Valence House

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Join us on our Ghost Hunt at Valence House 

Valence House is a Grade II* listed building

Valnce house was first established on this site in the 13th century, owned by Robert Dynes in 1280. Later tenants of the estate are commemorated in the road names surrounding the park. The name of the house derives from 14th-century tenants, Agnes de Valence and her brother Aylmer, Earl of Pembroke, who came from a wealthy family in the French province of Valence, the family moving here when their uncle became king. The estate passed into the ownership of the Dean and Chapter of Windsor in 1475, and remained in their ownership until 1867, when it passed to the Church Commissioners. In the latter part of the 16th century the owner and tenant of Valence House was Timothy Lucye, who married in 1584 Susanna, daughter of Henry Fanshawe, of Jenkyns, an adjoining manor. He was the brother of Sir Thomas Lucy of Charlecote, Warwickshire.

In 1921, the London County Council (LCC) purchased the building and land to develop the Becontree estate. The house was used as the LCC headquarters during construction. The Dagenham Urban District Council acquired the premises. During 1928 and 1929 they extended to building for use as offices and the council chamber.

Valence House served as the town hall until 1937, when the Dagenham Civic Centre was completed. The house became the library headquarters of the Borough. The house is now a museum, and houses the Borough Archives and Local Studies Library in a new building. 

Your ghost hunt at includes:

• Tour of the venue

• Vigils throughout the location working in small groups

• Spirit board experiments

• Use of ghost hunting equipment including Dowsing Rods & EMF Meters

• Refreshments throughout

Join Essex Ghost Hunters as we venture around this amazing venue in search of the ghosts that haunt this venue.