Rippleside’s name is derived from a ’ripple’ which is an old English word for a strip of land.
The name ’Ripple’ was already known by 1271. It refers to the narrow strip of higher ground north of the Thames marshes here.
The area is largely commercial and the Ripple Lane rail terminal - the terminal is the point of arrival for a direct train service from China to the UK which became the world’s second longest railway freight route when inaugurated in 2017.
A pinewood figure probably from the Bronze Age, the Dagenham Idol was found in 1922 and dug out of the marshes just south of Ripple Road. Because Dagenham had no museum in which the idol could be displayed, and being administratively located in the county of Essex at the time, it was taken to Colchester Castle Museum for display.
With the opening of the Valence House Museum, the idol is on indefinite loan there.
| If you are signed up as a paid Substack subscriber, you can request unlimited old maps or satellite maps of your favourite London locations (centred on your house for instance) |
Rippleside’s name is derived from a ’ripple’ which is an old English word for a strip of land.
