Rainham, London
Encyclopedia
Rainham is a suburban town in northeast London
, England, and part of the London Borough of Havering
. Located 13.6 miles (21.9 km) east of Charing Cross
, it is one of the locally important district centres identified in the London Plan
and is surrounded by a residential area, which has grown from the historic village, to the north and a commercial area, fronting the River Thames
, to the south. As part of the suburban growth of London in the 20th century, Rainham significantly expanded and increased in population, becoming part of Hornchurch Urban District
in 1934, and has formed part of Greater London
since 1965. The economic history of Rainham is underpinned by a shift from agriculture to industry and manufacture and is now in a period of regeneration, coming within the London Riverside
section of the London Thames Gateway Development Corporation
area of responsibility.
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. 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'.
for trade. 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.
hundred of Essex
. 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. In 1934 the parish council was abolished and Upminster was combined with other parishes to form part of 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
.
, 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.
, and is covered by the Havering ward of Rainham and Wennington. The current MP is James Brokenshire
. The ward elects three councillors to Havering London Borough Council
. All three councillors elected in 2006 were the Rainham and Wennington Residents Independent Association candidates and the area is unusual in that the residents' association is strongly active. The constituency will be abolished and replaced at the next election by a new Dagenham and Rainham
constituency, which combines wards in southern Havering with eastern Barking and Dagenham. Rainham is within the Havering and Redbridge London Assembly constituency
and the London European Parliament constituency
.
are about 5 feet (1.5 m) 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. The historic core of Rainham, including the town centre, forms a conservation area. The land to the south has been affected by gravel extraction and 200 acre (0.809372 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
. Climate data is taken from the nearest weather station at Greenwich
, around 8.7 miles (14 km) southwest of Rainham:
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.
As of the 2001 census
, there are 4,589 residents who fall into the social category ABC1
, which equates 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.
as a local district centre with 20000 sqm of commercial floorspace. Within Havering, it is identified as one of seven town centres in the borough, with a retail area extending along Upminster Road South and Broadway.
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. In 2006 Havering London Borough Council proposed that land in Rainham could be used for a large regional casino.
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 and is in London fare zone 6. Several London Bus
routes serve Rainham, including routes 103, 165
, 287, 372
, which provide connections to Barking
, Elm Park
, Hornchurch
, Lakeside
and Romford
. 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
.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England, and part of the London Borough of Havering
London Borough of Havering
The London Borough of Havering is a London borough in North East London, England and forms part of Outer London. The principal town in Havering is Romford and the other main communities are Hornchurch, Upminster and Rainham. The borough is mainly characterised by suburban development with large...
. Located 13.6 miles (21.9 km) east of Charing Cross
Charing Cross
Charing Cross denotes the junction of Strand, Whitehall and Cockspur Street, just south of Trafalgar Square in central London, England. It is named after the now demolished Eleanor cross that stood there, in what was once the hamlet of Charing. The site of the cross is now occupied by an equestrian...
, it is one of the locally important district centres identified in the London Plan
London Plan
The London Plan is a planning document written by the Mayor of London, England in the United Kingdom and published by the Greater London Authority. The plan was first published in final form on 10 February 2004 and has since been amended. The current version was published in February 2008...
and is surrounded by a residential area, which has grown from the historic village, to the north and a commercial area, fronting the River Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
, to the south. As part of the suburban growth of London in the 20th century, Rainham significantly expanded and increased in population, becoming part of Hornchurch Urban District
Hornchurch Urban District
Hornchurch was a local government district in south west Essex, England from 1926 to 1965. The urban district council was based at Langtons House. The district formed a suburb of London and was expanded in 1934...
in 1934, and has formed part of Greater London
Greater London
Greater London is the top-level administrative division of England covering London. It was created in 1965 and spans the City of London, including Middle Temple and Inner Temple, and the 32 London boroughs. This territory is coterminate with the London Government Office Region and the London...
since 1965. The economic history of Rainham is underpinned by a shift from agriculture to industry and manufacture and is now in a period of regeneration, coming within the London Riverside
London Riverside
The London Riverside is a new development area in north east London, England and part of the larger Thames Gateway redevelopment zone. The London Riverside area forms part of the Green Enterprise District, a project to create a low-carbon economy region in Greater London.It is one of two zones...
section of the London Thames Gateway Development Corporation
London Thames Gateway Development Corporation
The London Thames Gateway Development Corporation is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Communities and Local Government, with directors appointed by the Secretary of State, including some democratically elected councillors...
area of responsibility.
