Description
Havering Atte Bower was once the location of the Royal Palace of Havering used by the monarchy from pre-Norman Conquest until 1620. Havering Village Green was acquired as public open space by Romford UDC in 1935 and is largely grass, overlooked by the parish church of St John the Evangelist. The late C17th/early C18th double stocks and whipping post used to stand in the south-east corner of the green, and were restored in 1966, having part of the original ironwork. The ducking pool used to be across North Road, a hollow in the ground indicating where it was. A row of horse chestnut trees was planted during Coronation Year 1953 and a seat installed near the west side as a further commemoration. The Green has been used for all manner of village activities over many years.
Practical Information
| Site location | Orange Tree Hill/North Road, Havering Atte Bower |
|---|---|
| Postcode | RM4 1QX |
| What3Words | ///spirit.films.focal |
| Type of Site | Public Open Land |
| Borough | Havering |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | unrestricted |
| Public Transport | Rail: Romford then bus. Bus: 375, 575 |
| Research Updated | 1 September 2009 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
Havering Atte Bower retains its village atmosphere and was once the location of the Royal Palace of Havering used by the monarchy from pre-Norman Conquest until 1620. The Liberty of Havering was granted in the C13th. The Green has been used for all manner of village activities over many years, and is still used for fairs and fetes. A row of horse chestnut trees was planted during Coronation Year 1953 and a seat was installed near the west side as a further commemoration of the coronation. Adjacent to the west of the Green is St John the Evangelist parish church (q.v). The Green was acquired as public open space by Romford Urban District Council in 1935 and is largely grass, crossed by paths. The late C17th/early C18th double stocks and whipping post used to stand in the south east corner of the green, and in 1966 were restored although part of the ironwork is original. The ducking pool used to be to the east across North Road but no longer exists although a hollow in the ground indicates where it was. A row of late C18th timber-framed cottages and former forge are on the north side of the Green. The Dame Tipping School was built on the Green in 1724 to cater for '20 poor children', founded by Lady Ann Tipping of Pyrgo; the present building dates from 1891.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ512932 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 0.6 |
| Site Ownership | LB Havering |
| Site Management | Parks and Open Spaces |
| Dates | medieval; 1935 |
| Listed Structures | LBII: 1-5 The Green; Stocks and Whipping Post. Local list: 1-4 Havering Green Cottages, 5 & 6 The Green |
| On National Heritage List for England (NHLE), Parks & Gardens | No |
| Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965 | Yes: Green (TVG29 - both sides of road) |
| Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931 | No |
| Local Authority | Havering |
| In Conservation Area | Yes |
| Conservation Area Name | Havering Atte Bower |
| Tree Preservation Order | Not known |
| Nature Conservation Area | No |
| Green Belt | Yes |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | Yes - Havering Ridge Area of Special Character |
| Other LA Designation | Improved Bridleway |
Please note the Inventory and its content are provided for your general information only and are subject to change. It is your responsibility to check the accuracy.
Nearby parks and gardens
Havering-Atte-Bower, once the location of the Palace of Havering used by royalty from pre-Norman Conquest until 1638, was one of three parishes within the Royal Manor and Liberty of Havering. Its parish church of St John the Evangelist faces Havering Village Green, and is built on the site of a C12th church of St Mary's, formerly one of the Palace chapels. The churchyard has a number of mature trees and is enclosed by a low wall. The oldest among the graves is that of Thomas Cheek (d.1688), Lieutenant of the Tower of London and owner of nearby Pyrgo Park.
Havering Hall, a large a double-fronted brick house, was built in 1858/9 on the site of an earlier C18th house. From the C18th, gentlemen's villas and parks began to be built in the area around the village of Havering-atte-Bower. The Hall was purchased in 1979 by St Francis Hospice and opened to patients in 1984. The grounds contain some exotic specimen trees, possibly survivals from a C19th arboretum and include a mulberry, Tree of Heaven, Mount Atlas cedar, Holm oak, cork oak, yew, monkey puzzle and magnolia grandiflora. The quality of the environment is an important aspect of the work of the hospice, the gardens providing positive benefit for the patients.
Bower House and its parkland were conceived as one, with architect Henry Flitcroft working closely with Charles Bridgeman who laid out the grounds. Situated on the hillside with commanding views, the red-brick house, then called Monthavering, was built in 1729 for Sergeant-at-Law John Baynes. The layout is little changed today, with a large walled garden, serpentine walk beyond its eastern perimeter wall, belts of trees flanking the house to east and west, and an additional approach road from the south-east terminating in a small plantation to the north. Bower House and grounds were the site of memorable occasions over the years, including royal visits. In 1959 it was purchased by the Ford Motor Company as a training school and conference centre. In 2005 it was sold to Amana Trust, a Christian educational charity, which is also working to restore the house and preserve the gardens and landscaping.