ONCE IN ESSEX, NOW IN LONDON

Valence House Museum and Essex Hundred Publications 

will host the Grand Launch of 

ONCE IN ESSEX, NOW IN LONDON

on Saturday 2nd May 2026 at 2.00pm sharp

at Valence House Museum

Becontree Avenue, Dagenham RM8 3HT

Tel 020 8227 2034 e-mail [email protected]

On April 1st 1965, following an act of parliament five new London Boroughs were created from territory once part of Essex. 'Once in Essex Now in London' offers the reader a rich and diverse history where the authors focus on events, places and personalities going back over a thousand years.

Essex as a county is more than 1000 years old. Its origins date back to the time before William the Conqueror. The county borders remained more or less unchanged until 1965 when the part of Essex, that in the main was located between the River Lea and todays M25 orbital road, was absorbed into London.

On April 1st 1965, following an act of Parliament, five new London Boroughs were created from terrirory that was once part of Essex. The county of Essex was founded as the Eastern Kingdom of the Saxons.Its name derives from the Old English East Seaxe and today the county of Essex bears three
seaxes on its coat of arms. The Saxon Kingdom may also have included parts of modern Hertfordshire and the now defunct ancient county of Middlesex.
Also as a result of the change the London wide administrative body, the London County Council (the LCC), was replaced by the Greater London Council (the GLC). The GLC (now the GLA) has responsibility for 32 new London Boroughs. Apart from Essex the new authority also took territory from Kent, Surrey and Hertfordshire. The River Lea border that separated Essex and London and had been in place for 1000 years ceased to exist. In a series of chapters set in more or less chronological order, Once in Essex Now in London offers the reader a rich and diverse history where the authors focus on events, places and personalities going back over a thousand years. With over 70 illustrations, Once in Essex Now in London is essential readings for anyone with an interest in London and Essex.