Description
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.
Practical Information
| Previously known as | The Church on the Green; Havering Atte Bower Parish Church |
|---|---|
| Site location | The Green, Havering-Atte-Bower |
| Postcode | RM4 1PL |
| What3Words | ///heats.legs.region |
| Type of Site | Churchyard |
| 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 before the Norman Conquest until c.1638, when Charles I allegedly stayed here on his way to meet his mother-in-law arriving from abroad at Harwich. The palace was a ruin by 1650, and had collapsed by c.1700, but it appears to have been located behind the parish church of St John the Evangelist. Havering-atte-Bower was one of the three parishes within the Royal Manor and Liberty of Havering, along with Romford and Hornchurch. The church on Havering Village Green (q.v.) is on the site of an earlier, C12th church that originated as the larger of two royal chapels of the Palace, and may have been the King's Chapel. After the Palace ceased to be used, the parishioners claimed this chapel as the parish church, dedicated to St Mary. The older church was originally restored in 1836 but the current brick and flint-faced church was then built when a larger church was needed. It was designed by Basil Champneys and consecrated in 1878. While the church was being rebuilt church services were held in a barn nearby.
The churchyard has a number of mature trees and is enclosed by a low wall. The oldest grave in the churchyard is that of Thomas Cheek, Lieutenant of the Tower of London (d.1688), who acquired the nearby manor of Pyrgo (q.v.) in 1621. In 1724 his daughter Dame Anne Tipping had a school for poor children erected on the Green, later demolished in 1808. Adjoining the churchyard is the Arts and Crafts church hall. The parish is now combined with that of St James Collier Row.
The churchyard has a number of mature trees and is enclosed by a low wall. The oldest grave in the churchyard is that of Thomas Cheek, Lieutenant of the Tower of London (d.1688), who acquired the nearby manor of Pyrgo (q.v.) in 1621. In 1724 his daughter Dame Anne Tipping had a school for poor children erected on the Green, later demolished in 1808. Adjoining the churchyard is the Arts and Crafts church hall. The parish is now combined with that of St James Collier Row.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ511930 |
|---|---|
| Site Ownership | Church of England, Diocese of Chelmsford |
| Site Management | Church |
| Dates | C12th onwards |
| Listed Structures | LBII: St John the Evangelist Church |
| 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 | 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 |
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 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.
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.