Inventory Site Record

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.

Site location:

Upminster Road South, Rainham

Postcode:

RM13

What 3 Words:

drain.play.surely

Type of site:

Public Park

Borough:

Havering

Open to public?

Yes

Opening times:

closed dusk

Special conditions:

Facilities:

playground, car park, football pitches

Events:

Public transport:

Rail: Rainham. Bus: 165, 287

Citymapper    
Google Map    
streetmap.co.uk

Research updated:

01/09/2009

Last minor changes:

19/07/2023

Please check with the site owner or manager for latest news. www.havering.gov.uk

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.

Sources consulted:

Hornchurch UDC: Report on Parks and Recreation Grounds, Sydney Porter, September 1961

Grid ref:

TQ522823 (552280,182390)

Size in hectares:

1.5

Site ownership:

LB Havering

Site management:

Parks and Open Spaces

Date(s):

1950s

Designer(s):

Listed structures:

None

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 Data

The information below is taken from the relevant Local Authority's planning legislation, which was correct at the time of research but may have been amended in the interim. Please check with the Local Authority for latest planning information.

On Local List:

No

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

Other LA designation:

None