2021 see’s the 100th Birthday of the ‘Becontree Estate’ – once the largest public housing estate in the world. 
Becontree is in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham – and is located 11 miles to the east of central London and a mile or so south of London Shoes-Romford base.
Before the Becontree Estate was constructed, Becontree had been a big market-garden area, with country lanes and cottages scattered here and there.
The ‘Becontree Estate’ came about as a result of the 1919 Housing Act – which allowed the London County Council (ie LCC) to compulsory purchase 4 square miles of land near Dagenham – to build a completely new housing estate outside of London – because there was very little land in the London area that could be made available for much needed social housing.
The Estate was constructed between the 2 World Wars. The building work started in 1921 and was completed by 1935. 
At the time of its construction, the Estate touched the parishes of Dagenham, Barking & Ilford (all 3 being areas that I grew up in).
The main purpose of the Becontree Estate was to provide homes to those working classes being moved out of the London slums.
When construction of the Estate first started in 1921, the new houses were promoted as being “homes fit for heroes” to accommodate the brave servicemen returning from WW1, and their families.
The building of the estate was an enormous civil engineering project, presenting the developers with many, never before encountered challenges.
A special bespoke railway system was built specifically for the purpose of transporting materials from the massive railway sidings at nearby main-line stations such as Goodmayes – which is now on the TfL line out of Liverpool Street. 
A wharf was created down on the nearby stretch of the River Thames, and a 500ft jetty built, so that building materials could be shipped down the River in barges, then unloaded onto the building sites bespoke railway system.
The very first houses of this massive estate were in Chitty’s Lane – and today a blue commemorative plaque is displayed in the exterior wall of the row of houses that were the first to be built and occupied. 
The very first tenants were people who were re-housed as part of London’s slum clearance projects and initiatives.
The big selling point of the estates houses was that they all had inside toilets – private gardens – sash windows – copper boilers in their kitchens that were fed by a tank in the loft.
The kitchen boilers were used to provide hot water for washing clothes and for filling a bath – a luxury that the average working class family had never experienced before.
All the estate houses were supplied with Gas. Some had gas lighting and some had electric. 
The new tenants had a right result with their new private gardens – as because the land had previously been an area full of market-gardens – residents found that they had fresh stuff like rhubarb, peas, and cabbages growing in their back gardens.
Privet hedges were another feature throughout the estate, which would be planted street-side of every front garden, and all hedges had to be maintained at a regulation height. Also wooden picket fences defined the boundaries of the front and back gardens.
Becontree housing estate, Dagenham, London
However – the ‘homes fit for heroes’ and new homes for everyone……wasn’t quite what happened in reality.
There was strict vetting process in place when it came to new tenants. All prospective tenants were all extensively interviewed.
The estate only allowed housing to those prosperous working class families.
The ‘size‘ of a family was also a big consideration – as was family’s domestic standards and their financial resources.
Only prospective tenants with secure jobs, who were earning more than the average wage – were considered for new housing. 
Another stipulation of all new tenancies was that the prospective tenants had to sign a declaration agreeing that any of their children born on the estate, would accept that they would not automatically be housed by the LCC (London County Council), when it was their time to buy a house.
Another design fault in the building of the estate, that would come back to bite them on the bum in future years – was that there was no provision for ‘parking’ – simply because, the designers of the estate, didn’t think that tenants would ever be able to afford to buy a car – and as a result, there was no provision for garages to be built either.
Initially – the Becontree Estate had no industry nearby – and tenants used to commute into London.
But as time progressed, the likes of the Ford Motor Co opened up in nearby Dagenham – as did the massive May & Baker factory, along with all the ancillary manufacturing and service industries that operated alongside Ford’s. There were no railway stations within the Becontree Estate – however – when the estate was finally completed in 1935. 
There was an overground rail line station in the area called ‘Gale Street Halt’ – which was on the route from Fenchurch Street in the City on the London-Midland & Scottish line that went out to Southend.
Nearing the completion of the Becontree Estate, the station and its existing line, was completely re-built and electrified – to become part of London Underground’s District Line tube service – and the station was re-named “Becontree”.
Today – the main line rail stations of Goodmayes – Chadwell Heath – Dagenham Dock, are today, all nearby to the Becontree Estate.