Toponymy
| 1881 | 1,253 |
|---|---|
| 1891 | 1,669 |
| 1901 | 1,725 |
| 1911 | 1,972 |
| 1921 | 2,196 |
| 1931 | 3,897 |
| 1941 | war # |
| 1951 | 7,666 |
| # no census was held due to war | |
| source: UK census | |
Rainham is recorded in the Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
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. 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'.
Economic development
For much of its history Rainham was an agricultural settlement, using the River ThamesRiver Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
for trade. In the 16th century industry was limited to a boat-builder and tannery. There are links between Rainham farms and the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
from the Middle Ages and after the wharf was redeveloped in the 1720s trade increased; including the bringing of muck
Muck (soil)
Muck is a soil made up primarily of humus from drained swampland. It is known as black soil in The Fens of eastern England, where it was originally mainly fen and bog. It is used there, as in the United States, for growing specialty crops such as onions, carrots, celery, and potatoes...
from London for use in the fields. By 1929 most of the farmland had been given over to market gardening
Market gardening
A market garden is the relatively small-scale production of fruits, vegetables and flowers as cash crops, frequently sold directly to consumers and restaurants. It is distinguishable from other types of farming by the diversity of crops grown on a small area of land, typically, from under one acre ...
. 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
The BOC Group
The BOC Group plc was the official name of the multinational industrial gas and British based company more commonly known as BOC, and now a part of The Linde Group. In September 2004, BOC had over 30,000 employees on six continents, with sales of over £4.6 billion. BOC was a constituent of the...
. Away from the river, other industries included brickmaking and after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
there was a growth in gravel extraction.
Local government
Rainham formed an ancient parish of 3253 acres (1,316.4 ha) in the ChaffordChafford (hundred)
Chafford was an ancient hundred in the south west of the county of Essex, England. Its area has been partly absorbed by the growth of London; with its name reused for the modern housing development of Chafford Hundred...
hundred of Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
. In 1836 the vestry lost control of poor relief, with Rainham becoming part of the Romford Poor Law Union
Poor Law Union
A Poor Law Union was a unit used for local government in the United Kingdom from the 19th century. The administration of the Poor Law was the responsibility of parishes, which varied wildly in their size, populations, financial resources, rateable values and requirements...
and in 1875 the parish became part of Romford rural sanitary district
Sanitary district
Sanitary districts were established in England and Wales in 1875 and in Ireland in 1878. The districts were of two types, based on existing structures:*Urban sanitary districts in towns with existing local government bodies...
. Following the Local Government Act 1894
Local Government Act 1894
The Local Government Act 1894 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that reformed local government in England and Wales outside the County of London. The Act followed the reforms carried out at county level under the Local Government Act 1888...
, the sanitary district became Romford Rural District
Romford Rural District
Romford Rural District was a local government district in south west Essex, England from 1894 to 1934. It surrounded, but did not include, Romford which formed a separate urban district...
and a parish council was formed. The parish formed part of the London Traffic Area
London Traffic Area
The London Traffic Area was established by the London Traffic Act 1924 in order to regulate the increasing amount of motor traffic in the London area...
from 1924 and the London Passenger Transport Area
London Passenger Transport Board
The London Passenger Transport Board was the organisation responsible for public transport in London, UK, and its environs from 1933 to 1948...
from 1933. In 1934 the parish council was abolished and Upminster was combined with other parishes to form part of Hornchurch Urban District
Hornchurch Urban District
Hornchurch was a local government district in south west Essex, England from 1926 to 1965. The urban district council was based at Langtons House. The district formed a suburb of London and was expanded in 1934...
. In 1965 the urban district was abolished and its former area was combined with that of Municipal Borough of Romford
Municipal Borough of Romford
Romford was a local government district in southwest Essex from 1851 to 1965. It was significantly expanded in 1934 and gained the status of municipal borough in 1937...
