Barking, London
Barking | |
---|---|
Barking Abbey curfew tower with St Margaret's Church in background | |
Location within Greater London | |
Population | 59,068 (2011 census)[1] |
OS grid reference | TQ440840 |
• Charing Cross | 10 mi (16 km) W |
London borough | |
Ceremonial county | Greater London |
Region | |
Country | England |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | BARKING |
Postcode district | IG11 |
Dialling code | 020 |
Police | Metropolitan |
Fire | London |
Ambulance | London |
UK Parliament | |
London Assembly | |
Barking is a riverside town in East London, England, within the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. It is 9.3 miles (15 km) east of Charing Cross. The total population of Barking was 59,068 at the 2011 census.[note 1][2] In addition to an extensive and fairly low-density residential area, the town centre forms a large retail and commercial district, currently a focus for regeneration.[3] The former industrial lands to the south are being redeveloped as Barking Riverside.[4]
Origins and administration
Toponymy
The name Barking came from
Manor of Barking
Barking was a huge Manor (landholding), first mentioned in a charter in 735 AD (though the Abbey is believed to have been founded in 666 AD). The Manor covered the areas now known as Barking, Dagenham and Ilford. The Manor was held by the Nunnery of Barking.
The Fanshawes were a prominent local family who were lords of the manor of Barking from 1628 to 1857. They owned and lived in a number of manor houses in the borough, including Valence House, Jenkins, Parsloes and Faulks, and gifted the Leet House to the residents of Barking.[7]
Parishes
The Parishes of England were, with a few exceptions, fixed for around 700 years from the late 12th century onwards.
The Parish of Barking covered the areas now known as Barking and
Modern local government
The parish became Barking Town Urban District in 1894 and the local board became an urban district council. The urban district was incorporated as the Municipal Borough of Barking in 1931. It was abolished in 1965 and split, with the majority merged with the former area of the Municipal Borough of Dagenham to form the London Borough of Barking. The part west of the River Roding, which included part of Beckton, became part of the London Borough of Newham. In 1980 the borough was renamed Barking and Dagenham.[10]
History
Historically, Barking was an
Abbey
The
Market
A charter issued between 1175 and 1179 confirms the ancient market right. The market declined in the 18th century but has since been revived.[11]
Architecture: historic buildings
Eastbury Manor House in Barking is a Grade I listed 16th century Elizabethan manor house and museum run by the National Trust.
Fishing
Fishing was the most important industry from the 14th until the mid-19th centuries. Salt water fishing began before 1320, when too fine nets were seized by City authorities, but expanded greatly from the 16th century. Fisher Street (now the southern part of Abbey Road) was named after the fishing community there. From about 1775
Until about 1870 the trade was mostly in live fish, using welled smacks in which the central section of the hull, between two watertight bulkheads, was pierced to create a 'well' in which seawater could circulate. Cod caught live were lowered into this well, with their swim bladders pierced, and remained alive until the vessel returned to port, when they were transferred to semi-submerged 'chests', effectively cages, which kept them alive until they were ready for sale. At this point they were pulled out and killed with a blow on the head before being despatched to market, where because of their freshness they commanded a high price. People who practised this method of fishing were known as 'codbangers'.[12][13]
By 1850 there some 220 smacks, employing some 1,370 men and boys. The boats were typically 75 feet (23 m) long carrying up to 50 tons. During the wars of the 17th and 18th centuries they were often used as fleet auxiliaries by the Royal Navy, based at nearby Chatham Dockyard. The opening of rail links between the North Sea ports and London meant it was quicker to transport fish by train straight to the capital rather than waiting for ships to take the longer route down the east coast and up the River Thames. By the 1850s the Thames was so severely polluted that fish kept in chests quickly died. Consequently, the fishery slipped into decline in the second half of the 19th century. The decline was hastened by a storm in December 1863, off the Dutch coast, which caused the deaths of 60 men and damage estimated at £6000–7000. Many of its leading figures, including Hewett & Co, moved to Great Yarmouth and Grimsby. By 1900 Barking had ceased to be a fishing port, leaving only street and pub names as a reminder. A large modern steel sculpture entitled "The Catch" is another reminder.[14] The sculpture is on the roundabout at the end of Fanshawe Avenue.[15] The local fishing heritage is recorded at Valence House Museum.
