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The Chain of Office consists of a central Mayoral badge depicting the borough’s coat of arms and enamelled links which each symbolise something about Barking and Dagenham’s history as follows:

The Wangey family

The Manor of Wangey (or Wangye) was situated in Chadwell Heath on the borders of Dagenham and Ilford. Its origins are obscure, but it is thought to date from the 1300s, when it was referred to as Wanghou. It appears to have been conveyed to Barking Abbey in 1366, becoming part of the Abbey’s demesne and subject to the Manor of Barking. The rent from Wangey formed part of the income of the Cellaress of Barking Abbey. Source: Valence House Collections

The Merttins of Valence

John Henry Merttins resided at Valence House until his death in 1776 and was buried in a family vault at Dagenham. He left the lease to his grandson, Henry Merrtins Bird who, in partnership with his brother Robert and Benjamin Savage of South Carolina (and probably with the assistance of his father in law Sir William Manning, a West India merchant, Bank of England director, and MP), Henry formed the banking company of Bird, Savage and Bird. 

This company became extensively involved in the financing of the newly formed United States government, a position the firm held until being superseded by Barings bank in 1796. There is a letter written from George Washington to him dated 6th May 1792. Henry appears to have managed the London end of the business, whilst his brother Robert and Benjamin Savage resided in the US to oversee the American part of the operation. Source: Valence House Collections

The River Thames with the Lucy family

The Lucy family were notable residents of Valence House during the Elizabethan era. Whilst they were residents of Valence House in the late 16th and early 17th century, they commissioned the wall painting that survives in the house today. This is an important architectural feature of Valence House and helps us date this particular part of the house. Susan Lucy was also the daughter of Henry Fanshawe.

The Fanshawes are arguably the most famous family associated with the borough. They owned Parsloes Manor and Valence House. From 1630 to 1857 they were also Lords of the Manor of Barking. Source: Valence House Collections

Henshawe of Valence

In 1617 the dean and chapter of Windsor granted a lease on Valence House to Nathaniel Henshawe. Henshawe was from a London professional family whose father Thomas was a member of the Merchant Taylors’ company. The lease then seems to have passed to Nathaniel’s brother, Benjamin and his wife Anne who, with their children Thomas and Nathaniel, were scientists, crossing the boundaries, as many at the time did – between chemistry and alchemy Anne was herself described as a chemist). Source: Valence House Collections

Osborne of Parsloes (centre link)

Sir Edward Osborne (1530?–1591), was one of the principal merchants of London in the later sixteenth century, and Lord Mayor of London in 1583.

Standing in what is now called Parsloes Park, the Manor of Parsloes once belonged to Barking Abbey. It is believed to have taken its name from Hugh Passelewe who owned the land in the 13th century. Parsloes Manor House itself was rebuilt in the 1580s, possibly by Edward Osborne, Esq. In 1619, his grandson sold the house and lands to William Fanshawe (1583-1634), and it stayed within the Fanshawe family until 1917.

In 1819, it was enlarged, the walls were faced with new brick and the windows were replaced in a neo-gothic manor. The house fell into disrepair and was demolished in 1925. Source: Valence House Collections

Valence House

The only surviving manor house in Dagenham, it dates back to medieval times and is still partially surrounded by a moat. A moated medieval house within its original enclosure is extremely rare in London, making Valence House nationally important as well as locally significant.

It is closely linked with powerful medieval figures, including Agnes de Valence, a niece of King Henry III and Aymer (Aylmer) de Valence, Earl of Pembroke, a major political figure in medieval England.

Had Agnes’s husband, Hugh Balliol, survived, she may have become Queen of Scotland, underlining just how close the area came to royal significance.

In 1605, Valence House was linked to the investigation into the Gunpowder Plot. Sir Nicholas Coote JP used Valence House as a base to interview a witness concerning the movements of Guy Fawkes, directly tying the house - and Barking and Dagenham - to one of the most famous events in British history. Source: Valance House Collections

The Fairlop Oak

Fairlop is a suburban area of Ilford, in the London Borough of Ilford in East London. Historically in Essex, it was part of the Municipal Borough of Iford until 1965, when the Borough, including Fairlop, became part of Greater London. It lies close to areas such as Loughton, Chigwell, Barkingside and Woodford.

The area takes its name from the Fairlop Oak, a large tree, which once stood in the area, which was then part of Hainault Forest. The area was historically famous for the Fairlop Fair, a long-standing East End institution. The festival which would grow to last for a full week per year, drew crowds of up to 300,000, mainly from the East End of London. Source: Fairlop - Wikipedia

Valence coat of arms

The Valence family coat of arms. This design, representing blue and white stripes with a red border of birds, was frequently used by William de Valence (d. 1296) and his son Aymer.