A leap into History

Rainham, Essex, Essex, England South East

Recommendation added: 15/04/2006 22:04
By: Darkangel (YSUK rating +133)

Darkangel has been thanked 7 times for this contribution

"Steeped in History Rainham Village has been around for about 800 years, with the main Church of St Helen and St Giles, being the main centre piece in which the rest of the town has grown from, also contained in the town is the Clock Tower which greets you as you enter the village, and Rainham Hall which has been around since 1727. The town of Rainham was recorded in the doomsday book, at that time there were only 70 residents living in the town which has known grown to 30.000 residents, along with many newly built houses.

The Church.
A grand Norman style church which dates back to the 1100's, with its quaint little church yard.
The church itself is a listed building, which I am glad about because if this monument was ever to be redeveloped it would be a great loss to the village.
The Churchyard itself contains a few grave stones and many of them have become unreadable over time, but if you have the time you may be able to make out a few of the names left amongst the moss and the lichen.
In the summer, even though the church is surrounded by roads and traffic you can get a feeling of peacefulness when you sit on the benches placed around the garden.
There is a path which runs through the ground's which links both sides of the village, on this path there is the main entrance to the church, with its wrought iron bars and its old brick porch, it remains unchanged for many years.
There are some very nice stained glass windows inside the church and during special village event's they serve refreshment's from inside the hall.
There are also many item's inside the church that reflect it's history including a ship which was carved into the wall many years ago by an unknown person, and the small wooden door which is still very prominent used by the church to distribute food and clothing to the leper community.
There are many times throughout history when this church has been used for one purpose or another, and if you speak to the local community they will tell you why the church is a great landmark of Rainham.
Weddings and Christening's are still held here as well as regular services for the parishioners. Visitors are welcome any time the church is open, but times do very, so please try to plan ahead.

The Clock Tower
Close by the church is the war memorial clock tower, with its four clock faces, and engraved with the names of people who unfortunately lost there lives in the war.
The Remembrance Day service is still held here every year, and many people come and replace the old wreaths with fresh poppies and crosses to mark their respect.
The clocks on this monument were recently overhauled and at present they are all working and keeping time, which in itself is a remarkable achievement considering it was built in 1921.

Rainham Hall.
An Elegant House with its Georgian styling and symmetry. Built in 1729 for merchant and ship owner Captain John Harle, who moved here in the early 1700's and developed “Rayneham Warfe,” dredging the Ingrebourne River to bring barges up from the Thames. This House is now owned by The National Trust and has been restored to its former glory along side the church.
There are grand iron gates that mean this property is set aside from the rest of the area. Once through the gates you are faced with a large carved porch, inside the house all the original plasterwork, stonework and panelling have been returned to their former glory, and much of the fabrics are original. The magnificent garden is also a must, if you get the chance, even if only to see the huge mulberry tree situated in the grounds and the Victorian dog house that has survived.
Please note this hall is not open to the general public all year round. Its viewing sessions are mainly restricted to when the town has a Fayre or special event, or, on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons but only by writing to the current tenant to arrange an appointment.
To find out more on when the hall is open please contact
020 7799 4552 or 020 7799 4553
Or write to
Rainham Hall
The Broadway
Rainham
Essex
RM13 9YN


The Shops.
The shops which are in the centre of the village near the clock tower, and church, have been standing since the 1900's, a major focal point of this ever growing town.
The National trust has injected grants into the renovation of these older buildings on the main street called The Broadway. Some of the current shops which are trading from these particular buildings are a hairdressers, a shoe shop, a jeweller's, a holiday shop and a printer's.
Directly after these older style shops, are some newer built properties which have become the Bank, estate agents, a pizza hut and a sandwich shop.
Behind the Broadway is the relatively new building of the Tesco Extra, which has only been standing around 15 years, this can be accessed via the covered walkway between the Ship Centre and the Shoe Shop. Also along this walkway is the Royals Youth centre, where the local children meet.

Places to eat and drink.
In Rainham there are many places to eat and drink. Public Houses include the Bell Inn with its amazing structure and timeless fitments inside, it combine's old fashioned ambiance with modern day entertainment. The Phoenix, where you can listen to Live Music every Saturday, the pub also has some accommodation upstairs and finally the Angel Inn which was demolished and rebuilt in 1905.
Food establishments vary from The Ship Centre, which not only sells hot food, snacks, teas and coffees but also gifts and novelties, The Britannia Café & restaurant, open Monday to Saturday serving Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. There are also various Chip Shops Kebab shops and a Chinese Take Away.

The Rainham Fayre.
Twice a year once in May and again in December the Village at Rainham bands together and hosts the Victorian Fayre. The roads around the Broadway are closed to traffic and many stalls are set up along the streets.
These stalls sell all different types of handmade craft item's from garden ornaments to cushion covers, sweets and confectionary to greetings cards. The atmosphere in the village at this time is full of community and fun, and all the shop owners and stall holders make this a very special event, the Church and Rainham Hall are open for viewing throughout the Fayre, and many entertainment acts play in and around the church, graveyard and streets. At the Christmas Fayre the church plays a bigger part in the proceedings and one of the old shops becomes Santa's grotto, there is even a guarantee of snow every year, although it does tend to be the fake kind.

How to get there.
Rainham is situated inside the M25, accessible by Road either the A13 or the A1306, by Train on the Fenchurch Street to Southend C2C Line, or by bus on the 165 (Rainham to Romford via Hornchurch), 287 (Barking to Rainham), 103, (Romford to Rainham via Dagenham) or 372 (Lakeside to Hornchurch via Rainham)"