Description
Chadwell Heath Cemetery opened in 1934, provided by Dagenham UDC, with the first burial recorded on 1 June. At that time the area either side of Whalebone Lane was rural and initially only the eastern part of the cemetery was laid out with paths, open land remaining to the west. From the entrance a short drive led to the Mortuary Chapel from where a formal layout of paths radiated, with yews planted along the 'spokes'. Further paths formed a semi-circle with the chapel on its eastern edge, the circle completed when the burial ground was extended to the west. The cemetery has been further extended, most recently to the north.
Practical Information
| Previously known as | Marks Gate Cemetery |
|---|---|
| Site location | Whalebone Lane North, Dagenham, Essex |
| Postcode | RM6 5LD |
| What3Words | ///smug.commented.flight |
| Type of Site | Cemetery |
| Borough | Barking & Dagenham |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | 1 Oct-31 Mar:10am-4.30pm M-F/10am-4pm Sat, Sun, BH; 1 Apr-30 Sept:10am-7pm M-F/10am-6pm Sat, Sun, BH. |
| Facilities | Toilets |
| Public Transport | Rail: Chadwell Heath then bus + walk. Bus: 62, 296 (then walk) |
| Research Updated | 1 September 2008 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
The cemetery was established by Dagenham Urban District Council and opened in 1934, with the first burial recorded on 1 June that year. At that time it was an isolated location and most of the surrounding area was in agricultural use either side of Whalebone Lane with a few properties shown on C19th maps whose names persist today, such as Warren, Roselane and Padnall Farms. A few houses clustered at Marks Gate to the north including Furze House and Furze Cottage, and to the south was the moated site of Marks Hall. Initially only the eastern part of the cemetery adjacent to Whalebone Lane was laid out, the remainder at that time was still fields. From the entrance a short drive leads to the Mortuary Chapel, from where a formal layout of paths radiates, with yews planted along the 'spokes'. Further paths formed a semi-circle with the chapel on its eastern edge, the circle completed when the burial ground was extended over land to the west.
The cemetery was laid out by the Borough Engineer and Surveyor Thomas Philip Francis, whose chapel is a rather austere red brick building with stone cladding, its Art Deco style echoed in the entrance gate with piers and an iron screen to the road. The OS of 1939 shows 3 drinking fountains. The cemetery was extended to the west by the 1960s and an area to the north was developed c. 2008 to provide new burial space after the cemetery became full and unable to accommodate new burials. There is a war memorial to the north, a children's section and a Garden of Rest for cremated remains in the south east.
The cemetery was laid out by the Borough Engineer and Surveyor Thomas Philip Francis, whose chapel is a rather austere red brick building with stone cladding, its Art Deco style echoed in the entrance gate with piers and an iron screen to the road. The OS of 1939 shows 3 drinking fountains. The cemetery was extended to the west by the 1960s and an area to the north was developed c. 2008 to provide new burial space after the cemetery became full and unable to accommodate new burials. There is a war memorial to the north, a children's section and a Garden of Rest for cremated remains in the south east.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ484896 |
|---|---|
| Site Ownership | LB Barking & Dagenham |
| Site Management | Cemeteries Office |
| Dates | 1934 |
| Designers | Borough Engineer, Thomas Philip Francis |
| 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
The origins of St Chad's Park date from 1831 when 4 acres of Chadwell Heath were given to the Parish Council as allotments for the poor; a further 3 acres were set aside for public use in 1866 as part compensation to the parish when the Heath was enclosed. In 1928 the Council added 34 acres, formerly part of Blackbush Farm. In the 1930s the northern area was laid out as public open space, with the southern part containing tennis courts, putting green, formal planting and paths. An alley of plane trees lines the main path through the park. A new children's playground and a golf course were added in 1955 and a new bowling green inaugurated in May 1956.
Little Heath Green is a triangular site, a remnant of the village green here, which dates back at least to the C14th. The pattern of roads today follows the original settlement pattern. Until 1909 there was a village pond on the Green, which is now surrounded by relatively recent trees. The houses around the green are generally 2-storey domestic buildings ranging from 200 years old to recent date. A timber signpost that was locally listed has since disappeared.
King George's Playing Field was originally known as Mawney Park, named after the old manor of Mawneys. As Romford expanded, the Mawneys estate was sold for housing development in 1883 although the land here remained as fields, then partly allotment gardens, until 1928 when it was acquired and laid out as a recreation ground. Later Romford Borough Council received funding of £3,000 from the King George's Fields Foundation, and as a consequence it was renamed King George's Playing Field. It remains a triangular site, its boundaries little changed from those of the old fields, although the southern boundary is now the Eastern Avenue. The River Rom forms the easterly boundary of the park.