ABSTRACT
Road and sewer construction by direct labour started in November 1934, Henry Boot and Sons completing the development with 380 flats and cottages during 1936–1937. By far the largest of all the estates developed by the London County Council (LCC) was that known as Becontree, a name chosen as a compromise for a site which spread over the boundaries of three local authorities Ilford, Barking and Dagenham. Work at Becontree was aided by the geography of the site. The land acquired by the LCC ran gently down to the north bank of the Thames, where a 500-foot jetty equipped with four 5-ton steam cranes handled waterborne deliveries of building materials. Lacking the necessary residential qualifications, the Mancunian immigrants were of course unable to get houses on the LCC estate, but Richard Costain and Sons helped out with their Rylandes Farm Estate, opposite Brigg's new factory.
