The River Roding is one of London’s hidden treasures. Threading its way from rural Essex to the Thames, the route of the River offers a fascinating glimpse into the social and natural history of the landscapes through which it passes. Open meadows, former grand estates, Victorian pumping stations, post-industrial developments; to walk the Roding is to walk East London history.
In recent years however the River has become neglected along many stretches. Partially canalised in key areas and at times inaccesible to all but the most intrepid, the Roding is now dwarfed by modern infrastructure such as the M11.
Barker Langham were commissioned by East London Green Grid and the London Borough of Redbridge to produce an Audience Development and Marketing Plan for the Roding Valley. We undertook a major consultation programme that gauged the opinions of over 500 local residents, along with key stakeholder groups and knowledgeable individuals. The findings of this consultation were incorporated into the final Plan to produce a document that will help guide and inform further strategic development along the length of the River.
In order to improve intellectual access to the Roding and offer an alternative to physical interpretive interventions in the landscape, Barker Langham are now producing a Roding Valley Audio Trail. Using archival sources and oral history research, this trail will reveal the untold history of the River Roding.
