Description
Rainham existed from ancient times as a small hamlet with a medieval church, river crossing and a wharf on the creek formed by the Ingrebourne River, which was navigable until the C20th. The railway arrived here in 1854 but Rainham remained a relatively remote rural village into the 1930s. The land was acquired for public open space by Hornchurch UDC in 1934 and was initially used for allotments during WWII. Rainham Recreation Ground was laid out in 1950/1, facilities including a paddling pool and playground equipment, but although it was considered a suitable site for a future bowling green, this did not eventually get created. It was re-landscaped in 1990 and a new playsite was laid out in 2004.
Practical Information
| Site location | Upminster Road South, Rainham |
|---|---|
| Postcode | RM13 |
| What3Words | ///drain.play.surely |
| Type of Site | Public Park |
| Borough | Havering |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | closed dusk |
| Facilities | playground, car park, football pitches |
| Public Transport | Rail: Rainham. Bus: 165, 287 |
| Research Updated | 1 September 2009 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
Rainham existed from ancient times as a small hamlet on the edges of Rainham Marshes with a medieval church, river crossing and a wharf on the creek formed by the Ingrebourne River, which was navigable until the C20th. In the C18th the village grew and the wharf, improved by John Harle of Rainham Hall (q.v.), was used for shipping building materials and coal. Harle had dredged the Ingrebourne, which enabled trading vessels to come from the Thames to the village. There was much call for building and other materials at that time as London was still being rebuilt after the Great Fire. Harle's own business flourished and he was able to build his new house at Rainham. In the C19th Rainham wharf served to distribute the products of the market gardening that covered much of the local area. The railway arrived here in 1854 but Rainham remained a relatively remote rural village into the 1930s. The land that later became the recreation ground was acquired for public open space by Hornchurch Urban District Council in 1934 but it was used for allotments during WWII. The recreation ground was laid out c.1950/1 and among the facilities provided were a paddling pool and playground equipment. Although it was considered a suitable site for a future bowling green, this did not eventually get created. The park was re-landscaped in 1990 when the new Tesco superstore was built on adjacent land. A new playsite was laid out in 2004.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ522823 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 1.5 |
| Site Ownership | LB Havering |
| Site Management | Parks and Open Spaces |
| Dates | 1950s |
| 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 | Havering |
| In Conservation Area | No |
| Tree Preservation Order | No |
| Nature Conservation Area | No |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | Yes - Minor District Centre |
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 Helen and St Giles Church is the oldest surviving building in Havering in the village of Rainham, which has been occupied since the Stone Age. In Norman times there was a ferry at Rainham and Rainham Creek was a trading post from as early as c1200. The church was reputedly built c.1170 as penance for the murder of Thomas A Becket by Richard Luce. Now closed to burials, the churchyard has many mature trees and a number of good C18th monuments. In 1729 John Harle, a merchant and owner of Rainham Wharf, built Rainham Hall next to the churchyard.
Rainham Hall is an early C18th house built for Captain John Harle, set in a pleasant garden, although it once had larger grounds. It retains fine wrought-iron railings and gates, the latter having the intertwined initials of John Harle and his wife Mary. The house remained in his family until 1895 but then fell into decay, although remnants of the Harles' formal garden layout remained. The house was purchased by Colonel Mulliner in 1920 who found it an excellent example of its period, and it was later given to the National Trust.
Rainham Cemetery was opened in 1902, the first burial taking place in that year. There is a small cemetery chapel with a glass screen, railings. Even in the 1920s the surrounding area was entirely undeveloped and the cemetery was surrounded by fields. Upminster Road North, however, is marked as a route on earlier maps.