Even though the Becontree Estate was designed with provision for ‘corner shops’ and small rows of shops in certain parts of the estate – a shopping centre was developed in the Heathway-Dagenham to service the new Becontree Estate tenants. Dagenham Heathway tube station was added to the District Line (the green tube line on a standard London Underground map) 
In the early 1980’s I worked at Barclays Bank-Dagenham Dock branch, and I used to commute to Dagenham-Heathway tube station every day – then walk down to the dock area, of Dagenham where the Ford’s factory was – and where the bank branch was once located.
The ‘privet hedges’ that were still prominent throughout the Estate back then, saved my bacon many a time. I often used to go out ‘debt collecting’ for the Bank, and certain customers living on the Becontree Estate took umbrage of my asking for repayment of money we had lent them – and with them questioning my parentage, I would often be chased down the street – and many a time I would ‘lose’ my ‘hunter’ by diving into or behind one of the Estates privet hedges!!!
When the Becontree Estate was officially opened in 1935, it consisted of 27,000 new homes built on 3,000 acres of former market garden land – and these homes housed 120,000 people – making the estate the largest social housing estate in the world at that time. 
However – the population continued to expand at a rapid rate, and an additional 1,000 homes had been added by 1937.
Post WW2 a further 600 homes were built.
The majority of the houses on the original Becontree Estate were/are 2 storey cottage type homes with front and back gardens – and even though at first glance, every house in every road looks the same – there are actually 91 different housing designs
With this massive increase in population and its demand, schools had to be built to meet demand – because within the first 15 years of the estate being opened, the school age population rose rapidly by 25,000 – and at that time, there were only 4 schools in nearby Chadwell Heath. 
Today, there are roughly 26 Primary Schools and 13 Secondary Schools within the area.
One of the noticeable features of the Becontree Estate is the width of some of the roads – in particular Vallence Avenue and Becontree Avenue – which are dual-carriageways with wide green verges running down the middle of them. Roads of this size and dimension, running through the middle of a massive council estate – are unheard of, but these roads on the Becontree Estate originate from the special train lines that were built to transport the building material from the Thames and from main line train sidings – into the middle of the construction site. When the main building works had been completed – these train lines were converted into huge roadways.
Quite a few celebs have come from the Becontree Estate – such as Sir Alf Ramsey (Manager of the England’s 1966 World Cup winning team) – Dudley Moore (Jazz pianist and Hollywood actor) – Max Bygraves – Terry Venables (another former England manager) – and George Carey (former Archbishop of Canterbury)…..plus many more. 
Today – the Becontree Estate is home to many different nationalities – and is very much a multi-cultural estate. Statistically though – the Becontree Estate is the UK’s largest council estate, in terms of population – where it is home to over 95,000 residents.
Becontree is a place I know very well, as its very near to where I grew up – my senior school was on the periphery of the Becontree Estate – I ended up working in a Bank that was also on the edge of the Estate – and, as a teenager I had some magical nights watching ‘live’ bands at the Dagenham Roundhouse – so I have an affection for the place, and it was good to do a blog celebrating the Becontree Estate’s 100th Birthday, and finding out a bit more about its amazing history.
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See below – for the full Gallery of photos taken to support this “Becontree Estate” blog
There was an overground rail line station in the area called ‘Gale Street Halt’ – which was on the route from Fenchurch Street in the City on the London-Midland & Scottish line that went out to Southend. Nearing the completion of the Becontree Estate, the station and its existing line, was completely re-built and electrified – to become part of London Underground’s District Line tube service – and the station was re-named “Becontree”.
Me – on the platform of ‘Becontree’ tube station – which was once an overground rail station called “Gale Street Halt”
An aerial view of the ‘Becontree Estate’ in the early days of its construction (1920’s) (image sourced from another website)
The very first houses of the ‘Becontree Estate’ were constructed in Chitty’s Lane – and today a blue commemorative plaque is displayed in the exterior wall of the row of houses that were the first to be built and occupied.
The Becontree Estate – sits at the heart of the Dagenham / Chadwell Heath districts of east London
Where Becontree tube station is situated now, there was once an overground rail line station called ‘Gale Street Halt’ – which was on the route from Fenchurch Street in the City on the London-Midland & Scottish line that went out to Southend.
An old aerial view of the ‘new’ Becontree Estate (image sourced from another website)
Me – in the middle of the Becontree Estate as it is today
The very first houses completed and occupied on the Becontree Estate, were in Chittys Lane – and today a blue commemorative plaque is displayed in the exterior wall of the row of houses that were the first to be built.
