The impact of World War Two on Barking Town Centre by Simone Panayi
Volunteers for the NLHF Barking Town Heritage Project have been sharing their findings about key buildings on East Street: the art deco Burton building, engraved with elephants, Marks & Spencer’s cream coloured corner store, of 1935, and Woolworth’s pilasters... These stores disappeared due to changes in fashion and commerce, but the buildings remain – other buildings have vanished…
At this inauspicious time, when only a few shops and services remain open, we are reminded of previous crises, such as World War Two, when there were over 1700 bombing incidents across the borough and thousands of casualties, including, sadly, 426 lives lost. The air raids in Barking resulted in the loss of some of its most prominent buildings - devastated during raids or demolished in the aftermath…
‘Blake’s Corner’ - a location still referenced by the older generation - was a striking building with a prominent clock tower, on the intersection of East Street and Ripple Road. This was previously the site of an imposing 18th century house, called The Paddock. Built by a brandy merchant it was later home to the Whitbourn family, Barking millers, and finally Barking brewer Thomas Glenny, (founder of Brewery Tap). See Frogley's illustration below:
Around 1911 councillor Arthur Blake built his distinctive Ironmongery here, but unfortunately it suffered bomb damage, during the blitz. 
The late Sid Westbrook, recalled the bombing. The explosion occurred as he was walking down Ripple Road, during the air raid - a constable, from the police station nearby, jumped on top of the teenager to shelter him from the falling debris… Remarkably Sid remembers seeing the clock tower sitting intact, on top of the rubble, after the raid.
Subsequently the grand corner store was replaced by the current rounded building, in the 1950s. This initially housed Timothy White’s Chemist – then Boots, which must be one of the longest serving stores on the high street and is currently providing an essential service during the Corona Virus outbreak.
One of the most tragic days of the war for Barking was Sunday 14th January 1945. A V2 Rocket hit St Paul’s church, Ripple Road, just after the service. [This propulsion unit from another V2 Rocket, found at Barking Town Quay, donated by the Hewitt family, will be on permanent display at Valence House if funding can be found...]
Eight people were killed and 52 seriously injured, including the disrobing choir boys.
Despite the falling masonry, the priest, still praying, was unharmed, however, that evening fourteen more local people were killed in another V2 incident in London Road, which destroyed most of Central Hall.
Central Hall had been the epicentre of Methodism in the local area, as one of 99 spiritual and entertainment centres, funded by Joseph Rank, in the 1920s. It provided films, concerts, and variety acts, designed to attract people away from public houses and alcohol…
The Methodists’ origins in Barking, date back to 18th century preachers. By 1869 a wooden chapel and school in East Street were replaced, first by a stone Wesleyan chapel, and eventually by the grander Central Hall, opposite. The Capitol Cinema, was later built on the site of the chapel, providing a new form of worship for movie-goers, including films by Rank’s son, movie mogul, J Arthur Rank.
The Methodist Recorder of 1957, describes an, ‘Historic Day on Barking Bomb Site’: the building of the new Methodist Church… Demonstrating that life continued - damaged buildings were repaired and replaced… Nevertheless, VE Day must have brought huge relief to the people of Barking and Britain. The end of air raids, separation from loved ones, and other deprivations of the war period made a great cause for celebration!
It may have been difficult to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day, in 2020, but as we too look forward to a time when families and friends can be reunited, aware that celebrations may be some months off yet, we can look back to the fortitude and positive attitude of previous residents and that well known ‘blitz spirit’ - illustrated recently by Captain Moore’s fundraising achievements for the NHS at the grand age of 100.
See the VE Day article in the Barking and Dagenham Post, with more photographs from the LBBD Archives.https://www.barkinganddagenhampost.co.uk/news/heritage/barking-town-centre-war-damage-1-6641371