Dagenham

The large, populous suburb of Dagenham in east London and part of the county of Essex, has come a long way since it village and faming past. By 1205 Dagenham had grown to warrant a Parish Church and St. Peter and St. Paul was built around this time. The next milestone in the history of Dagenham came in 1854 when the railways came and a station was opened. In 1932 the electrified District Line of the London Underground reached Upminster, passing  through Dagenham and its continued growth was assured. It was around this time too that the Ford Motor Company relocated here and developed a 500 acre riverside site that became home to Europe's largest car plant.

As you would expect in a suburb of this size, the amenities, shopping, choice of restaurants, cultural attractions and attractions are plentiful. Historically, Valence House is the last of the five manor houses of Dagenham and dates from 13^th century. Partially surrounded by a moat and set in pretty parkland, Valence is the local history museum and art gallery. Permanent exhibitions of artefacts and archives tell the story of the people that have lived in this area through history.