Economic development
Boat building has a long history, being used for the repair of some royal ships of Henry VIII. In 1848, 5 shipwrights, 4 rope- and line-makers, 6 sail-makers and 4 mast-, pump-, and block-makers are listed in a local trade directory. Hewett & Co continued in boat building and repair until 1899. Other industries replaced the nautical trades, including jute spinning, paint and chemicals manufacture. By 1878 Daniel de Pass had opened the Barking Guano Works (later de Pass Fertilisers Ltd, part of Fisons) at Creekmouth. Creekmouth was also the site of the major Barking Power Station from 1925 until the 1970s, burning coal shipped in by river; the current station known as Barking is further east near Dagenham Dock. In the 20th century new industrial estates were established, and many local residents came to be employed in the car plant at Dagenham.
Thames disaster
On 3 September 1878 the iron ship Bywell Castle ran into the pleasure steamer
Historical pageant
To mark the incorporation of Barking as a municipal borough, a historical pageant featuring over 2000 performers took place in October 1931. Made of ten acts, the Elizabethan section was performed in part by the local Women's Citizens League.[17]
Economy
Vicarage Field Shopping Centre is located on Ripple Road in Barking town centre. It was opened in November 1990.[18]
Geography
Barking is located 9.3 miles (15 km) east of Charing Cross in Central London. It is bordered by Ilford to the north, Dagenham to the east and East Ham to the west.[19]
Town centre
Barking Town Centre is being regenerated through a number of schemes. It is one of the most deprived areas of Barking. The Abbey and Gascoigne wards in the town centre are ranked 823rd and 554th respectively - within the 10% most deprived wards in the country.[22][23]
The regeneration aims to achieve a more sustainable economy by investing in new quality retail outlets and creating a business centre; and to widen employment prospects, mainly by creating new "retail and business accommodation", to increase the income of both existing and new residents.[24] The regeneration also aims to improve people's skills. This is mainly achieved through the Barking Learning Centre, which aims to improve literacy, numeracy and other basic skills people may be lacking due to a previous lack of educational development. It currently acts as a borough-based learning facility. It was officially opened on 10 June 2008 by John Denham, Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills.[25]
The town centre development intends to improve the quality and range of housing, aiming to create 4,000 new homes: 25% will be intermediate housing, affordable for local residents to buy. There will be 4,000 socially rented homes, making it easier for first-time buyers and people with low incomes to rent a property. To help make the development more sustainable, all private sector homes were to meet the Government's decency standards by 2010.[20]
Plans for the new town square were unveiled in September 2007. The development is part of the Mayor of London's 100 Public Spaces, and it was completed in 2008, designed by muf architecture/art and Allford Hall Monaghan and Morris. It won the European Prize for Urban Public Space.[26]
Roding Riverside
Roding Riverside[27] is a name given to an area of Barking comprising the stretch of Abbey Road south of St Pauls Road, which runs parallel to the River Roding / Barking Creek and the area between. The quarter is post-industrial. Many buildings are late 20th century or early 21st century residential and commercial buildings, but some are Victorian industrial buildings adapted for use in arts and leisure fields, including a contemporary art gallery (the Laura I Gallery), with a view to regenerating the area in part by drawing out the industrial heritage architecture.
One such Victorian building is a former Malthouse. Adjacent to this building stands a cluster of buildings together styled the Ice House Quarter,[28] which includes a former Ice House and a former Boat House[29]
A new building, Ice House Court[30] references the old Ice House and provides more artist studio space.
