:Rainham, London

Rainham is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Raineham and is thought to mean 'homestead or village of a man called Regna', formed from an Old English name and 'hām', meaning settlement.{{cite book|title=Dictionary of London Place Names|year=2001|last=Mills|first=A.D.|publisher=Oxford}} It is also possible that it follows Rainham, Kent which is thought to derive 'home of the Roegingas'. This is also of uncertain meaning, but could refer to 'the ruling people'. The link with Rainham in Kent is strengthened by the discovery of Jutish cemeteries in Rainham.{{cite book |last = Neale |first = Kenneth |title = Discovering Essex in London |publisher = Essex Countryside/LPL |year = 1970 |page = 20 |isbn = 0900519142}}

A hoard of 453 late bronze-age (900 to 800 BC) artefacts was found in Rainham in 2018. Known as the Havering hoard, it comprises swords, socketed axe heads, spear heads, knives, daggers, woodwork tools, bracelets, ingots, and other items, weighing more than 45 kg in total.{{Cite web|last=Davis|first=Nicola|date=2019-10-21|title='Havering hoard' of bronze age objects to go on show in London|url=http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/oct/21/havering-hoard-of-bronze-age-objects-to-go-on-show-in-london|access-date=2021-06-05|website=The Guardian|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=|title=Havering Hoard: A Bronze Age Mystery (11 Sep 2020 - 22 Aug 2021) {{!}} Museum of London Docklands|url=https://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/museum-london-docklands/whats-on/exhibitions/havering-hoard-bronze-age-mystery|access-date=2021-06-05|website=Museum of London|language=en}}

For much of its history Rainham was an agricultural settlement, using the River Thames for trade.{{cite book | url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=42826 | title=Rainham: Economic history and local government, A History of the County of Essex: Volume 7 | year=1978 | author=Powell, W.R. (Edr.)| publisher=British History Online | access-date=24 February 2010 }} In the 16th century industry was limited to a boat-builder and tannery. There are links between Rainham farms and the City of London from the Middle Ages and after the wharf was redeveloped in the 1720s trade increased; including the bringing of muck from London for use in the fields. By 1929 most of the farmland had been given over to market gardening. The ferry to London was supplemented with new coaching links in the 18th century and a railway station opened in 1854. A second wharf was constructed in 1872 and from 1869 there was a growth in industrial development, including chemical and fertiliser factories. The Murex iron-founders moved to Rainham in 1917 and grew along the river, eventually becoming part of the British Oxygen Company. Away from the river, other industries included brickmaking and after World War II there was a growth in gravel extraction.

File:Romford rural 1931.PNG, adjoining Upminster (4) and Wennington (7)]]

Rainham formed an ancient parish of {{convert|3,253|acres}} in the Chafford hundred of Essex.{{ cite vob|url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/relationships.jsp?u_id=10245588&c_id=10001043 |name=Rainham parish |accessdate=23 February 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604210631/http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/relationships.jsp?u_id=10245588&c_id=10001043 |archivedate=4 June 2011 }} In 1836 the vestry lost control of poor relief, with Rainham becoming part of the Romford Poor Law Union and in 1875 the parish became part of Romford rural sanitary district. Following the Local Government Act 1894, the sanitary district became Romford Rural District and a parish council was formed. The parish formed part of the London Traffic Area from 1924 and the London Passenger Transport Area from 1933.{{cite book |title=The Government and Mis-government of London |last=Robson |first=William |year=1939 |publisher=Allen & Unwin |location=London }} In 1934 the parish council was abolished and Rainham was combined with other parishes to form part of an expanded Hornchurch Urban District. In 1965 the urban district was abolished and its former area was combined with that of Municipal Borough of Romford; and since then has formed part of the London Borough of Havering in Greater London.{{cite vob|url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/relationships.jsp?u_id=10166913&c_id=10001043 |name=Havering London Borough |accessdate=23 February 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090211082200/http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/relationships.jsp?u_id=10166913&c_id=10001043 |archivedate=11 February 2009 }}

