The house is surrounded by a medieval moat, a rare feature for a suburban London property.
The Fanshawe family, who held significant political roles during the 17th century, were long-term residents of the manor.
The site houses the Mayor of Barking and Dagenham’s official collection of civic regalia.
Archaeological finds discovered on the property include prehistoric flints and Roman pottery shards.
The archives contain extensive documentation regarding the construction of the Becontree Estate, once the largest public housing project in the world.
Evidence of a priest hole, intended for hiding during periods of religious persecution, has been historically documented on-site.
Valence House Museum is the only surviving medieval manor house in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. The site dates back to the 13th century and features a moat that still surrounds much of the property today. It serves as the primary repository for the borough’s local history archives and the Valence House archives. The museum displays artifacts spanning from prehistoric times to the 20th-century development of the Becontree Estate. Visitors can explore period rooms that showcase domestic life from the 16th to the 20th centuries. The grounds include an herb garden and a sensory garden designed to reflect historical planting styles. It remains a key cultural hub for understanding the evolution of the local landscape from rural farmland to industrial suburbia.
The bridge crossing the moat, which provides a symmetrical view of the manor's timber-framed facade.
Check the official website for specific temporary exhibitions, as gallery space is frequently rotated.
Allow extra time to walk the perimeter of the moat, which offers a different perspective of the building's architecture.
Visit the archive search room if you are interested in local genealogy or historical building research.
Do not attempt to walk on the grassy embankments directly surrounding the moat, as they are preserved to maintain the integrity of the earthworks.
Closed on Sundays and Mondays throughout the year.
