and exhibitions see http://valencehousecollections.co.uk/

Valence House is one of the few original buildings to have survived the construction of the Becontree Estate. The present building is a moated 17th century manor house, once the most important house in Barking & Dagenham, and is now the only surviving of the five manor houses of Dagenham. The timber framed museum building, partially surrounded by a moat, is situated in Valence Park and now houses a museum. The museum contains permanent exhibitions on history and life in Barking & Dagenham, and includes displays of the 1945 Becontree Estate. The house and park to the south were purchased by the Borough in 1926 from the London County Council. The LCC had themselves acquired them as part of the Becontree Estate development. The north and east parts of the moat survive. This mural is at the western end of a linear lake which is roughly where the southern arm would have been, but appears not to be original. See also http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5213364 More information about the house and its history can be found at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valence_House_Museum and for details of opening times and exhibitions see http://valencehousecollections.co.uk/

Off Becontree Avenue

Valence House is one of the few original buildings to have survived the construction of the Becontree Estate. The present building is a moated 17th century manor house, once the most important house in Barking & Dagenham, and is now the only surviving of the five manor houses of Dagenham. The timber framed museum building, partially surrounded by a moat, is situated in Valence Park and now houses a museum. The museum contains permanent exhibitions on history and life in Barking & Dagenham, and includes displays of the 1945 Becontree Estate. The house and park to the south were purchased by the Borough in 1926 from the London County Council. The LCC had themselves acquired them as part of the Becontree Estate development. The north and east parts of the moat survive. This linear lake is roughly where the southern arm would have been, but appears not to be original. More information about the house and its history can be found at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valence_House_Museum and for details of opening times and exhibitions see http://valencehousecollections.co.uk/

This is not a real Capri but is a metal sculpture made by students. Looking south-southwest.

Viewed from the top end on Green Lane.