Barking Riverside
This section needs to be updated.(September 2018) |
The
Demography
In recent years, as a result of increased levels of immigration, Barking's population has become more
In the 2011 census, the largest ethnic group in Abbey ward (which covers Barking town centre) was Pakistani at 17%, followed by 16% White British, 15% Black African, 13% Indian and 11% Other White.[37] Gascoigne ward (southern Barking) was 26% White British, 26% Black African and 13% Other White.[38] Longbridge ward (eastern Barking) was 35% White British, 18% Bangladeshi and 11% Pakistani.[39]
Barking's population grew steadily after urbanisation began in the late 19th century.[citation needed] Barking's population (if defined as approximating to the Abbey, Eastbury, Gascoigne and Longbridge wards) was 48,340 in 2011.[citation needed]
1881 (may include Ilford) | 16,848 |
---|---|
1891 | 14,301 |
1901 | 21,547 |
1911 | 31,294 |
1921 | 35,523 |
1931 | 51,270 |
1941 | # |
1951 | 78,170 |
1961 | 72,293 |
# no census was held due to war | |
source: UK census |
Education
Primary schools include Northbury Primary School, Eastbury Primary School, St Margaret's Church of England and St Joseph's Roman Catholic.
Secondary schools include Barking Abbey School. Lady Aisha Academy is an independent Muslim Girls Secondary School which opened in September 2011 on Victoria Road.
Transport
The town is situated mostly north of the
Culture
Music
Neil Young recorded two tracks for his classic album Harvest, "A Man Needs a Maid" and "There's a World" with the London Symphony Orchestra at Barking Assembly Hall[42] (now the Broadway theatre), released in 1972.
Electronic band Underworld named their 2010 album Barking after the town. The band are associated with nearby Romford. The artist Ramz wrote a song called "Barking" in 2017.
Local media
Bedrock[43] is the local hospital radio service available online to the local area and broadcasting a range of health-related information focused on the local King George Hospital in Goodmayes and Queen's Hospital in Romford.
The Barking & Dagenham Post provides local news in print and online.
Sport
Barking F.C. are a non-league side. The team merged with East Ham F.C. to form Barking & East Ham United in 2001. This club later struggled and went out of business, but Barking F.C. was later reformed once again. Barking RFC are the town's rugby union team. Cricket, basketball and hockey are also popular sports in the area. A Parkrun takes place in Barking Park.
Public art works
Barking Town Centre has a number of recently[when?] commissioned sculptures and public art works.
In 2007, two small stones from remains of the medieval
Notable people
Notable footballers from Barking include former England captains and defenders
The singer-songwriter and activist
See also
- List of people from Barking and Dagenham
- List of schools in Barking and Dagenham
Notes
- ^ If defined as the Abbey, Eastbury, Gascoigne, Longbridge, and Thames electoral wards of Barking & Dagenham Council
References
- ^ Barking is made up of 5 wards in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham: Abbey, Eastbury, Gascoigne, Longbridge, and Thames. "2011 Census Ward Population Estimates | London DataStore". Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
- ^ "2011 Census Ward Population Estimates | London DataStore". Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
- ^ "Regeneration and Renewal". Archived from the original on 2 February 2007.
- ^ "About Barking Riverside". Archived from the original on 7 October 2011.
- ^ Stokes, H.G. (1948). "A Land of Woods and Water". English Place-Names. Edinburgh: B. T. Batsford Ltd. p. 6.
- ^ "Place name: Barking, Essex Folio: 17v Little Domesday Book Domesday... | The National Archives". Discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
- ^ Brookes, Andrew (9 August 2021). "Fanshawe portraits assessed in preservation effort for future generations". Barking & Dagenham Post. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
- ^ History of the Countryside by Oliver Rackham, 1986 p19
- ^ "Barking AP/CP through time | Population Statistics | Area (acres)". Visionofbritain.org.uk. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
- ^ "The Mayor – Past Mayors". The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. Archived from the original on 26 September 2007. Retrieved 16 May 2007.
- ^ "The ancient parish of Barking: Agrarian history, markets and fairs, A History of the County of Essex: Volume 5".
- ^ a b March, Edgar J. (1950). Sailing Trawlers.
- ^ a b "London Borough of Barking and Dagenham". Valence House Museum: Heritage and History: Maritime and Fishing Heritage. 2010. Archived from the original on 26 May 2010. Retrieved 7 February 2010.
- ^ "Arts Programme and Cultural Development: The Catch". Barking and Dagenham London Borough Council. Archived from the original on 22 September 2010. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
- ^ "The borough of Barking". British History Online. Retrieved 26 January 2007.
- ^ Metropolitan Police official history Archived 16 July 2007 at the Wayback Machine accessed 26 January 2007
- ^ "The Barking Historical Pageant | Historical Pageants". historicalpageants.ac.uk. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
- ^ "Barking & Dagenham Local History".
