JOHN DEBENHAM co -author of the Essex Hundred seriesof books was born in Romford and moved to Leigh-on-Sea in 1965. He has alwayslived in Essex. A career in engineering has included working in most of thecountries of the world with an automotive industry. On retirement he followed alifelong interest in history by taking a BA History degree at the University ofEast London, followed by an MA in Intellectual History at Queen Mary, LondonUniversity where he studied ‘Civilisation and Barbarism’. John has an innate curiosity over what makes us what we are,in particular the people and events that have formed his home county of Essex.A member of Southend Poetry Society for many years, he enjoys writing poetryand short stories and portrait painting.DAVID DUNFORD was born in Chelmsford and attended the University of Essex,graduating with a degree in Government. He joined Essex County Newspapers inColchester as a reporter and later became an assistant editor. In 1978 hejoined the BBC in London where he worked in the Radio Newsroom writing newsbulletins. He also broadcast on finance for radio, television and the BBC WorldService.He later became Editor of the BBC General News Service,responsible for providing news and current affairs for BBC stations across thecountry. After taking early retirement from the BBC he became a visitinglecturer in radio journalism at the University of the Arts in London. He laterreturned to Essex University to study for an MA in History which he was awardedwith distinction. In 2017 he published his first book Full Circle – The rise,fall and rise of horse racing in Chelmsford. This was followed by BuffaloBill’s Wild West --  The first realityshow in Essex. His third book, Ogres in the Sky – Zeppelins over Essex in theFirst World War was published in the spring of 2026..  ANDREW SUMMERS was born within the sound of Bow Bellson a quiet day. His father Kazik spent two years in a Soviet Labour camp as a‘guest’ of Joe Stalin. His mother Diana worked for some time at Bletchley Parkhelping to crack codes, but that was all very secretive.After a spell in North Kent and then Leigh on Sea, for the past 30 years Andrew has lived inHadleigh and been married to Glenis. Andrew has bought and sold books in the UKand abroad and even printed books too. With a change of tack he now writes and publishes too.The IllustratorTOM FEWINGS was born and raised in Essex. He studied3D design and craft at University in Brighton, and is now living in SouthLondon. He is always creating in his free time - this ranges from drawing,building ceramics, to home renovation and woodworking. He also enjoys listeningand discovering classic rock music as well as going to pub quizzes with hisfriends. Tom has always enjoyed creating art in a range of mediums, but hasconsistently found himself drawn to illustration and fineliner designs, oftencollaborating with his partner to create art pieces together. He has always hadan interest in local history, so is excited to be a part of an Essex Hundredproject.

Once in Essex, Now in London is an absolutedelight and a "must-buy" for anyone with a passion for localheritage. Authors John Debenham, David Dunford, and Andrew Summers haveexpertly curated 70 distinct stories across 184 pages, seamlessly blendingmeticulous research with the sheer joy of storytelling. I found the wealth ofobscure lore so engrossing that it was remarkably difficult to put down; theshort, punchy chapters make it an ideal companion to dip into, though you'lllikely find yourself saying, "just one more". The book provides abrilliant chronological journey—from Saxon land divisions to the modern legacyof the London Olympics—tracing how significant portions of Essex identity wereeventually reclaimed by the expansion of London. Whether it's exploring thefootprints of figures like William Morris or the social history of Barnardo's,the narrative is both informative and deeply engaging. I cannot recommend ithighly enough; it has already secured a permanent spot on my gift list for myEssex relatives. DR FIONA HARVEYThe Essex Family HistorianEssex Society for Family History

