Did you know that...
Rainham name derives from the Anglo-Saxon personal name Regna and “hām” which means village or settlement. In the 11th century, the Domesday Book records the name as Raineham. Another theory suggests that the name could be formed in the same way as Rainham, Kent which supposedly means “home of the Roegingas”. The Havering hoard is a collection of 453 Bronze Age artifacts that were found on this side of East London. It includes tools, weapons, and accessories that weigh more than 45 kg in total. In the 16th century, tannery and boat building were the main occupations. Trade flourished after the wharf was built in 1720.
The railway station was established in 1854. Today’s town formed around the historic core. Church of St Helen and St Giles is the only medieval building that still stands in this RM13 area. It’s also Havering’s oldest building. The church dates from the 12th century. Rainham Hall is a grade II listed house from 1729. Sea-captain John Harle and wife Mary Tibbington were the first owners of this house. It was in the Harles’ possession until 1895. In 1920, Colonel Herbert Hall Mulliner bought the house and gave it to the National Trust in 1949. The house featured in 2019 BBC’s A Christmas Carol.
Rainham Marshes is a nature reserve. In the 2000s, it was used as a test firing range by the Ministry of Defense. The tests eventually ceased and since 2006 the area is opened to the public. It is one of the largest wetlands that have the original medieval aspect. The sighting of the endangered sociable lapwing brought more than 1,700 visitors here in 2005. The visitors center within the reserve is a notable example of environmentally-friendly construction. It has won several awards. The reserve was one of the locations considered for the Disneyland park in Europe.