History Knows No Bounds!

A Victorian Boundary Post that marked the border between the ancient parishes of Barking and Dagenham and is dated 1890, has been recovered from Ellie Jackson's garden in Ivyhouse Road - literally on the boundary of Barking and Dagenham.

Her father Danny Jackson, who reported the find, said, "It was in the front garden and my son dug it up. I’m glad it didn’t go in the skip as I’ve lived in Dagenham all my life and I would love to see that in Valence House Museum"

The Borough's Museum & Collections Curator, Leeanne Westwood, is very pleased with the new addition, “We are delighted to add this item to our collection, where it joins other boundary posts and duty markers from across the borough. These often-overlooked pieces of local history can tell us so much about the past. In the long-term we hope to get the boundary post displayed in our grounds alongside the other posts already on display, and museum staff will be seeking external funding to do this.” She thanked Rob Wybrow, Construction Manager at Be First, for organising the collection and delivering of the rescued Victorian post to Valence House Museum – www.valencehousecollections.co.uk LBBD Curator Leeanne Westwood in the museum store There are several Boundary Posts in the vicinity of Parsloes Park, close to the Gorse-brook which once marked the boundary between the two parishes - now part of the same London borough.BP indicates Boundary Post on this OS Map from 1870, from LBBD Archives Although this section of the Becontree Estate is not yet a century old, Ivyhouse Road predates the estate as a lane, which led from Gale Street to Ivy House Farm.

Ivy House Farm was at the junction with Heathway

The inscription on the iron post is difficult to read but harkens back to time when the parish church was responsible for helping the poor and maintaining order. It credits the three 'Churchwardens' of the time: Knowles, Carter and Davies and two 'overseers': C King and R. Willett - Willett was a well known store owner in Barking during the late Victorian and early twentieth century period.

Be First’s Heritage team are currently undertaking a survey of all the old boundary and marker posts in the borough, several of which are nationally listed with Historic England. Simone Panayi, Heritage Engagement Officer, will be recommending that all the posts are locally listed for protection and organising a Working Party to review the local list of heritage assets. If you would like to find out more about the borough’s heritage assets within the public realm, you can visit our Heritage Hub: https://yourcall.befirst.london/hub-page/celebrating-our-heritage