• ContentsPageNo. 7 List of Illustrations 10 Acknowledgements11 Introduction 14 The Hide and the Hundred 16 Five New BoroughsAndthe eleven that were lost23 Wrong Turning 25 Detached Woolwich27 Bow Bridge, the Gateway to EssexEngland'sFirst Stone Arched Bridge 31 Stratford's Langthorne Abbey (West HamAbbey) 33 Tyndale's Friend of North Ockendon 35The Rise and Fall of Barking Abbey 37 The Great Standing 38 The Stratford Martyrs 39 Guess Who's Coming to Lunch? 41 The Plotters of Barking42 Breached45 Ruined 49 The Fairlop Oak51 The Home of John Bull 52 Royal Small Arms Factory anda Small Island on the River Lea 54 Going, Going, Gone 56 Valentines HouseThere'snowhere quite like it 61 The Lady and Gentleman on the Five PoundNote63 Rocket Man 62 The World's Biggest Fishing Fleet atBarking! 66 PC George Clark - Buried in God'sLittle Acre 72 Christmas Day at the Workhouse 73 Poles Apart 75 The Destruction of Hainault Forest 76 The Cathedral of Sewage 80 Denial 82 The Lake District 85 The Father to Nobody's Children 88 Triumph and Disaster in Bow Creek91 The People's Forest 93 Thomas Willingale - The Lopper ofLoughton 93 William Morris,theWalthamstow Connection 98 Steam Trams to Portugal 99 Disaster at Gallions Reach 102 Woolwich Ferry 104 When the Whales Came 105 Moby Dick, Whalebones and the Night OliverCromwell Died 107 The Greatest Show on Earth The first realityshow (In Ilford and Leyton) 111 Britain's First Aerodrome (In Dagenham) 113 The Wilderness Eton Manor 115 The Last Three Week Election118 Survivor120 The 13th Essex , the Hammers 122 Silvertown (1917) London's BiggestExplosion 124 Homes for Heroes126 The Body Snatcher? 132 Mr and Mrs Robinson come to Dagenham135 It all started in a Tea Shop (in Ilford)138 The Barking Pageant(Ilford1932)139 Upminster Air Tragedy142 Gone to the Dogs145 The Great Escape&The Dagenham Girl Pipers 147 Evacuation 149 From Kitchen Cabinets to Bombers 151 Churchill and the Lion - saved by M&B693 153 Jerrycans, Helmets, Bread and Parachutes 154 Matchbox Ghosts 156 Wembley, World Cup FinalDagenhamBoys 157 Churchill The Honorable Memberfor Wanstead and Woodford 158 Pack of Cards 161 The Beckton Alps 163 Ten Steel Guardians166 The Pentonville Five168 All Change at the Docks168 Stratford's Mills and Film Studios172 Dagenham Light Infantry174 The Great Railway Hub (and Robert)176 The Beautiful Game181 Legacy

JOHN DEBENHAM co -author of the Essex Hundred seriesof books was born in Romford and moved to Leigh-on-Sea in 1965. He has alwayslived in Essex. A career in engineering has included working in most of thecountries of the world with an automotive industry. On retirement he followed alifelong interest in history by taking a BA History degree at the University ofEast London, followed by an MA in Intellectual History at Queen Mary, LondonUniversity where he studied ‘Civilisation and Barbarism’. John has an innate curiosity over what makes us what we are,in particular the people and events that have formed his home county of Essex.A member of Southend Poetry Society for many years, he enjoys writing poetryand short stories and portrait painting.DAVID DUNFORD was born in Chelmsford and attended the University of Essex,graduating with a degree in Government. He joined Essex County Newspapers inColchester as a reporter and later became an assistant editor. In 1978 hejoined the BBC in London where he worked in the Radio Newsroom writing newsbulletins. He also broadcast on finance for radio, television and the BBC WorldService.He later became Editor of the BBC General News Service,responsible for providing news and current affairs for BBC stations across thecountry. After taking early retirement from the BBC he became a visitinglecturer in radio journalism at the University of the Arts in London. He laterreturned to Essex University to study for an MA in History which he was awardedwith distinction. In 2017 he published his first book Full Circle – The rise,fall and rise of horse racing in Chelmsford. This was followed by BuffaloBill’s Wild West --  The first realityshow in Essex. His third book, Ogres in the Sky – Zeppelins over Essex in theFirst World War was published in the spring of 2026..  ANDREW SUMMERS was born within the sound of Bow Bellson a quiet day. His father Kazik spent two years in a Soviet Labour camp as a‘guest’ of Joe Stalin. His mother Diana worked for some time at Bletchley Parkhelping to crack codes, but that was all very secretive.After a spell in North Kent and then Leigh on Sea, for the past 30 years Andrew has lived inHadleigh and been married to Glenis. Andrew has bought and sold books in the UKand abroad and even printed books too. With a change of tack he now writes and publishes too.The IllustratorTOM FEWINGS was born and raised in Essex. He studied3D design and craft at University in Brighton, and is now living in SouthLondon. He is always creating in his free time - this ranges from drawing,building ceramics, to home renovation and woodworking. He also enjoys listeningand discovering classic rock music as well as going to pub quizzes with hisfriends. Tom has always enjoyed creating art in a range of mediums, but hasconsistently found himself drawn to illustration and fineliner designs, oftencollaborating with his partner to create art pieces together. He has always hadan interest in local history, so is excited to be a part of an Essex Hundredproject.

