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This East London area was the meeting spot for the ancient Becontree hundred. There were a couple of houses here in 1777 but the area was mostly rural until the 20th century. Urban development started in 1920. The Becontree Heath Estate was built in 1966. It is one of the estates with the highest densities. With an estimated density of 100,000 people, the area is considered the largest council estate in the world. Famous residents include footballer and manager Alf Ramsey, actor Dudley Moore, and Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey. Becontree Heath has several walking and cycling routes such as Falconwood Walk, Poppy Path, and Greenstead Loop.
This RM8 area features a leisure center and a golf club. Becontree Heath Leisure Center offers facilities such as swimming pools, a modern fitness studio, and sports hall. It hosts award-winning swimming lessons, various fitness classes, and also events such as children’s parties. Crowlands Heath Golf Club has a 9 hole golf course and an aqua driving range. The function room is equipped to host a variety of events such as birthday parties, weddings, work functions, and more.
Becontree Heath RM8 is home to the Dagenham Civic Center. The building was designed by E. Berry Webber, a British architect who is known for his work on several other municipal buildings such as Hammersmith Town Hall which is now a Grade II listed building. The center has a modernist architecture and since 1981 is a Grade II listed building as well. Harry Snell, 1st Baron Snell laid the foundation stone in 1936. The Secretary of State for Health at that time Sir Kingsley Wood attended the opening ceremony in 1937. The Dagenham Civic Center makes an appearance in the London Road movie. The building is undergoing modernization works that will allow it to become a local branch of the Coventry University Group.