A Sunny Celebration of Barking's Golden Heritage!

Be First are proud to have completed The National Lottery Heritage Fund 's Barking Town Centre Heritage Project on behalf of the London Borough of Barking Dagenham.

We celebrated the achievements last week, with family mystery trails on Abbey Green encouraging participants to find out more about Barking's amazing heritage by looking more closely at the mosaics and heritage information on a self-guided adventure around Abbey Green, with a map designed and created by budding young artist Raine Clerk...

You can still collect a trail sheet from Barking Learning Centre! There are also new Heritage Trails available for those who would like to explore the history of Barking in more detail - taking in the old buildings and new heritage art works, on a trail that starts at Barking Station – which will be the site of focal point railway heritage mosaics in the autumn! With thanks to George Westbrook for the trail map! Here is the link to the Town Trail Page: https://yourcall.befirst.london/barking-town-centre-heritage-trail

Admiring the restoration works at 1-11 East Street We also took the opportunity to take supporters of the project on a tour of the achievements, including the restoration works along East Street, North Street and Station Parade; the improvements to the setting for the Curfew Tower, including a new model of Barking Abbey, re-setting the York Stones, re-planting the soft landscaping, new benches and of course the heritage art works.

Barking Abbey Model by Setworks and Eric testing the accessibility of Barking's new Heritage Trail... Jake Attewell's mural and Tamara Froud's mosaics have been very well received, and are a key heritage legacy of the project! Tamara and her Barking Abbess - co-designed with pupils from St Joseph's RC Primary SchoolBe First and LBBD staff, including Interim Director of Development David Harley, Sandra Hirons, from TNLHF, key stake holders including Havering Building Specialists Ltd, Historic England, St Margaret's Church and the talented mosaic artist Tamara Froud were joined by local Councillors, Cameron Geddes and Alison Cormack, building/shop owners and of course John, Bill, Linda, Lee and Irving from Barking and District Local Historical Society, with local residents and some of the project's loyal volunteers.

It was a hot day for viewing Jake Attewell's popular mural, Setwork's bronze model of Barking Abbey, and Tamara's amazing heritage mosaics which can be seen on a new heritage trail in Barking, so a big thank you to everyone who joined us! We are also grateful for the immense contribution of the heritage Volunteers: Alexandra, Eric, Felicity, George, Lesley and Sue.

We revealed the latest mosaic of Barking workhouse which once stood on the site of Asda, om North Street:

Barking Workhouse by Tamara Froud, July 2024

Also to Rev Mark Adams, Churchwarden Carol and Alex, for hosting the reception and Jimmy Lee for these wonderful photographs, illustrating a sunny afternoon of golden heritage!

1 Station Parade - restoration works

David Harley said,"Be First is proud what has been achieved through this project - raising awareness of Barking's fascinating heritage, restoring historic buildings and creating new public realm whilst generating employment opportunities and improving the town centre. This is a good example of delivering Inclusive Growth and place-making"

Jake Attewell's mural - shining a light on Barking's Lost Heritage at the Mural Magic event in 2021

Be First are now starting a new project on behalf of LBBD also with funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund: ‘A Magnifying Glass on Barking Abbey’s Archaeology’ - better studied, shared and understood.' We look forward to sharing Barking's incredible heritage with a wider audience! Please contact: Simone.panayi@befirst.london if you would like to be involved!