My hometown and two of the parks I spent the majority of my childhood in. That was indeed an abandoned bowls green you saw in parsloes park and there are also some WW2 bomb craters over by the original children's play area.
I started watching thinking I knew which park was being spoken about, until the mention of Becontree happened. I used to live in Fanshawe Crescent, which is actually as close to the park, before moving to Ibscot Estate. I worked at May & Bakers, although never in my lifetime, nice healthy dose of pharmaceutical inhalation on a daily basis. Last time I was back, aside from funerals, was being in a band that played on the march celebration of the London Olympics... I have just remembered a couple of the specialist Dagenham terms: There is no such thing as a cul-de-sac, they are actually called banjos. Also there are areas known only by the name of pubs that closed many years before even I eas born. Strange but true.
The Neolithic wooden figure was awesome, imagine finding that and touching and holding a piece like that or any of the objects in the glass display case.....and then to think to one self the person who fashioned this object is older than Gods dog, it would totally blow me away. I live within walking distance of a hill fort by the name of Wychbury camp on the outskirts of Stourbridge west midlands and it has all the features, massive ramparts and ditches, were they constructed to keep things in or for a defencive purpose ,maybe we will never no but the beauty of the site is the grove of ancient yew trees which encircle the upper ramparts which are estimated to be 2 to 3000 years old and there still standing.What sights and historic things these trees have witnessed ,the mind boggels .Great film John as always.
Such optimism in those interwar housing schemes, and great pride. Homes fit for heroes, with bowling green, cricket pitch, pub and champion rose growers on every street. Sad to see the bowls gone to seed. Also the allegedly haunted Becontree Station!
Before 1921 , Dagenham was formed of 5 rural estates. The only Manor house left from these is Valance House. Parsloes Park had a huge Manor house , Parsloes Manor , which was demolished in 1925. I think it was where the Squats is. Love the video.
I grew up in Dagenham and spent a lot of my time in parsloes and Mayesbrook parks they were great places. I remember the bowling green being pristine when I was a kid, and the sunken gardens in Mayesbrook
Finally made it out here to visit The Dagenham Idol. What a fascinating place - walked from Becontree to Chadwell Heath taking in The Valence House Museum. Loved it!
I was taken to Valence house as a little Grafton Schoolboy and it was all polished wooden floors and pictures of the Fanshaws. Nothing like today which looks much more interesting. My only memory is sitting on the floor with lots of other little kids while a matronly woman explained who the pictures were of, as she paused for breath I farted so loud it echoed down the hall, much to everyone's amusement. A side note, the mote and trolly are nothing to the years of crap thrown in Parslows Park pond, that's why no one swims there. Love your channel John
What a lovely video to stumble upon. Parsloes was probably my main haunt as a child and I have many great memories of it. It's a shame the council wasn't able to continue to fund it properly, sad to see what the bowling green has become. The more ornamental areas closer to Becontree were fenced off from the rest, including the lake which, and it seems incredible to think it now, was the home to a group of flamingoes. I'm not sure I appreciated the incongruity at the time. You bought your chips from what we called Martins' Corner, named for the newsagents there. For all its faults I have a fondness for the Dagenham I knew. It's a tragedy that social housing endeavours like that are a thing of the past - now that socialism is a dirty word. Thank you for your thoughtful work.
Excellent John, Dagenham is misunderstood. I love the Becontree estate, and always enjoy the sameness of it all. Many a good time was had there as a kid.
Thanks Jag - you'd love that museum, I find the best museums are the small ones tucked away. I've seen mock-ups of the Dagenham Idol but never the real thing, great surprise at the end of the walk
Thought I may have been to Parsloes Park . . . I may have but shame you didn't start off at Mayesbrook; as kids we used to go to Matchstick Island. Nice to see familiar places though John. I will look forward now to all your new vids. Thanks.
Thanks May - went over to Mayesbrook Park a year or so ago, there's a video on the channel here - also now realising that there's another park to the south of Parsloes Park that I'll have to go back and check out
If I'd been patient John I would have heard you say that! I will be checking that video out next. My local park was Goodmayes just up from Mayesbrook. We were lucky growing up to have so much green space on our doorstep.
