Barking Abbess Mosaic by Tamara Froud - designed by pupils from St Joseph's RC Primary School

Barking has an abbess once more!

Pupils from St Joseph's School reveal the Barking Abbess Mosaic, by Tamara Froud on Abbey Green. Which is part of a heritage art trail across Barking Town Centre, funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The St Joseph's RC Primary School pupils photographed above, from years 5 and 6, show their amazing abbesses, which helped to inspire the artist's latest heritage mosaic!

Several pupils were commended for influencing the composition of the mosaic abbess
Simone Panayi, Be First's Heritage Engagement Officer, visited the school in Spring 2024 to tell the pupils about Barking Abbey and the powerful abbesses who were 'Lords of the Manor' of Barking (which included Ilford and Dagenham). They ruled the area from Saxon times until Tudor times, apart from the interruption by the invading Vikings, and until Henry VIII dissolved the abbey, during the English Reformation, when he established the Church of England.

More commended designs. The artists joined their classmates on a walk across Abbey Green, with their art teacher Olivia Maaka, to reveal the new mosaic abbess!

Enjoying the finer details of the abbess mosaic by Tamara Froud

This project is funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Opposite the mosaic is Weston Homes' Abbey Quay Office where there is a lovely exhibition on the history of Barking Abbey, including recent archaeological finds. Be First will be engaging with the local community on Barking Abbey Archaeology for a new Lottery funded project after The Barking Abbey Heritage Project comes to an end, this summer. There will be some final celebration activities - including for families on Tuesday 30th July - book free places for an Abbey Green Adventure trail here:

Artist Tamara Froud with her mosaic abbess - representing a legacy of female authority in Barking which was rare and not to be forgotten.

Find out more about Barking's Abbesses and the exhibition they have inspired at the new Women's Museum - across Abbey Road at 4 Barking Wharf Square, IG11 7DQ.

WWW.newtownculture.org/womens-museum