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  • Folk Festival Fun with our heritage style horse and cart and wishing Eid Mubarak at Eastbury Manor House

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    The Barking Town Heritage project brought a horse and carriage back to town last Saturday, 8th June, recreating some of the old black and white photos of East Street and the surrounding area, from the days before cars, buses and trams. There were a few horse-drawn journeys along the Broadway, with Buster and Wilbur, the beautiful friesians, as the bells of St Margaret's chimed charmingly and the folk bands began to play.

    Among the pretty, crafted flowers and knitted delights on the Abbey Grounds, David Harley, Head of Regeneration at Be First, and Simone Panayi, the project's engagement officer, dressed in late Victorian costume, engaged with the festival visitors and local people. "We were not blown away by the forceful winds, but by the interest and enthusiasm of visitors and residents, who were keen to test and improve their knowledge of the local area."

    Plans for improving the landscaped entrance to the Abbey Ruins, in front of the Curfew Tower, the conservation of the building facades and shop front improvements in East street and nearby, were discussed. Meanwhile many tested their knowledge of local history with the Barking Quiz. All completed quiz sheets were entered into a prize draw for a £50 Asda voucher and then the answers were supplied, giving residents more information about Barking's heritage.

    On Sunday 9th June, Eastbury Manor House, a grand Tudor home built on Barking Abbey land, after King Henry VIII dissolved the abbey in the 1500's, was also blooming with colour and buzzing with sounds and activities, as Eid celebrations took place. As well as wishing, "Eid Mubarak", visitors were pleased to discuss local heritage and, "many adults and children shared their impressive historical knowledge." So the Barking Town Heritage project had another delightful day of community engagement, with dressing up costumes for the children and an array of historical hats linked to stories of Barking's past. More quizzes were completed and the winning quiz sheet was drawn!

    We hope people will stay in touch and follow updates about the progress of the project via this web page and that some might be interested enough to volunteer to help with the local research. In the coming months we will build up a detailed picture of the residents, shops and services along East Street, across many years of history, in this ancient part of town that evolved out of it's links with Barking Abbey. From this research we will find interesting and relevant stories from past times that continue to resonate with Barking's current community and celebrate the high-lights through trails and tours, information boards, educational resources and a permanent mural in East Street.

    Thank you to everyone involved with the wonderful Eid at Eastbury and also the borough's Summer of Festivals Events' Team and Tami, at White Horse Farm Carriages, for making this a great weekend for this National Lottery Heritage Funded project, and of course to all those who engaged with us!