Barking, Essex ; Population of the town-ward 5766 (the entire parish contains 12,523 inhabitants); is 7 miles from Whitechapel church by road; 7½ miles by Great Eastern Railway (Southend line): the railway station is just outside the town on the east, and a road leads direct from it to the church. Inn, the Bull.

Barking stretches for a mile along the bank of the Roding, but at a little distance from the river, which falls into the Thames about 1½ miles below the town, widening towards its mouth into what is known as Barking Creek. The Church (St. Margaret) is large, and, of different dates and consists of nave and chancel, south aisle, and two north aisles, and an embattled tower at the west end. The exterior is of stone, much patched, with brick buttresses. The windows are modern and common. The tower (which is shut off from the church) is 72 ft. high, and is a landmark for miles in the surrounding flat country. The interior has been so often repaired, the last time in 1837, as to retain little of its early character. All the columns are whitewashed, but before the last repairs were eased in plaster. At the west end of the nave, north side, are three Norman piers. The roof is semicircular, of plaster in pattern-work of fair 18th century design.

The parish is said to embrace a circuit of 30 miles, and includes Ilford, Chadwell, Rippleside, Barkingside, and Aldborough Hatch. That part of Hainault Forest called the King's Forest was also in Barking parish.The Town has little to show besides what has been described. As late as Fuller's time Barking had "no mean market." But the market has been long given up, though a few stalls and country people still collect in the streets on Saturdays. The old market-house is standing, but is a mean building. The visitor should stroll down the narrow street (which has "a most ancient and fish-like smell," the side streets and lower part have often worse odours from insufficient drainage), to the Wharf at the bottom of the town. Here is a large corn mill, on the site of the old abbey mill, and immediately below it, where the river suddenly widens, are barges lading, fishing smacks beached or lying at anchor, and two or three new ones building, fishermen lolling over the bridge, and, if the tide is up, perhaps a yacht or two tacking up or down the creek: in its way by no means an unpicturesque or uninteresting scene.

When Hainault and Epping forests used to supply timber for the navy, it was shipped from Barking Wharf for Woolwich. A few years back, Barking owned about 150 smacks of 60 or 70 tons each, but the fishing trade has decreased of late. Many barges are still employed in carrying to London the potatoes and onions so largely grown in the neighbourhood.

[Handbook to The Environs of London :
James Thorne 1876]

Church Records:

• St. Margaret, North St
  Baptisms 1558-1991, Marriages 1558-1993, &
  Burials 1558-1947 : ERO
  Baptisms 1991- date, Marriages 1993- date : Not deposited
• St. Erkenwald, Levett Rd
  Baptisms 1934-1966, Marriages 1955-1984 : ERO
• St. Patrick, Blake Ave
  Marriages 1940-1973 : ERO
• St. Paul, Ripple Road
  Baptisms 1893-1945 : ERO
• St. Mary and St. Ethelberg (Roman Catholic), Linton Road
  Baptisms 1860- date, Marriages 1869- date : Not deposited
• Baptist Tabernacle, Linton Road
  Formed 1850 as Ebenezer Chapel, Queens Rd
  moved to present location in 1893
• Christian Brethren, Fisher St / Park Hall / Axe St
  Burials 1848-1878, VAL
• Congregational Chapel
  Baptisms, Burials 1804-1836 : PRO
• Creekmouth Mission
  Baptisms 1949-1953 : ERO
• Latter Day Saints, Barking Heath
  All 1849-1870 : SLC
• Society of Friends Meeting House
  Births 1691-1837, Marriages 1743-1745, 1795-1836 &
  Burials 1692-1774, 1777-1837 : PRO

Links    St Margaret's Church

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St. Margaret's Church c.1920 Picture from Shirley O'Donnell's postcard collection

 

St. Margaret's Church c.1924 Picture from Shirley O'Donnell's postcard collection