History
A house was first established on this site in the 13th century, owned by Robert Dynes in 1280. Later tenants of the estate are commemorated in the road names surrounding the park. The name of the house derives from 14th century tenants, Agnes de Valence and her brother Aylmer, Earl of Pembroke, who came from a wealthy family in the French province of Valence, the family moving here when their uncle became king. The estate passed into the ownership of the Dean and Chapter of Windsor in 1475, and remained in their ownership until 1867, when it passed to the Church Commissioners.
In 1921, the London County Council purchased the building and estate to develop the Becontree Estate. Dagenham Urban District Council acquired the premises in 1928 as council chambers. Valence House served as the authority's town hall until 1937, when the Civic Centre was completed. The house became the library headquarters of the borough. The house is now a museum, and houses the Borough Archives and Local Studies Library in a new building.
Read more about this topic: Valence House Museum
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—Mary McCarthy (1912–1989)