File:Southeast View of the Church of Saint Helen and Saint Giles, Rainham (02).jpg is the oldest building in Rainham]]

The earliest development was around the Church of St Helen and St Giles, and this is the only medieval building to survive. New prosperity from increased trade in the early 18th century led to several new buildings, including Rainham Hall. Roads were laid out in 1880 and the new developments consisted of semi-detached and terraced houses. At the same time a community developed around a pub on the river and operated as a resort for day-trippers. As the Thames industrialised it declined in popularity and was gone by 1945. Rainham developed into a suburb of London after World War I. As the estates were broken up for housing some land was purchased by smallholders from Bow and West Ham. In the 1940s they successfully campaigned against having it returned to agricultural use and it was excluded from the Metropolitan Green Belt. The roadways and sewerage systems did not keep up with the rate of growth and a residents' group fought for improvements in infrastructure throughout the 1960s.

File:Rainham War Memorial (Southwest View - 01).jpg memorial and forms a focus of the town]]

The town forms part of the Dagenham and Rainham constituency, and is covered by the Havering ward of Rainham and Wennington. The current MP is Jon Cruddas of the Labour Party, who has served the constituency since its creation in 2010. The constituency combines wards in southern Havering with eastern Barking and Dagenham. The Rainham and Wennington ward elects three councillors to Havering London Borough Council. All three councillors elected in 2010 were the Rainham and Wennington Residents Independent Association candidates{{cite web | publisher=Havering London Borough Council | url=http://democracy.havering.gov.uk/mgMemberIndex.aspx?FN=WARD&VW=TABLE&PIC=1 | title=Your Councillors by Ward | access-date=8 January 2013 }} and the area is unusual in that the residents' association is strongly active.{{cite web | url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2008/feb/08/havering.redbridge | title=Havering and Redbridge | publisher=guardian.co.uk | author=Baston, Lewis | date=8 February 2008 | access-date=20 February 2010 }} Rainham is within the Havering and Redbridge London Assembly constituency and was in the London European Parliament constituency.

{{Further|Geography of London}}

File:Rainham london open-s-map.png

Rainham is mostly situated on gravel, rising to between {{convert|60|ft}} and {{convert|100|ft}}. The marshlands along the southern boundary of the River Thames are about {{convert|5|ft}} above sea level and a tidal section of the River Ingrebourne forms the western boundary. It is located in part of London that is susceptible to flooding.{{cite web | url=http://www.london.gov.uk/thelondonplan/images/maps-diagrams/jpg/map-4a-1.jpg | title=Indicative Flood Risk Areas | year=2008 | access-date=24 February 2010 | publisher=Greater London Authority | work=London Plan | author=Mayor of London | author-link=Mayor of London | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629162309/http://www.london.gov.uk/thelondonplan/images/maps-diagrams/jpg/map-4a-1.jpg | archive-date=29 June 2011 | df=dmy-all }} The historic core of Rainham, including the town centre, forms a conservation area.{{cite web | url=http://www.havering.gov.uk/media/pdf/g/c/Rainham_CAA_rev_3_16_Feb_07.pdf | title=Rainham Conservation Area: Character Appraisal and Management Proposals | publisher=Havering London Borough Council | author= The Paul Drury Partnership | date=February 2007 | access-date=23 February 2010}} The land to the south has been affected by gravel extraction and {{convert|200|acre|km2}} of Rainham Marshes has been filled with 9 million tons of dredged soil by the Port of London Authority. Rainham is a post town in the RM postcode area; it covers a wide area of southern Havering and additionally includes Coldharbour, South Hornchurch and Wennington.{{ cite book | publisher=Royal Mail Group | author=Royal Mail | author-link=Royal Mail | edition=4 | year=2004 | title=Address Management Guide }} Climate data is taken from the nearest weather station at Greenwich, around {{convert|8.7|mi|km|1}} southwest of Rainham:

{{Greenwich weatherbox}}

Demographic data is produced by the Office for National Statistics for the ward of Rainham and Wennington. In 2001 the population of the ward was 12,114, consisting of 3,362 families and 4,811 households. The population is 93.35% White, 2.81% Asian, 2.25% Black and 0.32% Chinese or other. 75.58% report their religion as Christian compared to 76.13% for Havering, 58.23% in London and 71.74% in England. 12.04% report having no religion, compared to 13.18% in Havering, 15.76% in London and 14.59% in England.