; and since then has formed part of the London Borough of Havering
London Borough of Havering
The London Borough of Havering is a London borough in North East London, England and forms part of Outer London. The principal town in Havering is Romford and the other main communities are Hornchurch, Upminster and Rainham. The borough is mainly characterised by suburban development with large...
in Greater London
Greater London
Greater London is the top-level administrative division of England covering London. It was created in 1965 and spans the City of London, including Middle Temple and Inner Temple, and the 32 London boroughs. This territory is coterminate with the London Government Office Region and the London...
.
Urban development
The earliest development was around the Church of St Helen and St GilesChurch of St Helen and St Giles
St Helen and St Giles is a church and landmark of Rainham, London and is the oldest building in Havering . The church retains many of its original features, for example the round-headed arches. It was founded by Richard de Lucy, the son-in-law of Henry II of England...
, 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
Rainham Hall
Rainham Hall is a Georgian house, built in 1729, which was acquired by the National Trust in 1949. The house is open from 2pm till 5pm from 3 April to 30 October on Saturdays and Bank Holiday Mondays.-External links:...
. 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
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. 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
Metropolitan Green Belt
The Metropolitan Green Belt is a statutory green belt around London, England. It includes designated parts of Greater London and the surrounding counties of Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent and Surrey in the South East and East of England regions.-History:The...
. 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.
Governance
The town forms part of the Hornchurch UK Parliament constituencyHornchurch (UK Parliament constituency)
Hornchurch was a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elected one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election...
, and is covered by the Havering ward of Rainham and Wennington. The current MP is James Brokenshire
James Brokenshire
James Peter Brokenshire is a British Conservative Party politician. He is the Member of Parliament for Old Bexley and Sidcup and Minister for Security at the Home Office that grants him a seat on the National Security Council.-Early life:He was educated at Davenant Foundation Grammar School, the...
. The ward elects three councillors to Havering London Borough Council
Havering London Borough Council
Havering London Borough Council is the local authority for the London Borough of Havering in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in the United Kingdom capital of London. Havering is divided into 18 wards, each electing three councillors...
. All three councillors elected in 2006 were the Rainham and Wennington Residents Independent Association candidates and the area is unusual in that the residents' association is strongly active. The constituency will be abolished and replaced at the next election by a new Dagenham and Rainham
Dagenham and Rainham (UK Parliament constituency)
Dagenham and Rainham is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election...
constituency, which combines wards in southern Havering with eastern Barking and Dagenham. Rainham is within the Havering and Redbridge London Assembly constituency
Havering and Redbridge (London Assembly constituency)
-Boundaries:It consists of the combined area of the London Borough of Havering and London Borough of Redbridge, both in East London.-Election results:...
and the London European Parliament constituency
London (European Parliament constituency)
London is a constituency of the European Parliament. It currently elects 8 MEPs using the d'Hondt method of party-list proportional representation.- Boundaries :The constituency corresponds to Greater London, in the south east of the United Kingdom....
.
Geography
Rainham is mostly situated on gravel, rising to between 60 feet (18.3 m) and 100 feet (30.5 m). The marshlands along the southern boundary of the River ThamesRiver Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
are about 5 feet (1.5 m) above sea level and a tidal section of the River Ingrebourne
River Ingrebourne
The River Ingrebourne, 27 miles in length, is a tributary of the River Thames. It is considered a strategic waterway in London, forming part of the Blue Ribbon Network...
forms the western boundary. It is located in part of London that is susceptible to flooding. The historic core of Rainham, including the town centre, forms a conservation area. The land to the south has been affected by gravel extraction and 200 acre (0.809372 km²) of Rainham Marshes has been filled with 9 million tons of dredged soil by the Port of London Authority
Port of London Authority
The Port of London Authority is a self-funding public trust established in 1908 by the Port of London Act to govern the Port of London. Its responsibility extends over the Tideway of the River Thames and the authority is responsible for the public right of navigation and for conservancy of the...
. Rainham is a post town
Post town
A post town is a required part of all postal addresses in the United Kingdom, and a basic unit of the postal delivery system. Including the correct post town in the address increases the chances of a letter or parcel being delivered on time. Post towns are usually based upon the location of...
in the RM postcode area; it covers a wide area of southern Havering and additionally includes Coldharbour
Coldharbour, Havering
Coldharbour is a district of the London Borough of Havering, adjacent to the River Thames, in London, England.It is the location of Coldharbour Point, where there has been a lighthouse since 1885...