Once in Essex, Now in London is an absolutedelight and a "must-buy" for anyone with a passion for localheritage. Authors John Debenham, David Dunford, and Andrew Summers haveexpertly curated 70 distinct stories across 184 pages, seamlessly blendingmeticulous research with the sheer joy of storytelling. I found the wealth ofobscure lore so engrossing that it was remarkably difficult to put down; theshort, punchy chapters make it an ideal companion to dip into, though you'lllikely find yourself saying, "just one more". The book provides abrilliant chronological journey—from Saxon land divisions to the modern legacyof the London Olympics—tracing how significant portions of Essex identity wereeventually reclaimed by the expansion of London. Whether it's exploring thefootprints of figures like William Morris or the social history of Barnardo's,the narrative is both informative and deeply engaging. I cannot recommend ithighly enough; it has already secured a permanent spot on my gift list for myEssex relatives. DR FIONA HARVEYThe Essex Family HistorianEssex Society for Family History

• ContentsPageNo. 7 List of Illustrations 10 Acknowledgements11 Introduction 14 The Hide and the Hundred 16 Five New BoroughsAndthe eleven that were lost23 Wrong Turning 25 Detached Woolwich27 Bow Bridge, the Gateway to EssexEngland'sFirst Stone Arched Bridge 31 Stratford's Langthorne Abbey (West HamAbbey) 33 Tyndale's Friend of North Ockendon 35The Rise and Fall of Barking Abbey 37 The Great Standing 38 The Stratford Martyrs 39 Guess Who's Coming to Lunch? 41 The Plotters of Barking42 Breached45 Ruined 49 The Fairlop Oak51 The Home of John Bull 52 Royal Small Arms Factory anda Small Island on the River Lea 54 Going, Going, Gone 56 Valentines HouseThere'snowhere quite like it 61 The Lady and Gentleman on the Five PoundNote63 Rocket Man 62 The World's Biggest Fishing Fleet atBarking! 66 PC George Clark - Buried in God'sLittle Acre 72 Christmas Day at the Workhouse 73 Poles Apart 75 The Destruction of Hainault Forest 76 The Cathedral of Sewage 80 Denial 82 The Lake District 85 The Father to Nobody's Children 88 Triumph and Disaster in Bow Creek91 The People's Forest 93 Thomas Willingale - The Lopper ofLoughton 93 William Morris,theWalthamstow Connection 98 Steam Trams to Portugal 99 Disaster at Gallions Reach 102 Woolwich Ferry 104 When the Whales Came 105 Moby Dick, Whalebones and the Night OliverCromwell Died 107 The Greatest Show on Earth The first realityshow (In Ilford and Leyton) 111 Britain's First Aerodrome (In Dagenham) 113 The Wilderness Eton Manor 115 The Last Three Week Election118 Survivor120 The 13th Essex , the Hammers 122 Silvertown (1917) London's BiggestExplosion 124 Homes for Heroes126 The Body Snatcher? 132 Mr and Mrs Robinson come to Dagenham135 It all started in a Tea Shop (in Ilford)138 The Barking Pageant(Ilford1932)139 Upminster Air Tragedy142 Gone to the Dogs145 The Great Escape&The Dagenham Girl Pipers 147 Evacuation 149 From Kitchen Cabinets to Bombers 151 Churchill and the Lion - saved by M&B693 153 Jerrycans, Helmets, Bread and Parachutes 154 Matchbox Ghosts 156 Wembley, World Cup FinalDagenhamBoys 157 Churchill The Honorable Memberfor Wanstead and Woodford 158 Pack of Cards 161 The Beckton Alps 163 Ten Steel Guardians166 The Pentonville Five168 All Change at the Docks168 Stratford's Mills and Film Studios172 Dagenham Light Infantry174 The Great Railway Hub (and Robert)176 The Beautiful Game181 Legacy

JOHN DEBENHAM co -author of the Essex Hundred seriesof books was born in Romford and moved to Leigh-on-Sea in 1965. He has alwayslived in Essex. A career in engineering has included working in most of thecountries of the world with an automotive industry. On retirement he followed alifelong interest in history by taking a BA History degree at the University ofEast London, followed by an MA in Intellectual History at Queen Mary, LondonUniversity where he studied ‘Civilisation and Barbarism’. John has an innate curiosity over what makes us what we are,in particular the people and events that have formed his home county of Essex.A member of Southend Poetry Society for many years, he enjoys writing poetryand short stories and portrait painting.DAVID DUNFORD was born in Chelmsford and attended the University of Essex,graduating with a degree in Government. He joined Essex County Newspapers inColchester as a reporter and later became an assistant editor. In 1978 hejoined the BBC in London where he worked in the Radio Newsroom writing newsbulletins. He also broadcast on finance for radio, television and the BBC WorldService.He later became Editor of the BBC General News Service,responsible for providing news and current affairs for BBC stations across thecountry. After taking early retirement from the BBC he became a visitinglecturer in radio journalism at the University of the Arts in London. He laterreturned to Essex University to study for an MA in History which he was awardedwith distinction. In 2017 he published his first book Full Circle – The rise,fall and rise of horse racing in Chelmsford. This was followed by BuffaloBill’s Wild West --  The first realityshow in Essex. His third book, Ogres in the Sky – Zeppelins over Essex in theFirst World War was published in the spring of 2026..  ANDREW SUMMERS was born within the sound of Bow Bellson a quiet day. His father Kazik spent two years in a Soviet Labour camp as a‘guest’ of Joe Stalin. His mother Diana worked for some time at Bletchley Parkhelping to crack codes, but that was all very secretive.After a spell in North Kent and then Leigh on Sea, for the past 30 years Andrew has lived inHadleigh and been married to Glenis. Andrew has bought and sold books in the UKand abroad and even printed books too. With a change of tack he now writes and publishes too.The IllustratorTOM FEWINGS was born and raised in Essex. He studied3D design and craft at University in Brighton, and is now living in SouthLondon. He is always creating in his free time - this ranges from drawing,building ceramics, to home renovation and woodworking. He also enjoys listeningand discovering classic rock music as well as going to pub quizzes with hisfriends. Tom has always enjoyed creating art in a range of mediums, but hasconsistently found himself drawn to illustration and fineliner designs, oftencollaborating with his partner to create art pieces together. He has always hadan interest in local history, so is excited to be a part of an Essex Hundredproject.

