- Valence House Museum
Valence House Museum is the only surviving example of the five
manor house s ofDagenham . The timber framed museum building, partially surrounded by amoat , is situated in Valence Park off Becontree Avenue, in theLondon Borough of Barking and Dagenham .The museum contains permanent exhibitions on history and life in Barking and Dagenham, including displays from the 1945
Becontree Estate . It hosts regular special events for the public and school parties. The borough local history archive is located in the building, and includes many local family history resources.The building was Grade II* listed in 1954 [ [http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?pid=1&id=198233 English Heritage Listing details] accessed 28 Apr 2007] .
The surrounding park of convert|27.82|acre|km2|2|lk=on, has been created from the former Valence House estate, and was purchased by the Borough from the former
London County Council in 1926 ["The Boroughs parks and open spaces" LB Barking and Dagenham, Local studies info sheet #6] .History
A house was first established on this site in the 13th century, owned by Robert Dynes in 1280. Later tenants of the estate are commemorated in the road names surrounding the park. The name of the house derives from 14th century tenants, Agnes de Valence and her brother Aylmer,
Earl of Pembroke , who came from a wealthy family in the French province of Valence, the family moving here when their uncle became king. The estate passed into the ownership of the Dean and Chapter of Windsor in 1475, and remained in their ownership until 1867, when it passed to theChurch Commissioners .In 1921, the
London County Council purchased the building and estate to develop theBecontree Estate . Dagenham Urban District Council acquired the premises in 1928 as council chambers ["Valence House" LB Barking and Dagenham, Local studies info sheet #17] . Valence House served as the authority's town hall until 1937, when the Civic Centre was completed. The house became the Borough's library headquarters, until 1974. The house is now a museum, and houses the Borough Archives and Local Studies Library.References
External links
* [http://www.barking-dagenham.gov.uk/4-valence/valence-menu.html London Borough of Barking and Dagenham] - Valence House Museum
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