The main lake was part of the moat but the part you had had mentioned before going into the house was introduced around 3/4 years ago as a revamp to the park
There used to be flamingoes in Parsloes Park lake! Just outside the play area there was a shallow paddling pool which was great in the summer. Strange hearing the area called Becontree, whereas I and everyone I knew called it Beacontree... What a shame the bowls green has been what appears to be abandoned.
Hi John, how do you get such excellent quality video , what camera or camcorder type. Sensor size MP size and model no e c t do you use please, is it Full Frame,, it is so good and far better than most other You Tube films, Peter.
Hi Peter - I use a 2nd Hand Panasonic Lumix GF5 with a 14-42mm kit lens. It had a Micro 4/3 sensor so way smaller than full frame but then it's a nice light small camera
Hi john, is the first new video of yours for a few months ????. I worked at Becontree Rail Station once starting on an extremely early shift at 0500 on my Rail upgrade closure work extremely early and the only way there was by night bus bus from Aldgate and walking circa a mile from Becontree Heath and the station supervisor gave me a hot cuppa on arrival, but no sugar !!. I was working at one of the bus stops for the Rail replacement buses right down the hill from the rail station with the many shops. I found a café for a meal, but after duty I found a rare Pie and Mash shop opposite the café. Peter.
Hi John - another inspiring film. I did a long walk a few months back from Canning Town through Beckton Park, out to Mayesbrook Park and back through Ilford and Wanstead Park to the Olympic Park. I've never been to Parsloes, but was tempted: at the time it seemed a park too far! I know you like to give technical advice when asked, so I wonder if you could recommend a windshield for a small camera - I have a Canon Powershot about the size of a cigarette packet, which is good for filming but the sound is terrible when the wind is up. Is it possible to buy something that small or do I have to consider gerrymandering something?
+C Geoffrey Taylor that sounds like an epic Carl. Try Rycote micro windjammer for the camera, its what I use and does a decent job, before that I just glued on some foam
My hometown and two of the parks I spent the majority of my childhood in. That was indeed an abandoned bowls green you saw in parsloes park and there are also some WW2 bomb craters over by the original children's play area.
Thanks for the info Sypher - I think I saw those craters - wish I'd known. Thanks for watching
John Rogers My pleasure and thank you for the wonderful content :)
Sypher Carver there are bomb craters?! I never knew that. Where about are they?
I started watching thinking I knew which park was being spoken about, until the mention of Becontree happened. I used to live in Fanshawe Crescent, which is actually as close to the park, before moving to Ibscot Estate. I worked at May & Bakers, although never in my lifetime, nice healthy dose of pharmaceutical inhalation on a daily basis. Last time I was back, aside from funerals, was being in a band that played on the march celebration of the London Olympics...
I have just remembered a couple of the specialist Dagenham terms:
There is no such thing as a cul-de-sac, they are actually called banjos.
Also there are areas known only by the name of pubs that closed many years before even I eas born. Strange but true.
Where those ww2 bomb crates? And where was the original children's play area?
The Neolithic wooden figure was awesome, imagine finding that and touching and holding a piece like that or any of the objects in the glass display case.....and then to think to one self the person who fashioned this object is older than Gods dog, it would totally blow me away. I live within walking distance of a hill fort by the name of Wychbury camp on the outskirts of Stourbridge west midlands and it has all the features, massive ramparts and ditches, were they constructed to keep things in or for a defencive purpose ,maybe we will never no but the beauty of the site is the grove of ancient yew trees which encircle the upper ramparts which are estimated to be 2 to 3000 years old and there still standing.What sights and historic things these trees have witnessed ,the mind boggels .Great film John as always.
Thanks Richard, you've evoked Wychbury Camp so vividly I want to go there now
@ richardgreen1970 I wish I could vote your comment EXCELLENT along with videos such as this.
