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to the village school. To a large extent this still holds, though
building having extended up to the railway line now makes for
closer contact. Dagenham Village has been in closer touch with
the new Estate, owing to the use of the same shopping centre—
and even to-day the two old schools in the village arc largely fed
by the Estate.
In the early days of development, those houses in Dagenham
adjacent to the Ilford section practically formed part of Ilford, in
so far as concerned contact and communication with the outside.
This applies, however, only to the earliest portion ; after which
the Estate was distinct and dissociated.
The recent development at Harking has not, up to the present,
occurred immediately adjacent, to the older developed portion in
Dagenham, execpt in one small area in which four roads of a
district completed not less than two years ago run into the new
portion. For the time being then Dagenham can be taken as a
separate unit, not much affected by adjacent development.
The erection of the Bccontrce Estate was begun in Ilford, with
a small portion in the adjacent Romford (now Dagcnham) area
which contained the only houses erected in 1921 and 1922. On
this section a total of 1,300 houses were erected in a period of about
3 years. In 1923 a new section, No. 2 Dagcnham, was started in
the southern part of the Dagenham ward, about 1,000 houses being
put up in two years. This area was quite distinct, from the other
and was not brought into communication in any way. Each area
used separate lines for transport to Town, had distinct shopping
areas and separate schools, and were separated from one another
by an intervening strip of agricultural property.
Each area developed laterally by the erection of further
sections. In the north, Valence No. 4 section of 1,000 houses,
was put. up in 12 months between mid-year 1925 and 1926, and
the adjacent Valence No. 7 of another 1,000 between early 1926
and 1927.
In the south, Dagcnham No. 3 section of 1,000 houses was
erected in 12 months, September, 1924, to August, 1925; Dagenham
No. 6 of 1,000 between December, 1925, and March,1927.
In 1927 and 192S, which were the peak years of development,
the intervening land between these two areas was dcveloped.
Dagcnham No. 8 section of 2,250 houses was put up in 18 months
between April, 1927, and October, 1928. Dagcnham No. 9 of
1,700 houses was started early in 1928, and completed within two
years.
The northern portion was added to by the erection of Becontree
No. 10 section of 2,100 houses between March, 1927, and December,