Valence House Museum

About the museum

Valence House is the only manor house still standing in Dagenham. A house has stood on the site since the 13th century, and the building is still partly surrounded by a moat dug more than 700 years ago. It takes its name from Agnes de Valence and her brother Aylmer, Earl of Pembroke, who were tenants in the 14th century. The Dean and Chapter of Windsor owned the estate from 1475 until 1867.

In 1921 the London County Council bought the house and land for the building of the Becontree estate and used it as its local headquarters. Dagenham Urban District Council later took it over and extended it in 1928 and 1929 with offices and a council chamber. It served as the town hall until the civic centre opened in 1937 and then became the borough library headquarters.

Today the house is a museum run by the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. It closed in December 2007 for a major refurbishment, partly funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, and reopened in June 2010. The core collection holds about 20,000 objects from prehistory to the present, and a wall painting from around 1600 was found during the refurbishment. The Fanshawe family portraits are among the best collections of gentry portraits in Britain. A visitor centre in the grounds houses the Barking and Dagenham Archives and Local Studies Centre, with records back to 1558. Repair work on the moat began in 2026.

Highlights

• Fanshawe family portraits, a notable collection of gentry portraits
• Wall painting from around 1600 found during the 2010 refurbishment
• Dagenham Idol, shown on loan
• Whalebones thought to be from a Greenland whale
• Tulip Tree Tearoom, herb garden and a World War II Dig for Victory garden

Permanent exhibition

• Fanshawe family portraits – Portraits of the Fanshawe family, one of the best collections of gentry portraits in Britain, shown in the historic house.

Operated by

London Borough of Barking and Dagenham

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission to the museum is free. Some events and workshops carry a charge.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Level access throughout the ground floor; a lift serves part of the upper floor. The Visitor Centre, archives, cafe and function rooms are fully accessible, and there are accessible and pushchair-friendly toilets. Induction loops are installed in the Education Suite and Function Room. A British Sign Language interpreter can be arranged if the museum is contacted in advance. A visual story and a digital guide are available on the website.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Stroller-friendly

Free seasonal trails and activities run during school holidays, for example the Whalebone Makers drop-in sessions, and a free Museum Minis session for under-fives runs on Wednesdays. Pushchairs are welcome, the site is breastfeeding friendly, and children's lunch boxes are sold in the tearoom.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Lockers
• Wi-Fi

Tulip Tree Tearoom (indoor and outdoor seating) and the Oasis Cafe in the Visitor Centre. Free lockers and picnic benches. Wi-Fi is available in the archive reading room.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

Up to 60 guests.

The Education Suite seats 60 lecture-style or splits into two rooms of up to 20; the Function Room seats 25 boardroom-style.

Plan your visit