- ^ Mayor of London (February 2008). "London Plan (Consolidated with Alterations since 2004)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 June 2010.
- ^ a b "Barking Town Centre Action Plan – 2003/04". The London Borough of Barking & Dagenham. April 2003. Archived from the original on 14 June 2007. Retrieved 16 May 2007.
- ^ "Barking Central 1, London". Housing Design Awards 2008. Archived from the original on 1 June 2009. Retrieved 6 May 2009.
- ^ "Indices of Deprivation 2000 for Wards – Area: Abbey (Ward)". Neighbourhood Statistics. January 2000. Retrieved 20 May 2008.
- ^ "Indices of Deprivation 2000 for Wards – Area: Gascoigne (Ward)". Neighbourhood Statistics. January 2000. Retrieved 20 May 2008.
- ^ "Barking Riverside PDF" (PDF). The London Borough of Barking & Dagenham. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 September 2007. Retrieved 16 May 2007.
- ^ "Extra Opportunities with Barking Learning Cente Launch".
- ^ Barking Town Square: First Prize 2008, publicspace.org. Retrieved 2012-02-08.
- ^ Tomas Klassnik (1 January 1980). "The Klassnik Corporation : Roding Riverside : Public Landmark : Barking". Klassnik.com. Archived from the original on 27 December 2015. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
- ^ "The Ice House Quarter". The Ice House Quarter. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
- ^ The Boathouse. "The Boathouse". The Ice House Quarter. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
- ^ "IceHouse Court, Barking Studios Opening Soon!". Bow Arts. 4 February 2016. Archived from the original on 27 October 2017. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
- ^ a b "Project Description". Barking Riverside. Archived from the original on 11 December 2006. Retrieved 16 May 2007.
- ^ "DLR extension for Barking Riverside". Building Design (1713). 17 March 2006.
- ^ "Barking scheme to get rail link". Inside Housing. 18 October 2013. Archived from the original on 24 October 2013. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
- London Borough of Barking & Dagenham. Archived from the originalon 14 June 2007. Retrieved 16 May 2007.
- ^ "AJ Specification 07.12 - Colour & texture". Architects Journal. 19 July 2012.
- ^ Judah, Ben (17 February 2015). "Ben Judah: Pricing London's poor out of its centre is a recipe for". Evening Standard. London. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
- ^ Good Stuff IT Services. "Abbey - UK Census Data 2011". UK Census Data. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
- ^ Good Stuff ITServices. "Gascoigne - UK Census Data 2011". UK Census Data. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
- ^ Good Stuff IT Services. "Longbridge - UK Census Data 2011". UK Census Data. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
- ^ "Public Art in Barking and Dagenham: Barking Town Centre Artscape". Barking and Dagenham London Borough Council. Retrieved 27 February 2010.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "China-UK freight train arrives in London". BBC News. 2017. Retrieved 9 November 2017.
- ISBN 978-1-4411-1234-7.
- ^ "Bedrock (Hospital Radio)". Bedrock (Hospital Radio).
- ^ "Searching for the granite blocks from old London Bridge | London My London | One-stop base to start exploring the most exciting city in the world". londonmylondon.co.uk. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
- ^ "32. Billy Bragg - London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Council". London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Council. Archived from the original on 8 April 2016. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
- ^ (http://www.billybragg.com), Billy Bragg. "Billy Bragg - Battle for Barking". billybragg.co.uk. Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
- ISBN 0-14-010766-5.
- ^ Cooper, Lucy (10 May 2019). "EVERYTHING You Need To Know About Megan McKenna". Daily Feed. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
Further reading
- Kelly, Susan, ed. (2021). Charters of Barking Abbey and Waltham Holy Cross. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press for the British Academy. ISBN 978-0-19-726688-5. (includes history of Anglo-Saxon Barking)
- Tames, Richard (2002). Barking Past. London: Historical Publications. ISBN 978-0-94866-780-0.
- Trotter, W.E. (1849), "Barking", Select Illustrated Topography of Thirty Miles Around London, London, OCLC 681272905
- OCLC 3009761