Becontree Heath, Greater London

Chequers Lane

My late father, Verdun Frederick Davis, was born in the Chequers Lane Cottages, I think it was no 9, on the 29th Feb 1916, one of 10 children with only Amy still living. His father was a Thames Lighterman who was employed by Sammies, he was also a good Quoits player. My mother Marjory Davis, now 91, is still alive and... [more]

Great Days and Fond Memories

It was with great warmth that I read the memory about the O'Dells at the Cross Keys Pub. I too spent some great times with young Cliff at the family garage and at the X Keys. My mother also worked for many years with Mrs O'Dell in the little factory in Crown Street next to the bank. It was indeed a... [more]

DOWN THE LANE

Not that I was around in the 1890's, but that is when building of 55 Cottages was started in CHEQUERS LANE.
Built for workers at SAMUEL WILLIAMS, who were based at DAGENHAM DOCK, which is where my father, BERNARD MILLER, my Aunt, Florence (Flossy), her husband Earl Cecil Barringer and my grandfather John Miller, all worked.
I am fortunate enought to... [more]

Not Much Money but Plenty of Happy memories.

I moved to Dagenham with my family in 1949.  We lived in Cartwright Road off Hedgemans Road.  I have memories of long hot summer holidays off from Finneymore Road School.  The days were filled with trips to Leys swimming pool, where we would spend most of the day. We would bag of crisps and a hot Oxo drink if we had... [more]

Those were the days.

I have so many memories of Dagenham that I could write a book.
I have already written one on this site entitled 'Shopping at the Heathway'.
My earliest memory of Dagenham however was when I was about five years old. We lived in two bedroom house in Valence circus. But then as more houses on the the Becontree estate were... [more]

Dagenham Civic Centre at Bull Lane

This is the view from the other side of Central Park, the main road ran alongside and Heath Park estate where we lived was opposite. I remember my dad and me waiting for a 103 bus to take us to Romford Market and me wondering why he had to ask me the number on the front of the bus. My dad... [more]

Moving to Dagenham

My family moved to Dagenham from Northampton in December 1953. My first real memory of the borough was being lost on the day we moved in, after being sent to get some milk and sugar from the local shops, which would have been in Oxlow Lane. After our new neighbours gave me directions, I somehow ended up in Reede Road, managed... [more]

Hummed to sleep by a factory

We used to live on what was called The Avenues on the Rylands estate. This was situated behind the Princess shopping parade, so called after the name of the local flea pit where all the kids went to Saturday morning pictures. It later became the Princess bowling alley. It was located on the old A13 New Rd opposite the road that... [more]