At the 2001 census, there were 4,589 residents who fell into the social category ABC1, which equated to 37.9% of the population in the ward of Rainham and Wennington. The age distribution was: 5.32% aged 0–4, 15.63% aged 5–15, 5.02% aged 16–19, 33.78% aged 20–44, 24.92% aged 45–64 and 15.32% aged 65 years and older. The general health was described as follows: 70.49% good, 21.52% fairly good and 7.99% not good. 16.41% of people had a limiting long-term illness.

The northern part of Rainham is identified in the London Plan as a local district centre with {{convert|20000|sqm}} of commercial floorspace. Within Havering, it is identified as one of seven town centres in the borough,{{cite web|url=http://www.havering.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=379 |title=Town centre management |publisher=Havering London Borough Council |date=14 October 2008 |access-date=24 February 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081219031529/http://www.havering.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=379 |archive-date=19 December 2008 }} with a retail area extending along Upminster Road South and Broadway.{{cite web | url=http://www.havering.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=2304&p=0 | title=Havering UDP: District Centres (schedule 7) | date=March 1993 | access-date=24 February 2010 | publisher=Havering London Borough Council | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608192237/http://www.havering.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=2304&p=0 | archive-date=8 June 2011 | df=dmy-all }}

The southern part of Rainham is a centre for employment, part of the London Riverside business improvement district, and the location of the Tilda Rice main plant. Several large companies have operations and offices based in Rainham, including Keebles, Carpetright, Harveys Furniture, and Rainham Steel.

The plans of the London Thames Gateway Development Corporation include 3,200 new homes and the upgrading of run-down industrial and warehouse facilities on the A1306 road to provide mixed-use development.{{cite web | url=http://www.ltgdc.org.uk/our_projects/london_riverside/rainham.aspx | title=London Riverside: Rainham | publisher=London Thames Gateway Development Corporation | access-date=24 February 2010 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100130081952/http://www.ltgdc.org.uk/our_projects/london_riverside/rainham.aspx | archive-date=30 January 2010 | df=dmy-all }} In 2006 Havering London Borough Council proposed that land in Rainham could be used for a large regional casino.{{cite web | title=Consulting on casino complex in Rainham | url=http://www.havering.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=5131 | publisher=Havering London Borough Council | date=16 May 2006 | access-date=24 February 2010 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608193115/http://www.havering.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=5131 | archive-date=8 June 2011 | df=dmy-all }}

The Riverside sewage treatment works is located off Manor Way adjacent to Rainham Creek; it is designed to treat up to 94,000 cubic metres per day of sewage. About 16,300 cubic metres per day is from factories; these factories contributed to the construction of the plant instead of paying a charge for the treatment of waste. The outfall of treated effluent is from the southern corner of the works into Rainham Creek (the tidal reach of the River Ingrebourne), and thence into the river Thames.{{Cite book |title=The Restoration of the Tidal Thames |last=Wood|first=Leslie B |publisher=Adam Hilger |year=1982|location=Bristol|pages=107–09}}

Sewage sludge was disposed of by dumping at sea at the Black Deep in the outer Thames Estuary, until this practice was banned in 1998. From 1998 to 2012 the sludge produced at Riverside was pumped to Beckton sewage works for treatment and incineration.{{Cite web |url=https://www.ukconstructionmedia.co.uk/sectors/thames-water-creating-cleaner-healthier-river-thames/ |title=Riverside STW sludge treatment |website=www.ukconstructionmedia.co.uk}}{{fv|date=March 2025}} In 2012 anaerobic digestion facilities were installed at Riverside, enabling the plant to turn solid waste into enough renewable energy to power the site. As of March 2025, a £120 million upgrade is planned, with tenders likely to be invited beginning June 2025.{{cite web |title=Capital delivery major projects pipeline |url=https://www.thameswater.co.uk/about-us/suppliers/capital-delivery-major-projects-pipeline |website=Thames Water |access-date=19 March 2025 |language=en}}