, South Hornchurch
South Hornchurch
South Hornchurch is a place in the London Borough of Havering, east London.It is a suburban development situated 13.6 miles east of Charing Cross. The area is a relatively recent addition, compared with the more mature suburbs in Havering. It was built on open farmland and the former site of RAF...
and Wennington
Wennington, London
Wennington is a small village in the London Borough of Havering on the outskirts of east London. It is situated 14.8 miles east of Charing Cross....
. Climate data is taken from the nearest weather station at Greenwich
Greenwich
Greenwich is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich.Greenwich is best known for its maritime history and for giving its name to the Greenwich Meridian and Greenwich Mean Time...
, around 8.7 miles (14 km) southwest of Rainham:
Demography
| Rainham and Wennington compared (2001 Census) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Statistic | Rainham and Wennington |
Havering | London | England |
| Ethnic group | ||||
| White | 11,308 | 213,421 | 5,103,203 | 44,679,361 |
| Asian | 341 | 4,088 | 866,693 | 2,248,289 |
| Black | 273 | 3,139 | 782,849 | 1,132,508 |
| Mixed | 153 | 2,298 | 226,111 | 643,373 |
| Chinese/Other | 39 | 827 | 70,928 | 231,424 |
| Population | ||||
| Total | 12,114 | 224,248 | 7,172,091 | 49,138,831 |
| Density(/hectare) | 7.91 | 19.97 | 45.62 | 3.77 |
| Households | 4,811 | 91,722 | 3,015,997 | 20,451,427 |
Demographic data is produced by the Office for National Statistics
Office for National Statistics
The Office for National Statistics is the executive office of the UK Statistics Authority, a non-ministerial department which reports directly to the Parliament of the United Kingdom.- Overview :...
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
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
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.
As of the 2001 census
United Kingdom Census 2001
A nationwide census, known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday, 29 April 2001. This was the 20th UK Census and recorded a resident population of 58,789,194....
, there are 4,589 residents who fall into the social category ABC1
NRS social grade
The NRS social grades are a system of demographic classification used in the United Kingdom. They were originally developed by the National Readership Survey in order to classify readers, but are now used by many other organisations for wider applications and have become a standard for market...
, which equates to 37.9% of the population in the ward
Wards of the United Kingdom
A ward in the United Kingdom is an electoral district at sub-national level represented by one or more councillors. It is the primary unit of British administrative and electoral geography .-England:...
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.
Economy
The northern part of Rainham is identified in the London PlanLondon Plan
The London Plan is a planning document written by the Mayor of London, England in the United Kingdom and published by the Greater London Authority. The plan was first published in final form on 10 February 2004 and has since been amended. The current version was published in February 2008...
as a local district centre with 20000 sqm of commercial floorspace. Within Havering, it is identified as one of seven town centres in the borough, with a retail area extending along Upminster Road South and Broadway.
The southern part of Rainham is a centre for employment, part of the London Riverside
London Riverside
The London Riverside is a new development area in north east London, England and part of the larger Thames Gateway redevelopment zone. The London Riverside area forms part of the Green Enterprise District, a project to create a low-carbon economy region in Greater London.It is one of two zones...
business improvement district
Business improvement district
A business improvement district is a defined area within which businesses pay an additional tax or fee in order to fund improvements within the district's boundaries. Grant funds acquired by the city for special programs and/or incentives such as tax abatements can be made available to assist...
, and the location of the Tilda Rice main plant. Several large companies have operations and offices based in Rainham, including Keebles, Carpetright
Carpetright
Carpetright plc is one of the largest British retailers of floor coverings. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.-History:...
, Harveys Furniture, and Rainham Steel.
The plans of the London Thames Gateway Development Corporation
London Thames Gateway Development Corporation
The London Thames Gateway Development Corporation is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Communities and Local Government, with directors appointed by the Secretary of State, including some democratically elected councillors...
include 3,200 new homes and the upgrading of run-down industrial and warehouse facilities on the A1306 road to provide mixed-use development. In 2006 Havering London Borough Council proposed that land in Rainham could be used for a large regional casino.
