Guided walks brochures will be compiled by community groups for Romford, Rainham and Havering-Atte-Bower. This project, organised by Havering Council’s regeneration team, has received £35,300.

The second project, on the life of William Adams – a victorian gentleman – is being run by the Western Road Life Skills Centre for adults with learning difficulties in Romford. It has received a £13,700 grant.

Sue Bowers, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund London, said: “The combined effect of these two grants will be to create new insights into the settlements as well as a historic figure that have shaped the present day borough of Havering.”

The three heritage walks brochures will each showcase the natural and built environment as well as the social history of the three locations, each with its own distinctive character and traditions; Romford as a prosperous market town, Havering-Atte-Bower and the country park steeped in royal history, and Rainham as both a quintessential English village and the site of medieval marshlands.

Two local community groups will be involved in each project and a total of 150,000 brochures will be published by May 2010.

Meanwhile, the Western Road Skills Life Centre will be working with its clients to research the life of prominent local victorian William Adams so as to bring an aspect of local history to life and help develop heritage skills for those taking part. Two different information booklets will be produced – one concentrating on Mr Adams and a second describing how the project was achieved. A series of open days will also be held at the centre as the project progresses.

Cllr Andrew Curtin, Cabinet Member for Culture and Communities, said:  “I hope that these two projects will help many people find out more about the very rich and diverse history of Havering.

“Rainham may perhaps have benefited hugely from the collapse of London after the end of the Roman Empire in Britain, becoming a major centre of population. Hornchurch was always the centre of the Manor and Havering-atte-Bower was where generations of the English royal family came to relax and hunt. Romford was originally a very small settlement.

“These projects will help people find out about the distant history of Havering, as well as our more recent history in the development of Romford as a railway town and one of the important figures who helped promote social progress, William Adams.”

This year HLF is celebrating its 15th anniversary. Since 1994 it has not only revitalised hundreds of museums, parks, historic buildings, landscapes and wildlife sites, but has also given new meaning to heritage itself: people from every walk of life are now involved with the heritage that inspires them, making choices about what they want to keep and share from the past, for future generations. Havering is a priority London borough for HLF which is encouraging local organisations to apply for grant aid. Since 1994 HLF has given grants worth more than £2 million to more than 40 projects in the borough of Havering.

Notes to editors

Using money raised through the National Lottery, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) sustains and transforms a wide range of heritage for present and future generations to take part in, learn from and enjoy. From museums, parks and historic places to archaeology, natural environment and cultural traditions, we invest in every part of our diverse heritage.  HLF has supported more than 28,800 projects, allocating over £4.3billion across the UK, with over £850 million granted in London alone.

Further information

HLF Press Office, Vicky Wilford on 020 7591 6046 / 07973 401937 or vickyw@hlf.org.uk or Phil Cooper on 07889 949 173.

Liz Aelberry, Media Manager, Havering Council Press Office on 01708 432 001 or 07958 591 407.