Havering Council's urban strategy recognises that nearby Hornchurch is the main cultural hub of the borough with a large theatre and arts spaces, and Romford offers the largest regional concentration of entertainment facilities.{{cite web | url=http://www.havering.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=4743&p=0 | title=Romford Urban Strategy | author=Urban Practitioners & Allies and Morrison | publisher=Havering London Borough Council | date=July 2005 | access-date=9 February 2010 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608211323/http://www.havering.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=4743&p=0 | archive-date=8 June 2011 | df=dmy-all }}

{{Further|Transport in London|Public transport in Havering}}

The A1306 road passes through Rainham and acts an alternative route to the main A13 road between Central London and the Dartford Crossing. High Speed 1 and the London, Tilbury & Southend line pass through the area, with Rainham railway station served by c2c train services running between Fenchurch Street in the City of London and Grays in Thurrock{{cite web | url=http://www.c2c-online.co.uk/content/download/14596/185937/file/C2C+Main+Timetable.pdf |title=Train Times | publisher=c2c |date=December 2009 | access-date=24 February 2010}} and is in London fare zone 6.{{cite web |url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/high-frequency-services-map.pdf |title=High frequency services|publisher=Transport for London |date=March 2009 |access-date=25 February 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091014065510/http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/high-frequency-services-map.pdf |archive-date=14 October 2009 }}

Several London bus routes serve Rainham, including routes 103, 165, 287, 372, which provide connections to Barking, Elm Park, Hornchurch, Lakeside and Romford.{{cite web |url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/gettingaround/maps/buses/pdf/rainham-10323.pdf | title=Buses from Rainham| publisher=Transport for London |date=December 2008|access-date=23 February 2010}}

The London Loop key walking route passes through Rainham, and it forms the end point of section 23 from Upminster Bridge and the starting point of section 24 to Purfleet.{{cite web | url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/gettingaround/walkfinder/walkdetails.asp?id=96 | title=Section 23 Upminster Bridge to Rainham | work=www.tfl.gov.uk | publisher=Transport for London | access-date=24 February 2010}}{{cite web | url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/gettingaround/walkfinder/walkdetails.asp?id=97 | title=Section 24 Rainham to Purfleet | website=www.tfl.gov.uk| publisher=Transport for London | access-date=24 February 2010}}

The Belvedere Crossing is a proposed tunnel or bridge, between Belvedere and Rainham{{cite web |url=https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/rivercrossings/east-of-silvertown?cid=east-london-crossings |website=www.tfl.gov.uk |title=Have your say on new river crossings in east and southeast London |publisher=Transport for London |access-date=23 January 2016}}

On 26 May 2003, Mayor Question Time, then London Assembly member

for Havering and Redbridge Roger Evans asked former Mayor of London Ken Livingstone what progress had been made in convincing the government of extending the Docklands Light Railway to Rainham, the mayor responded by saying Rainham would be linked to the DLR at Dagenham Dock by the East London Transit.{{Cite web |date=2003-05-12 |title=Extending the DLR to Rainham |url=https://www.london.gov.uk/questions/2003/0989 |access-date=2021-06-05 |website=Mayor's Question Time}}

• List of people from Havering
• List of schools in Havering
• Launders Lane fires

{{Reflist|20em}}

{{Commons category}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110615011359/http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-rainhamhall National Trust - Rainham Hall]

{{LB Havering}}

{{London Outer Orbital Path | locale=Rainham | back=Upminster Bridge | forward=Purfleet | A=23 | B=24 }}

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Category:Areas of London

Category:Districts of the London Borough of Havering

Category:Districts of London on the River Thames

Category:District centres of London