Heritage and History

The Becontree Housing Estate

The Becontree estate is the largest council housing estate in the world. It was built by the London County Council after 1921 to reward the families of soldiers who had served in World War I.

Between 1921 and 1932 over 25,000 houses were built within the Essex parishes of Barking, Dagenham and Ilford, and over 100,000 people moved to the area.

Farms were compulsorily purchased and the centrally positioned Valence House was used as the headquarters of estate development.

The estate initially consisted of over 25,000 homes and was completed in March 1934.

Later the building programmes extended the estate to nearly 27,000 homes with an estimated population of 90,000.

The estate provided affordable housing for the better-off working class Londoner. The new houses had gas and electricity, inside toilets, fitted baths and front and back gardens.

In return the London County Council had strict rules on housework, house and garden maintenance, children's behaviour and the keeping of pets.

The estate was the catalyst that led Dagenham to become first an Urban District and later an Essex borough.

By World War II, Becontree and Dagenham were almost interchangeable and Dagenham Borough was well on the way to being known as one of the most modern and forward looking in the country.

Further study

A comprehensive online exhibition of the history of the Estate and its residents is currently in production.

More information about the borough's history can be found at Valence House Museum.

Becontree Archive Photographs|

Memories of Old Dagenham Village|

Contact

Linda Rhodes

Local Studies Librarian

Local Studies Centre

Valence House Museum

Becontree Avenue

Dagenham

RM8 3HT

Tel: 020 8270 6896

Fax: 020 8270 6897

Email: localstudies@lbbd.gov.uk|