Valence House Moat Restoration Works

Public Consultations on Valence House Moat Restoration Works will take place at Valence House Visitor Centre, RM8 3HT, on:

• Wednesday 4th December, 1pm-4pm and
• Saturday 7th December 10am-1pm.

If you are not available to attend in person, please read over the information and complete the public survey below.

Valence House is a grade II* listed, 17th century manor house whose name and origins lie in the 13th century, as a rare surviving example of a timber-framed, moated house. Valence House is a unique heritage asset and the only surviving manor house in Dagenham, dating back to Medieval times. It is partially surrounded by a moat that is thought to date to the 13^th century. The hand-dug moat originally enclosed the site on all sides, to protect it from predators and poachers, and is inseparably linked to the site's significance.

Valence House & moat - c 1900

The current house, which is an accredited museum, is located within a wider setting which comprises a circular driveway to the south and herb garden to the west. Remains of the moat have been identified to the north, east and south of the house - one of only three surviving moated sites with an extant house in Greater London.

Valence House as a structure has evolved and expanded over the centuries but its original footprint survived until the Valence Estate was utilised to develop the Becontree Housing Estate in the 1920s. At this time, the site became the depot and temporary council chamber for Dagenham pending construction of The Civic Centre in the 1930s. Decisions relating to this civic function, meant that two arms of the moat were filled in and a branch library was built, also an outdoor swimming pool (lido) and sports pitches were developed on the surrounding land - which became Valence Park. In 2008 planning permission was received to create a visitor centre, including a cafe, education rooms, a new archives storage facility and Local Studies Library, the museum galleries were redesigned and a former council depot building was repurposed for museum storage, with the aid of National Lottery Heritage Funding. These improvements were completed in 2010.

Valence Moat - with Swan House

Starting in 2024, improvements will be taking place across Valence House and grounds as part of a funded programme of conservation and restoration works. Over the next couple of years, we will be investing capital funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Levelling Up Funding and the Arts Council England’s Museum Estates Development Fund to improve our important heritage for local communities and future generations. This funding, along with Council investment will ensure the protection and care of our built and natural heritage and help to meet the Council’s carbon neutral commitment.

The works you will begin to see take shape include restoration of the Medieval moated enclosure to restore natural habitats and biodiversity, urgent roof repair works to the Visitor Centre, and conservation investigations which will allow us to better understand the Medieval timber fabric of the Grade II* listed building.

The works to the medieval moated enclosure will improve safety, public access and restoration of habitats and biodiversity. These works include repositioning of the trees and removal of fish, to prevent angling, in order to protect the historic moat.

A Conservation Management Plan and Vision Masterplan are being prepared for the wider Valence estate including Valence Park.

The Moat and surrounding landscape have been closed to the public for four years because of the moat's vulnerability and safety concerns - the timber edging is rotten and there are holes along the banks behind the timber edge. The timber edging will be removed and replaced with a natural planted edge (reed beds) that will stabilise the banks and provide natural habitats, thereby encourage wildlife.

It is also proposed to clear some lower tree branches and low lying scrub to re-open these obscured views of the house - work that will take place alongside the moat repair works . Careful tree removal will also restore lost views from the park towards Valence House. LBBD are only clearing trees which are damaging the historic site and will continue to nurture the majority of the historic trees, with a tree-planting scheme planned for Valence Park in the 2025/2026. Vegetation clearance will help to improve water quality and allow sunlight back in - both of which will encourage the return, and increase in numbers of, insects, birds and small mammals.

The aim is to bring the moat and its landscape back into Valence House grounds and public domain, re-integrating it into the historic site.

Please share your responses to the proposed works at the Moat in the public questionnaire below. We welcome feedback from regular users of Valence House and Valence Park and borough residents, particularly those in neighbouring residences, within Valence ward.