Barking A Short History

Located in the northeast part of London, part of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, Barking is another suburban town of England that is both a retail and commercial centre. Its strategic location, east of Charing Cross and west of the borough make it one of the 35 major centers in the London Plan, as part of Greater London, and the area is intended to regenerate the economic activity there.

Barking Riverside, along with Barking Town Centre, are the two main centers of activity here. But let’s discuss Barking’s past and origins a bit. First of all, the name of the suburb comes from the Anglo-Saxon word “Berecingas,� meaning “the settlement by the birch trees.� There is another theory stating name of the town is actually slang, originating from the expression “barking mad.� This explanation also seems plausible enough, given the fact that there is proof of an insane asylum having existed there in medieval times. Nevertheless, the truth is the respective phrase has only appeared in the 20th century, so it does not have any medieval origins.

Barking used to be a large ancient parish in Essex, and it was divided into the wards of Chadwell, Ilford, Ripple and Town. The year 1894 meant the transformation of the parish in the Barking Town Urban District, incorporated in the Municipal Borough of Barking in 1931. There were other changes that took place in the area, and in 1980 the London Borough of Barking was awarded with a new name: Barking and Dagenham. One of the most important and imposing building there was the Barking Abbey, founded in the year 666 by Eorcenwald bishop of London. The abbey was destroyed by the Danes and its reconstruction took a century. Due to the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the Barking Abbey was demolished, and only the parish of St Margaret’s Church and other walling and foundations are remaining of those times. St Margaret’s Church features a splendid Norman architecture.

Some of the most important events that can be related to the town of Barking refer to songs that Neil Young has recorded there, "A Man Needs a Maid" and "There's a World." The songs were recorded together with the London Symphony Orchestra at Barking Assembly Hall, and they went on Neil Young’s classic album “Harvest,� released in 1972.

John Terry and Bobby Moore are two of the most famous football players who were born in Barking. There are also cricket, hockey and basketball clubs there, together with Barking Football Club.

The Barking Riverside development is also worth mentioning, as being part of the London Riverside project, aiming to regenerate the riverside area of East London and create new homes, jobs, and services for the people there. The project began in 2008 and it is due to be completed in 2025, leaving behind over 10, 000 houses for about 25,000 people. A new series of transport lines is also included in the construction plans, so Barking will soon grow to be an impressive suburban town.

If you are looking to buy a House for Sale in Barking then please visit Propertywide