Barking
This is where I live. So many people scoff at the 'East End' of London that I thought that it was time to redress the balance a little.
Barking is now part of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham and is one of the largest Boroughs in London, however Barking (and Dagenham) is very very old.
Barking, Berecingum (Berica's people)
Dagenham, Daeccanham (Daecca's village)
Rainham, Roegingaham (settlement of the ruling people)
These are the old names for the area, and all are Saxon, and are some of the earliest Saxon settlements in the country. The history of Barking undoubtedly goes back much further, as there are indications that the Abbey site was used for pagan worship. Stone age tools have been found in Barking Creek, indicating a much earlier era of human occupation.
Barking emerged as one of the most important towns in the country with the founding of the Abbey in A.D.666. The Abbey was one of two monasteries founded by Erkenwald, one for himself in Chertsey (Ceortesei), and one for his sister Ethelburga in Barking.
The history of the abbey is very rich, a few highlights are:
William the Conqueror made the Abbey his headquarters after his coronation while the tower of London was being built.
The Abbess of Barking takes precedence over all other abbesses, ranking as a Baron. Abbesses included Maud, Queen of Henry I, Maud, Queen of Stephen, Maud, daughter of Henry II and there is more.
There is a series of books published by Phillimore and Co. Ltd that describes the history of many towns. Normally they are titled 'Bygone Townname'.
Bygone Barking, ISBN 0-85033-795-X contains many pictures of Barking, and gives a very easy to read account of the area. The author is Brian Evans.
Here are a few picturers of St. Margaret's parish church, and the Abbey ruins.