THANK YOU x i lived opposite Parslose park for 15 years mixed memories but still miss the place
Such optimism in those interwar housing schemes, and great pride. Homes fit for heroes, with bowling green, cricket pitch, pub and champion rose growers on every street. Sad to see the bowls gone to seed. Also the allegedly haunted Becontree Station!
I live in hope that we will rediscover that ambition and civic pride - have to keep believing.
Before 1921 , Dagenham was formed of 5 rural estates. The only Manor house left from these is Valance House. Parsloes Park had a huge Manor house , Parsloes Manor , which was demolished in 1925. I think it was where the Squats is. Love the video.
I grew up in Dagenham and spent a lot of my time in parsloes and Mayesbrook parks they were great places. I remember the bowling green being pristine when I was a kid, and the sunken gardens in Mayesbrook
me to, i lived in halbutt street not far from heathway five elms from the 1980s,
Where abouts was Halbutt st i can’t remember the street
Finally made it out here to visit The Dagenham Idol. What a fascinating place - walked from Becontree to Chadwell Heath taking in The Valence House Museum. Loved it!
Sounds like a great walk Mark
I was taken to Valence house as a little Grafton Schoolboy and it was all polished wooden floors and pictures of the Fanshaws. Nothing like today which looks much more interesting. My only memory is sitting on the floor with lots of other little kids while a matronly woman explained who the pictures were of, as she paused for breath I farted so loud it echoed down the hall, much to everyone's amusement.
A side note, the mote and trolly are nothing to the years of crap thrown in Parslows Park pond, that's why no one swims there. Love your channel John
Fu Min ! what a great name for a chinese next to a busy road!!
Wonderful walk and what a great way to end the video! I feel like a tourist today!
Welcome back John, this is a wonderful video! The grounds you tred feels like something out of a JG Ballard story.
Thanks Ross - what a great compliment
What a lovely video to stumble upon. Parsloes was probably my main haunt as a child and I have many great memories of it. It's a shame the council wasn't able to continue to fund it properly, sad to see what the bowling green has become.
The more ornamental areas closer to Becontree were fenced off from the rest, including the lake which, and it seems incredible to think it now, was the home to a group of flamingoes. I'm not sure I appreciated the incongruity at the time.
You bought your chips from what we called Martins' Corner, named for the newsagents there.
For all its faults I have a fondness for the Dagenham I knew. It's a tragedy that social housing endeavours like that are a thing of the past - now that socialism is a dirty word.
Thank you for your thoughtful work.
Maybe try central park. Lots of parks people used to gather back in the day.
yeah been to valence hse. was amazed by the neolithic artifacts, took pic's. Glad you covered it and the surrounding area
Such a great place eh, can't believe I'd never been before, one of my favourite museums
Just 5 minuets from where I lived the bowls court was still clean cut grass about 5 years ago, a shame.
Hopefully it can be restored - first time I've ever seen an overgrown bowls green
Looooooooove the music int his video😃 Just watching this again, such a good video.
Excellent John, Dagenham is misunderstood. I love the Becontree estate, and always enjoy the sameness of it all. Many a good time was had there as a kid.
+Daniel Stevens thanks Daniel - I'm planning to go back, looks to have a lot to offer
Let me know if you want some research assistance and or a sidekick, bag carrier, anything! Contact me on my eastern drifts insta account.
+Daniel Stevens thanks Daniel that's really kind of you to offer, feels like we should go for a wander some time
Most definitely John
Daniel Stevens s
An excellent adventure John. I do like a good museum and that Neolithic statue was something else....
Thanks Jag - you'd love that museum, I find the best museums are the small ones tucked away. I've seen mock-ups of the Dagenham Idol but never the real thing, great surprise at the end of the walk
Thanks for the lovely walk john :)
My pleasure Lemenelli - thanks for watching
John I love your videos they should be made into a tv documentary.
another great video im loving this channel so glad I stumbled upon it
thanks Gary
It's one of your old walks but I really enjoyed it today
Regards from italy, many thanks🎆
Parsloes Park massive, I really missed out on my London trips by sticking to the centre of the city. Also, Valence House looks very interesting
love your videos that always make my day
That's great to hear John - thanks for sharing
John Rogers I'm sure our party will cross on a derive
Sooner than later
absolutely bound to happen - look forward to it
Thought I may have been to Parsloes Park . . . I may have but shame you didn't start off at Mayesbrook; as kids we used to go to Matchstick Island. Nice to see familiar places though John. I will look forward now to all your new vids. Thanks.
