Description
Parsloes Park derives its name from the Passelewe family, who held the land from c.1250. In 1901 part of the estate was leased to the National Trotting Horse Breeders Association for an American-style trotting track. In 1923 the London County Council acquired the estate to build the Becontree Housing Estate, whose official completion was celebrated by the opening of Parsloes Park in July 1935, the central open space of the new estate. Much of the 1930s layout remains. The northern end consisted of playing fields, with large public gardens in the south-west, and the remainder levelled as unrailed open space partly for sports but mostly ‘free for people to walk and children to play upon'.
Practical Information
| Previously known as | Parsloes Manor |
|---|---|
| Site location | Gale Street/Parsloes Avenue, Dagenham, Essex |
| Postcode | RM9 |
| What3Words | ///guess.bikes.ranked |
| Type of Site | Public Park |
| Borough | Barking & Dagenham |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | unrestricted |
| Special Conditions | Charges for some sports activities |
| Facilities | Children's play area, football pitches, tennis courts,basketball court, bowling green, lake |
| Public Transport | Tube: Becontree or Dagenham Heathway (District). Bus: 62, 145, 364. |
| Research Updated | 1 April 2002 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
Built upon over 100 acres of grounds of the former Manor of Parsloes, Parsloes Park derives its name from the former C13th owners, the Passelewe family, who held the land from c1250. The property passed into secular hands at the Dissolution of the Monasteries and was subsequently held by three Mayors of London, the last being Sir Edward Osborne, whose grandson sold the estate to William Fanshawe of Fanshawe Gate in Derbyshire in 1619. The Fanshawes built the Manor House and lived there until the mid C19th when, having fallen into debt, they let the house out to various tenants including the family of Lord Denman, Lord Chief Justice. The Fanshawe's fine collection of portraits were presented to the borough and can be seen in Valence House (q.v.). The Manor House stood in the middle of the C18th park where a group of elms could still be seen in the 1960s. The Manor House was enlarged and given gothic treatment in c.1843 but then fell into disrepair and was a ruin by 1900; it was subsequently demolished in 1925. Two houses in Stevens Road are built from Parsloes bricks.
In 1901 the National Trotting Horse Breeders Association leased part of the estate and opened an American-style trotting track in the park, used for competitions until 1923 when the LCC acquired the estate for the Becontree Housing Estate - at over 4 square miles probably the largest housing estate in the UK; the main contract of over 25,000 dwellings was constructed between 1921-34. The official completion of the Estate was celebrated by the opening of Parsloes Park in July 1935, the central open space of the new estate, laid out at a cost of £30,000, towards which City Parochial Trust gave £5,000. The northern end was to consist of playing fields, and in the south west large public gardens, the remainder to be levelled as an open space of trees and grass without railings partly for football, cricket, and tennis but mostly ‘free for people to walk and children to play upon'. Much of the 1930s layout remains: pavilion, bowling green, today screened by Cotoneaster hedge, rose garden and formal beds, paths and trees, the large pond with islands in south-west corner of the park, children's paddling pool. Some notable oaks and horse chestnuts on east boundary. Ownership of the park was transferred to LB Barking & Dagenham in 1980.
In 1901 the National Trotting Horse Breeders Association leased part of the estate and opened an American-style trotting track in the park, used for competitions until 1923 when the LCC acquired the estate for the Becontree Housing Estate - at over 4 square miles probably the largest housing estate in the UK; the main contract of over 25,000 dwellings was constructed between 1921-34. The official completion of the Estate was celebrated by the opening of Parsloes Park in July 1935, the central open space of the new estate, laid out at a cost of £30,000, towards which City Parochial Trust gave £5,000. The northern end was to consist of playing fields, and in the south west large public gardens, the remainder to be levelled as an open space of trees and grass without railings partly for football, cricket, and tennis but mostly ‘free for people to walk and children to play upon'. Much of the 1930s layout remains: pavilion, bowling green, today screened by Cotoneaster hedge, rose garden and formal beds, paths and trees, the large pond with islands in south-west corner of the park, children's paddling pool. Some notable oaks and horse chestnuts on east boundary. Ownership of the park was transferred to LB Barking & Dagenham in 1980.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ482849 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 59.61 |
| Site Ownership | LB Barking & Dagenham |
| Site Management | Parks & Countryside Ranger Service |
| Dates | 1935 |
| Designers | G Topham Forrest, architect to the LCC for the Becontree Estate |
| 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 (part) - Borough Importance II |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | Yes |
| Special Policy Area | No |
| Other LA Designation | Local Nature Reserve |
Gallery
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
Goresbroook Park follows the course of the Gores Brook and is in three sections, divided by Dagenham Avenue. Liable to flooding and thus unsuitable for housing development by the LCC, the land was reserved for open space and presented to Barking Council in 1930. By 1938 part of the site was levelled, laid with turf and landscaped, and had a few facilities such as a sandpit and paddling pool, but it remained largely undeveloped into the 1950s.
Valence House was once the manor house for the largest estate in Dagenham. The present building is early C17th and stood in 5 acres of gardens and orchards, surrounded by a moat. In 1921 the London County Council purchased Valence lands for the Becontree Housing Estate but in 1926 leased then sold the house and immediate grounds to Dagenham UDC; it now contains the Council's Museum and O'Leary Gallery. Fragments of the north and east edges of the grounds survive, as does part of the angle of the moat; the grounds have C19th Holm oak and yew, and a period-style Herb Garden opened in 1992 in the former Victorian kitchen garden. In 1926, the LCC laid out 24 acres of the old Valence lands as a public park, two-thirds for informal recreation with open space, grass and some trees. Various facilities were provided, a bandstand and formal planting, but the majority has now gone, including its open-air swimming pool, which closed in 1971.
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.
