Visitors delved into their family past and perused a variety of heritage stalls as Valence House held its Local and Family History Fair.

Barking and Dagenham Post: Derek Alexander in the bomb shelterDerek Alexander in the bomb shelter (Image: Archant)

The event on Saturday featured a host of history-related activities including talks, a vegetable harvest, memorabilia and the premiere screening of Stories of Becontree, a short film about the Becontree Estate by social enterprise group Catch22.

Barking and Dagenham Post: Staff in costume with their green flag awardStaff in costume with their green flag award (Image: Archant)

Staff, dressed in period costume, also unveiled a Green Heritage plaque, which is given to those achieving a high standard of management of a green site of local or national historic importance.

It is the third accolade Valence House has received for its gardens this year.

The theme of this year’s event was industry.