Description
The park consists of two recreation areas divided by Reede Road, which were at first separately named, but since the 1980s together form Pondfield Park. The land, unsuitable for building, was presented to Barking by the London County Council in the late 1920s. The northern Park had perimeter planting, paths, avenues of trees and is largely playing fields, while the Recreation Ground in the south was laid out with children's playground, paddling pool, drinking fountains and planting.
Practical Information
| Previously known as | Pondfield Recreation Ground |
|---|---|
| Site location | Pondfield Road/Reade Road, Dagenham, Essex |
| Postcode | RM10 |
| What3Words | ///drips.flesh.belong |
| Type of Site | Public Park |
| Borough | Barking & Dagenham |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | unrestricted |
| Facilities | Children's playground, I basketball court |
| Public Transport | Tube: Dagenham East (District) then bus. Bus: 364. |
| Research Updated | 1 April 2002 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
In the late 1920s, the LCC presented 9 acres of land unsuitable for building development to Barking Council - two areas bisected by Reede Road. The northern part (Pondfield Park) was laid out with paths, avenue of trees and perimeter planting, while the south (Pondfield Recreation Ground) contained a children's playground, paddling pool, drinking fountains, and planting. In the early 1950s the Council wanted to improve the layout of the Recreation Ground but the Ministry of Health refused to sanction a loan for this although the Council proposed to ‘pay out of ready money'. Since the 1980s the whole area is now Pondfield Park, and contains playing fields, rose gardens set in a depressed shallow turfed bowl and some notable trees such as willows and horse chestnuts. 2008: new children's play area was opened.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ496852 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 5.7 |
| Site Ownership | LB Barking & Dagenham |
| Site Management | Parks & Countryside Ranger Service |
| Dates | 1930 |
| 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 | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | No |
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
St Peter and St Paul's parish church dates back to the early C13th and was in the heart of Dagenham Village, one of the earliest Saxon settlements in Essex. The churchyard was originally c.1 acre but was extended to the south in the C19th. It was in use for burials until the 1990s, and has numerous tombs, including twenty dating from the C17th. The area around the church is neatly tended, while the area beyond is in a more natural state as the churchyard has been maintained for wildlife since the 1990s.
Dagenham Park opened in 1931 on land purchased by Dagenham UDC. The land was once part of the Manor of East Hall, which dated back to at least the C14th. The park was laid out with children's playground, drinking fountain, bandstand, rose beds, formal planting, bowling green, a Sports Arena with stands and pavilion, tennis courts and a putting green. Over the years various facilities were added to the park including a new stadium stand in 1950 and new children's playground in 1961. The park lodge remains near the original entrance gates.
The Leys is an open area of grassland with trees, shrubs and the Wantz stream running through it. It was formerly meadowland of Leys Farm, and once part of the Manor of East Hall, which dated back to at least the C14th. The site was purchased by Dagenham UDC in 1928 to provide for public recreation and at one time had a fine open-air swimming pool, which opened in 1939. The filtration plant was destroyed in WWII in 1940 and the pool eventually closed.