As they are today – the row of houses in Chittys Lane that were the first to be built and occupied on the Becontree Estate. You can just about see the commemorative blue plaque on the exterior wall of one of the houses.
Me – on the platform of Chadwell Heath station. Chadwell Heath mainline station – on the line out from Liverpool Street – is the nearest mail-line station to the Becontree Estate. In fact the Estates main ‘Vallence Avenue’ commences at the bottom of the hill from this station.
Chadwell Heath mainline station – on the line out from Liverpool Street – is the nearest mail-line station to the Becontree Estate.
Vallence Avenue – is one of the Becontree Estate’s main roads. It is a massively wide e dual carriageway with a grass verge right down its middle. The reason the road is so wide is because, it was once the route of the bespoke rail line that was built to transport building materials from the River Thames, and also the sidings of other nearby main-line rail sidings – taking the material right into the heart of the Estate building works.
An old photo of one of the trains used on the special train-line build to transport building materials right into the heart of the Estate building sites. (imaged sources from another website)
Vallence Avenue – as it is today – a massive dual carriageway running through the heart of the Becontree Estate
Kingsley Hall – Community Centre – in the middle of the Becontree Estate – first opened in 1929.
One of the Becontree Estate’s most famous son’s – the late great ‘Dudley Moore’ would regularly return to the Estate from his Hollywood mansion – and, unannounced – would play piano during the afternoon at the Kingsley Hall.
An old photo of a typical Becontree Estate front garden. Within the early tenancy agreements there were strict regulations around what could and couldn’t be grown on the estate. A lot of care and attention was given to the front and back gardens on the Becontree Estate – Prizes were given out regularly to the tenants with the ‘best gardens’
Another old photo from the Becontree Estate (imaged sourced from another website)
The same photo as above – as it is today
The District Line tube – now goes out to Becontree and Dagenham
Dagenham Heathway is a London Underground station serving the town of Dagenham in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, east London. It is on the District line between Becontree and Dagenham East.
Me – on the platform of Dagenham Heathway tube station. Dagenham Heathway station was opened on 12 September 1932. The station was initially operated by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway – but then became part of the District Line tube. The station was called Heathway when it first opened, changing to its present name in 1949.
Even though the Becontree Estate was designed with provision for ‘corner shops’ and small ‘shopping parades’ in certain parts of the estate – a shopping centre was developed in the Heathway-Dagenham to service the new Becontree Estate tenants
In the early 1980’s I worked at Barclays Bank-Dagenham Dock branch, and I used to commute to Dagenham-Heathway tube station every day
Dagenham Heathway
The streets of the Becontree Estate today. There are still ‘Circuses’ – ‘Cul-de-Sacs’ & ‘Banjo’ street designs
An old photo of public transport servicing the Becontree Estate
The design of the Becontree Estate included many Cul-de-Sacs. Here’s one as it looks today
In the early 1980’s I worked at Barclays-Dagenham Dock branch – that was located at the very end of the Heathway, where it joins the busy A13 main road. At that time I used to drink regularly in the Admiral Vernon pub, just off the Heathway – and it was pleasing to find that the old pub is stil there and by all accounts, doing well.
Me – outside the Admiral Vernon pub, where I used to drink regularly when I worked at Barclays Bank-Dagenham Dock branch, in the early 1980’s….40 years ago !!!
An old photograph of the Becontree Estate – showing the typical bendy roads around the Estates. (image sourced from another website)
The older homes of the Becontree estate as they are today
‘Chequers Corner’ – at the end of the Heathway Dagenham, where it joins the famous A13 road. The ‘Chequers’ pub has long gone
The A13 at Chequers Corner – looking west towards London
The A13 – at Chequers Corner – looking east towards Southend. The building on the right hand side is a Premier Inn hotel – where Barclays Bank Dagenham Dock branch once stood – and where I once worked =n the early 1980’s
The Premier Inn at Chequers Corner-Dagenham – the site used to be a parade of shops, one of which was Barclays Bank-Dagenham Dock branch – where I once worked in the early 1980’s.
Me – at the end of the Heathway-Dagenham – looking over at Chequers Corner – with the Brewers Fayre pub that replaced the old ‘Chequers’ pub, on the right – and the Premier Inn to my left, where once stood Barclays Bank-Dagenham Dock branch, where I worked in the early 1980’s.
When the Becontree Estate was being built, ‘Privet Hedges’ were a predominant feature throughout the streets of the estate. There were strict regulations in place concerning these hedges – which had to be maintained at a specific height.