Thanks May - went over to Mayesbrook Park a year or so ago, there's a
video on the channel here - also now realising that there's another park
to the south of Parsloes Park that I'll have to go back and check out
If I'd been patient John I would have heard you say that! I will be checking that video out next. My local park was Goodmayes just up from Mayesbrook. We were lucky growing up to have so much green space on our doorstep.
The main lake was part of the moat but the part you had had mentioned before going into the house was introduced around 3/4 years ago as a revamp to the park
There used to be flamingoes in Parsloes Park lake!
Just outside the play area there was a shallow paddling pool which was great in the summer.
Strange hearing the area called Becontree, whereas I and everyone I knew called it Beacontree...
What a shame the bowls green has been what appears to be abandoned.
I concur, I cannot drive and have never had a licence, yet I adore the Ford Capri ...
I live opposite this park, over 27 years now 😀
Lived hear all my life best place in London better than dangerous barking!
Hi John, how do you get such excellent quality video , what camera or camcorder type. Sensor size MP size and model no e c t do you use please, is it Full Frame,, it is so good and far better than most other You Tube films, Peter.
Hi Peter - I use a 2nd Hand Panasonic Lumix GF5 with a 14-42mm kit lens. It had a Micro 4/3 sensor so way smaller than full frame but then it's a nice light small camera
We also had a horse trotting track over where the manor was, locals would go have a gamble.
I came here every Wednesday and Saturday sometimes sundays to play football with my team Jets FC we always trained near the back entrance
Hi john, is the first new video of yours for a few months ????. I worked at Becontree Rail Station once starting on an extremely early shift at 0500 on my Rail upgrade closure work extremely early and the only way there was by night bus bus from Aldgate and walking circa a mile from Becontree Heath and the station supervisor gave me a hot cuppa on arrival, but no sugar !!. I was working at one of the bus stops for the Rail replacement buses right down the hill from the rail station with the many shops. I found a café for a meal, but after duty I found a rare Pie and Mash shop opposite the café. Peter.
Thanks for sharing that Peter - great memories. I'll have to go looking for that Pie and Mash Shop
Hi John - another inspiring film. I did a long walk a few months back from Canning Town through Beckton Park, out to Mayesbrook Park and back through Ilford and Wanstead Park to the Olympic Park. I've never been to Parsloes, but was tempted: at the time it seemed a park too far! I know you like to give technical advice when asked, so I wonder if you could recommend a windshield for a small camera - I have a Canon Powershot about the size of a cigarette packet, which is good for filming but the sound is terrible when the wind is up. Is it possible to buy something that small or do I have to consider gerrymandering something?
+C Geoffrey Taylor that sounds like an epic Carl. Try Rycote micro windjammer for the camera, its what I use and does a decent job, before that I just glued on some foam
I be lived there for over 55 years
That was really fascinating John. Spooky : ) Thank you!
Thanks David
near Sydney Russell and all, wonder how it was back then. parsloes used to be a great park in the 80’s or even earlier i heard it had a swimming pool
It had a big paddling pool back in the days, flower beds and rose beds all virtually gone, ruined by cutbacks.
Sacred Heart Goresbrook Road. Goresbrook Park.
I went to convent school gorsebrook road Eileen
oh yes parsloes park, i remember the first time that i had been flashed by a man in long coat, 😂
My route home from school
Where I went to school
Me to Eileen
heard Valence hse is haunted. Easy to imagine why after visiting!
it definitely has that ghostly vibe
Was nice Dagenham not no more died in the late 1990's
classic trolley
F
i wouldn't call Parsloes Park london
what no diversity