Eastbury Manor House

Eastbury Manor House is an Elizabethan gentry house in Barking, built between 1560 and 1573 by Clement Sisley, when it stood alone with views across the marshes to the Thames; today it sits among 20th-century suburban streets, 750 yards from Upney station. Saved from demolition when the young National Trust bought it in 1918, it is managed by the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. Behind the gables and chimneys are the original spiral oak staircase in the turret, which climbs to views over the rooftops, exposed attic timbers and the Painted Chamber, a rare survival of early 17th-century wall paintings. Outside are the original walled garden, a kitchen and herb garden and wide front lawns, and children can pick up a free I-Spy or House Detective sheet at reception. Reviewers find the rooms sparsely furnished but the story well told on the boards, and say a tour with the volunteer guides brings the house alive; the cafe, with outdoor seating, is a regular bonus. Tips from visitors: there is no on-site parking beyond two Blue Badge spaces, and street parking is restricted on weekdays but easy at weekends.