Culture
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.Transport
The A1306 road passes through Rainham and acts an alternative route to the main A13 road between Central LondonCentral London
Central London is the innermost part of London, England. There is no official or commonly accepted definition of its area, but its characteristics are understood to include a high density built environment, high land values, an elevated daytime population and a concentration of regionally,...
and the Dartford Crossing
Dartford Crossing
The Dartford - Thurrock River Crossing, Dartford River Crossing is a major road crossing of the River Thames in England, connecting Dartford in the south to Thurrock in the north, via two road tunnels and the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge. It opened in stages, the west tunnel in 1963, the east tunnel...
. High Speed 1 and the London-Tilbury-Southend Line
London, Tilbury and Southend Railway
The London, Tilbury and Southend Railway is an English railway line linking Fenchurch Street railway station in the City of London with northeast London and the entire length of the northern Thames Gateway area of southern Essex. It is currently known as the Essex Thameside Route by Network Rail...
pass through the area, with Rainham railway station
Rainham railway station (London)
Rainham railway station is located in Rainham, in the London Borough of Havering in northeast London, England. It is in London fare zone 6 and is managed, and passenger train services are provided, by c2c. The station was opened in 1854 as part of the original route of the London, Tilbury and...
served by c2c
C2c
c2c is a British train operating company that is part of the National Express Group. It provides passenger rail services on the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway line from Fenchurch Street railway station in the City of London to east London and the entire length of the northern Thames Gateway...
train services running between Fenchurch Street
Fenchurch Street railway station
Fenchurch Street railway station, also known as London Fenchurch Street, is a central London railway terminus in the south eastern corner of the City of London, England. The station is one of the smallest terminals in London in terms of platforms and one of the most intensively operated...
in the City of London and Grays
Grays railway station
Grays railway station is a railway station located in the town of Grays in the borough and unitary authority of Thurrock in the East of England. Although outside London fare zones 1 to 6, the station became part of the Oyster card pay-as-you-go rail network in January 2010.-History:It was opened in...
in Thurrock and is in London fare zone 6. Several London Bus
London Buses
London Buses is the subsidiary of Transport for London that manages bus services within Greater London, UK. Buses are required to carry similar red colour schemes and conform to the same fare scheme...
routes serve Rainham, including routes 103, 165
London Buses route 165
London Buses route 165 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. The service is currently contracted to First Capital.-History:...
, 287, 372
London Buses route 372
London Buses route 372 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Stagecoach London...
, which provide connections to Barking
Barking
Barking is a suburban town in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, in East London, England. A retail and commercial centre situated in the west of the borough, it lies east of Charing Cross. Barking was in the historic county of Essex until it was absorbed by Greater London. The area is...
, Elm Park
Elm Park
Elm Park is a place in the London Borough of Havering, in east London, England. It is a suburban development situated east north-east of Charing Cross. Unlike the nearby suburbs of Upminster and Hornchurch, Elm Park was not developed until after the arrival of the electrified District Line in 1935...
, Hornchurch
Hornchurch
Hornchurch is a large suburban town in England, and part of the London Borough of Havering. Hornchurch is in North-East London .It is located east-northeast of Charing Cross and is one of the locally important district centres identified in the London Plan. It comprises a number of shopping...
, Lakeside
Lakeside Shopping Centre
The Lakeside Shopping Centre is a large out-of-town shopping centre located in West Thurrock, in the borough of Thurrock, Essex just beyond the eastern boundary of Greater London...
and Romford
Romford
Romford is a large suburban town in north east London, England and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Havering. It is located northeast of Charing Cross and is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan...
. The London Loop
London Outer Orbital Path
The London Outer Orbital Path — more usually the "London LOOP" — is a signed walk along public footpaths, and through parks, woods and fields around the edge of Outer London, England, described as "the M25 for walkers"...
key walking route passes through Rainham, and it forms the end point of section 23 from Upminster Bridge
Upminster Bridge
Upminster Bridge is a crossing of the River Ingrebourne carrying the A124 road between the suburbs of Hornchurch and Upminster in northeast London, England. The bridge is known to have existed since at least 1375...
and the starting point of section 24 to Purfleet
Purfleet
Purfleet is a place in the Thurrock unitary authority in Essex, England. It is situated south of the A13 road on the River Thames and within the easterly bounds of the M25 motorway but just outside the Greater London boundary. It was within the traditional Church of England parish of West Thurrock...
.