Once in Essex, Now in London is an absolutedelight and a "must-buy" for anyone with a passion for localheritage. Authors John Debenham, David Dunford, and Andrew Summers haveexpertly curated 70 distinct stories across 184 pages, seamlessly blendingmeticulous research with the sheer joy of storytelling. I found the wealth ofobscure lore so engrossing that it was remarkably difficult to put down; theshort, punchy chapters make it an ideal companion to dip into, though you'lllikely find yourself saying, "just one more". The book provides abrilliant chronological journey—from Saxon land divisions to the modern legacyof the London Olympics—tracing how significant portions of Essex identity wereeventually reclaimed by the expansion of London. Whether it's exploring thefootprints of figures like William Morris or the social history of Barnardo's,the narrative is both informative and deeply engaging. I cannot recommend ithighly enough; it has already secured a permanent spot on my gift list for myEssex relatives. DR FIONA HARVEYThe Essex Family HistorianEssex Society for Family History

• ContentsPageNo. 7 List of Illustrations 10 Acknowledgements11 Introduction 14 The Hide and the Hundred 16 Five New BoroughsAndthe eleven that were lost23 Wrong Turning 25 Detached Woolwich27 Bow Bridge, the Gateway to EssexEngland'sFirst Stone Arched Bridge 31 Stratford's Langthorne Abbey (West HamAbbey) 33 Tyndale's Friend of North Ockendon 35The Rise and Fall of Barking Abbey 37 The Great Standing 38 The Stratford Martyrs 39 Guess Who's Coming to Lunch? 41 The Plotters of Barking42 Breached45 Ruined 49 The Fairlop Oak51 The Home of John Bull 52 Royal Small Arms Factory anda Small Island on the River Lea 54 Going, Going, Gone 56 Valentines HouseThere'snowhere quite like it 61 The Lady and Gentleman on the Five PoundNote63 Rocket Man 62 The World's Biggest Fishing Fleet atBarking! 66 PC George Clark - Buried in God'sLittle Acre 72 Christmas Day at the Workhouse 73 Poles Apart 75 The Destruction of Hainault Forest 76 The Cathedral of Sewage 80 Denial 82 The Lake District 85 The Father to Nobody's Children 88 Triumph and Disaster in Bow Creek91 The People's Forest 93 Thomas Willingale - The Lopper ofLoughton 93 William Morris,theWalthamstow Connection 98 Steam Trams to Portugal 99 Disaster at Gallions Reach 102 Woolwich Ferry 104 When the Whales Came 105 Moby Dick, Whalebones and the Night OliverCromwell Died 107 The Greatest Show on Earth The first realityshow (In Ilford and Leyton) 111 Britain's First Aerodrome (In Dagenham) 113 The Wilderness Eton Manor 115 The Last Three Week Election118 Survivor120 The 13th Essex , the Hammers 122 Silvertown (1917) London's BiggestExplosion 124 Homes for Heroes126 The Body Snatcher? 132 Mr and Mrs Robinson come to Dagenham135 It all started in a Tea Shop (in Ilford)138 The Barking Pageant(Ilford1932)139 Upminster Air Tragedy142 Gone to the Dogs145 The Great Escape&The Dagenham Girl Pipers 147 Evacuation 149 From Kitchen Cabinets to Bombers 151 Churchill and the Lion - saved by M&B693 153 Jerrycans, Helmets, Bread and Parachutes 154 Matchbox Ghosts 156 Wembley, World Cup FinalDagenhamBoys 157 Churchill The Honorable Memberfor Wanstead and Woodford 158 Pack of Cards 161 The Beckton Alps 163 Ten Steel Guardians166 The Pentonville Five168 All Change at the Docks168 Stratford's Mills and Film Studios172 Dagenham Light Infantry174 The Great Railway Hub (and Robert)176 The Beautiful Game181 Legacy