The Dagenham Roundhouse pub – was built in 1936 at the very western edge of the Becontree Estate. It was located there deliberately so as to keep noise and disturbance, away from the centre of the Becontree Estate.
The Dagenham Roundhouse pub as it is today (all closed down and boarded up!!! Its a place that is very dear to me, as I spent a lot of my early teenage years there watching the bands of the day – that, within a very short space of time – went on the be mega bands of the 1970’s and beyond.
The Dagenham Roundhouse closed down as a ‘live’ music venue in the late 1970’s – but a decade or so back, a Reunion group was started up and until the Covid 19 pandemic arrived – regular ‘live’ music events were held in the old Roundhouse function hall. The Roundhouse being located to the far west of the Becontree Estate.
The entrance to the old Dagenham Roundhouse events hall – that I frequented back in the early 1970’s, and, until the Covid pandemic arrived – I would regularly attend ‘Reunion’ events there. The Roundhouse being located to the far west of the Becontree Estate.
Me – my ex workmate Tony (left) and my bruv-in-law Vince (right) at one of the Dagenham Roundhouse Reunion gigs. The Roundhouse being located to the far west of the Becontree Estate.
An old photo of new roads being laid out on the Becontree Estate (image sourced from another website)
One of the noticeable features of the Becontree Estate is the width of some of the roads – in particular Becontree Avenue – which is dual-carriageways with wide green verges running down the middle of them – very unusual for a council estate
The Becontree Estate’s ‘Becontree Avenue’ – as it is today. A vey wide dual carriageway where once was laid out, one of the bespoke train lines that were put in place to transport building materials from the nearby River Thames – right deep into the heart of the construction site.
Wooden picket fences were once the regulatory requirement on the Becontree Estate. Today, some of the houses still attempt to keep to that tradition.
Me – on the Becontree Estate :-))
Fascinating story and a god mix of old and new photos. Thanks! 95000 inhabitants! That’s a medium size city in Sweden.
Thank you Tomas…..glad you enjoyed it my friend – I know the estate very well, but it was certainly interesting finding out the detail of its history.
It was nice to see this post as a former resident on the Becontree estate. I now live nearby in Havering. It’s impact is very much understated even now and it was certainly a game changer back in the day as housing goes. Unfortunately you can’t say that about the new builds going up on the Beam park estate which is surrounded by heavy traffic and little outside space.
Thanks for the feedback Robert – glad you enjoyed the article.
I too live in Havering, and have done a few ‘local’ blogs during the Covid lockdowns – which you may also enjoy.
Have trawl through the website menu (‘Archived Blogs’), and take a look at what is listed there – I’m sure you find some of them an interesting read.
Cheers….GEOFF (www.londonshoes.blog)
Realy interesting,as my brother.15 years my senior was housed there by East Ham Borough Council,that was in the 60s,so as a close family we all spent many years visiting him and his family.
And I bet you frequented quite often, the very few pubs that were actually within the estate Del 🙂
Yet again another fantastic blog. Thank you
Cheers Peter👍
Another great article Geoff. I laughed out loud at the thought of you diving into a privet hedge to avoid being caught 😂
I hope you’re keeping well.
Cheers Reggie – good to here from you mate & glad that you enjoyed this Becontree blog – thanks for the kind comments.👍
I’m still standing mate😊
Most of my extended family lived on the Estate at one time or another and you debt collecting! That’s a revelation!
Another interesting story Geoff. I now have this image of you diving through a privet hedge 😂
Thanks for another very interesting feature….. my only memories of Becontree is travelling from West to East through the station on the way to Dagenham and Redbridge FC!
Didn’t they shut down the Dagenham Dock branch because it kept getting raided?
Great stuff
I am just this evening, doing some research on this Estate, as I have ancestors I am adding to my tree, listed at residing at 10 Crossway, Becontree Estate in 1935. I cannot locate that address, but I stumbled across your site here, what a wonderful collection of images and information, thank you (all the way from New Zealand)
Hi Lisa,
Thank you for contacting my London Shoes website – and I’m glad that you enjoyed by Becontree Estate 100th Birthday blog – that I published a few years back now.
I know the Becontree Estate reasonably well, having grown up and gone to school. nearby.
I also know the location of its Crossway street – so, when I’m next in the vicinity, would you like me to take a photo of no.10 Crossway and then email it over to you?? – I’m happy to do so – its really no trouble..
regards
GEOFF (www.londonshoes.blog)