The remnants of Barking Abbey in their landscape setting are beautiful and memorialise an incredible period of Essex history. A continuing interest in local history is not just important for those citizens who derive their sense of identity from the area, for history buffs or lovers of heritage. History gives many insights into global climate cycles which are important to us all now and can help planners construct a longitudinal view of land and climate relationships;

“High tides again in 1409, sweeping through or over the river walls, flooded 600 acres of meadow in Dagenham marsh, and destroyed 120 acres of wheat in another marsh. “

Source: BBC website.