Description
Central Park was laid out on a site purchased by Dagenham Borough Council in 1928, and opened in 1932; facilities included a putting green, miniature golf course, pavilion and tennis grounds. The Civic Centre opened in October 1937 with its Council Chamber overlooking the park, which since 2017 has been converted to a university run by the Coventry University Group.
Extensive plans for the park, including formal planting near the Civic Centre, were disrupted by WWII and never completed. Facilities added over the years include the Old People's Garden, a children's playground (1952), and a new Bowling Green. A Memorial Garden was opened in 2006.
Extensive plans for the park, including formal planting near the Civic Centre, were disrupted by WWII and never completed. Facilities added over the years include the Old People's Garden, a children's playground (1952), and a new Bowling Green. A Memorial Garden was opened in 2006.
Practical Information
| Site location | Wood Lane/Rainham Road North, Dagenham, Essex |
|---|---|
| Postcode | RM7/RM8 |
| What3Words | ///album.poppy.expect |
| Type of Site | Public Park |
| Borough | Barking & Dagenham |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | 7.15am - dusk |
| Special Conditions | Charges for some sports activities |
| Facilities | Toilets, children's playground, football and rugby pitches, hurling pitch, tennis and basketball courts, 18-hole pitch & putt, bowling green |
| Events | Since 1952 the Dagenham Town Show has been held in Central Park |
| Public Transport | Tube: Dagenham East, Dagenham Heathway (District) then bus. Rail: Romford then bus. Bus: 5, 87, 103, 128, 129, 173, 175, 499 |
| Research Updated | 1 June 2009 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
Central Park, part of which lies in Romford, is a large flat stretch of open grassland with a range of sporting facilities. Created on land once part of Eastbrook Farm and in the vicinity of Becontree Heath, there is evidence on the site of prehistoric crop marks and Roman archaeology, possibly a Roman villa. A prehistoric flint flake was retrieved from the spoil excavated by machine off Rainham Lane North in the park near the Civic Centre. The find is now at the Passmore Edwards Museum (Accession No: LDPEM/AC/DA/084).
The 135 acre site was purchased by Dagenham Borough Council by Special Act of Parliament in 1928, and opened to the public in 1932, with facilities such as a putting green, miniature golf course, pavilion and tennis grounds. The Art Deco Civic Centre designed by architect E. Barry Webber was opened in October 1937; the semi-circular Council Chamber at the rear looks out over Central Park. A Coronation Avenue of Trees was planted on 22/10/1937. Extensive plans for the park, which included formal planting in the vicinity of the Civic Centre, were disrupted by World War II and never completed.
In the 1940s Dagenham Borough Council appointed landscape architect Richard Sudell, FILA, as consultant to plan parks and open spaces in Dagenham; his plans for Central Park (November 1948) included a children's play park, rose garden, old people’s corner, swimming hall and restaurant, cricket ground, open air theatre and mothers' garden, the majority of which were not implemented. Similarly a plan in the early 1950s for an open-air roller skating rink for children was not carried out. However, various facilities were added over the years, such as the Old People's Garden, a children's playground opened by the Mayor in March 1952 costing an estimated £3,255, and a new Bowling Green. A new Memorial Garden was opened in 2006 on land that was once designated as a site for a new library; the garden includes colourful furniture, and was designed with input from an artist.
The 135 acre site was purchased by Dagenham Borough Council by Special Act of Parliament in 1928, and opened to the public in 1932, with facilities such as a putting green, miniature golf course, pavilion and tennis grounds. The Art Deco Civic Centre designed by architect E. Barry Webber was opened in October 1937; the semi-circular Council Chamber at the rear looks out over Central Park. A Coronation Avenue of Trees was planted on 22/10/1937. Extensive plans for the park, which included formal planting in the vicinity of the Civic Centre, were disrupted by World War II and never completed.
In the 1940s Dagenham Borough Council appointed landscape architect Richard Sudell, FILA, as consultant to plan parks and open spaces in Dagenham; his plans for Central Park (November 1948) included a children's play park, rose garden, old people’s corner, swimming hall and restaurant, cricket ground, open air theatre and mothers' garden, the majority of which were not implemented. Similarly a plan in the early 1950s for an open-air roller skating rink for children was not carried out. However, various facilities were added over the years, such as the Old People's Garden, a children's playground opened by the Mayor in March 1952 costing an estimated £3,255, and a new Bowling Green. A new Memorial Garden was opened in 2006 on land that was once designated as a site for a new library; the garden includes colourful furniture, and was designed with input from an artist.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ496868 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 51.33 |
| Site Ownership | LB Barking & Dagenham |
| Site Management | Parks & Countryside Ranger Service |
| Dates | 1928-32 |
| Designers | ?Borough Surveyor and Engineer |
| Listed Structures | LBII: Civic Centre |
| On National Heritage List for England (NHLE), Parks & Gardens | No |
| Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965 | No |
| Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931 | No |
| Local Authority | Barking & Dagenham |
| In Conservation Area | No |
| Tree Preservation Order | No |
| Nature Conservation Area | No |
| Green Belt | Yes |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | No |
Gallery
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Nearby parks and gardens
Becontree Heath, probably the meeting place of the Saxon Hundred Court, was ancient commonland, and the area remained rural until the 1920s. Although much is since built over, some remains as open space. In 1931 a portion of the land was transferred to Dagenham UDC by Special Act of Parliament, extinguishing common rights, and was levelled, drained and planted for public recreation, opening as Central Park. The land north of Wood Lane was largely used for allotment gardens in the C20th, but by 1971 Wantz Boating Lake had been created to the south. The open land today is used for school playing fields, children's recreational facilities and a golf club, which uses the former boating lake as an Aqua driving range, the only one of its kind.
Heath Park Estate was built in 1951 for Dagenham Council at the time of the Festival of Britain, and its design reflects the new ideas for urban housing then prevalent. Architects Norman & Dawbarn won a Festival of Britain Award for the estate, which was laid out on 39.3 acres of land. It provided 279 dwellings in a mixture of cottages and 3, 4 or 5-storey blocks of flats with areas of open space, lawns and gardens to provide a sense of spaciousness. At the north end of the estate old people's cottages were set around a green. Heath Park Open Space provided 6 acres of amenity space near the community centre.
Crow Lane or Romford Cemetery was established by the Romford Burial Board in 1871 when space ran out in the parochial cemetery. The cemetery was taken over by Romford UDC in 1900 and is now run by South Essex Crematorium. It remains partially enclosed by its C19th railings, with ragstone gate-piers and two ragstone chapels joined by a gothic porte-cochère. The cemetery contains utilitarian monuments, with older graves near the chapels, and trees include holly, cedar and flowering cherry, rows of common lime and horse chestnut.