Description
Mayesbrook Park was created to provide open space for Becontree Housing Estate built by London County Council, who presented the site to Barking Council in 1934. The extensive plans for its layout were only partially carried out, but its facilities included football, cricket and hockey pitches, putting green and lawn tennis courts, a boating lake, pavilions, bandstand and some formal planting. During WWII the park provided temporary army accommodation. Since the 1930s the park has been replanted and reconfigured, with new sports facilities in the northern part, including an Athletic Track.
Practical Information
| Previously known as | The New Park on the Western Open Belt |
|---|---|
| Site location | Lodge Avenue, Barking, Essex |
| Postcode | RM8 |
| What3Words | ///bounty.lakes.poet |
| Type of Site | Public Park |
| Borough | Barking & Dagenham |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | unrestricted |
| Special Conditions | Charges for some sports activities |
| Facilities | Car park; children's play area, football pitches, cricket pitch and pavilion, athletic track, tennis courts, basketball court, boating lake with workshop, fishing lake |
| Events | Various events |
| Public Transport | Tube: Upney (District; Hammersmith & City). Bus: 62, 368. |
| Research Updated | 1 April 2002 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
Formerly known as the Western Open Belt, Mayesbrook Park came into being specifically as a response to the need to provide open space for the London County Council's Becontree Housing Estate. The Mayes Brook runs along the western edge of the park. In 1934 the LCC presented a 116-acre site to Barking Council together with a first instalment of £2,500 (of a total contribution £5,000) towards the cost of its layout. Further funding came from City Parochial Charities, Carnegie United Kingdom Trust and the National Playing Fields Association. At the laying-out ceremony on 13/3/1934, officiated by the Mayor of Barking and Chair of the LCC, children planted trees and sang ‘The Song of Barking' (written by Henry Carey in c. 1730).
The original proposals for the northern 60 acres included 11 football pitches, 7 cricket pitches, a hockey pitch, 18 tennis courts and a putting green, with plans for the remaining 56 acres - chiefly a large gravel pit - for an ornamental lake, pleasure grounds and walks. Provision was made for levelling the area, ploughing and sowing with seed, tar macadam footpaths and tree planting with a portion reserved for sunken gardens, children's paddling pool, boating lake and children's playground. The cost estimate for the work was £20,830 and the contractors, B. Sunley & Co. of Brentford, had a condition written into their contract that 85% of the labour should come from the local Labour Exchange in view of unemployment difficulties in the borough. Part of these plans were carried out and the first scheme of works included 9 football pitches, 3 cricket pitches, 1 hockey pitch, 1 putting green of 18 holes and 16 lawn tennis courts, together with boating lake, pavilions, bandstand and some formal planting. However, the full layout was not completed, in part due to the interruption of WWII during which the park provided temporary army accommodation. Although not completed, the footprint of the site for the sunken gardens is evident.
Since the 1930s the park has been replanted and reconfigured, with new sports facilities in the northern part, including an Athletic Track. Remains of c.1930s gates exist at Longbridge Road entrance.
The original proposals for the northern 60 acres included 11 football pitches, 7 cricket pitches, a hockey pitch, 18 tennis courts and a putting green, with plans for the remaining 56 acres - chiefly a large gravel pit - for an ornamental lake, pleasure grounds and walks. Provision was made for levelling the area, ploughing and sowing with seed, tar macadam footpaths and tree planting with a portion reserved for sunken gardens, children's paddling pool, boating lake and children's playground. The cost estimate for the work was £20,830 and the contractors, B. Sunley & Co. of Brentford, had a condition written into their contract that 85% of the labour should come from the local Labour Exchange in view of unemployment difficulties in the borough. Part of these plans were carried out and the first scheme of works included 9 football pitches, 3 cricket pitches, 1 hockey pitch, 1 putting green of 18 holes and 16 lawn tennis courts, together with boating lake, pavilions, bandstand and some formal planting. However, the full layout was not completed, in part due to the interruption of WWII during which the park provided temporary army accommodation. Although not completed, the footprint of the site for the sunken gardens is evident.
Since the 1930s the park has been replanted and reconfigured, with new sports facilities in the northern part, including an Athletic Track. Remains of c.1930s gates exist at Longbridge Road entrance.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ465845 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 43.06 |
| Site Ownership | LB Barking & Dagenham |
| Site Management | Parks & Countryside Ranger Service |
| Dates | 1935/6 |
| 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 | Yes - (lakes only) Borough Importance II |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | Yes |
| Special Policy Area | No |
Gallery
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Nearby parks and gardens
Rippleside Cemetery is a large cemetery set up by Barking Parish Burial Board. It was opened in 1886, the first burial taking place in October of that year. The original C19th Lodge, gates and some original railings remain, together with the chapel, where the most impressive monuments are found. The grounds were well planted, and contain notable cedars, holly, yew, laurel and bay. The burial ground was extended to the east in c.1950. Today the cemetery has memorial and lawn-grave sections, a dedicated children's area and a memorial garden.
Eastbury is an Elizabethan Manor House built as a country residence for a wealthy merchant. The Manor dates back to at least the C14th when it belonged to Barking Abbey. From the early C18th onwards the estate was divided and the house gradually became dilapidated, occupied by a succession of tenant farmers. In 1913/14 the estate was broken up for building development. The house and immediate grounds, now the focus of a residential square built in the 1920s, was purchased by the National Trust in 1918 and later leased to Barking Borough Council. In the C18th the gardens comprised a west walled garden and two small plots to north and west of the house, both probably once enclosed, and an orchard to the south. The garden to the east is enclosed by C18th and C19th brick walls. Many of the original features have been restored, including the walled garden, in which 'bee-boles' can be seen in the walls.
Barking Park opened as Barking Town UDC Recreation Ground in April 1898, the first municipal park in the borough. Its original layout included a bandstand, ornamental gardens, bowling green, tennis courts and a large boating lake. The park keeper's lodge at the south-west entrance was built in 1902. Tree planting included alleys of plane and robinia, with the oldest area of landscaping by the lake. In 1919 Barking Park War Memorial was erected and was dedicated in 1922, now commemorating those from Barking who lost their lives in both world wars. Other park facilities added over the years included a children's paddling pool, 18 hole putting green, and an impressive Open Air Swimming Pool or Lido with ornamental cascade (refurbished/restored in 2010). The 1930s light railway re-opened in April 2009.
