History..
Trewern was opened in 1967 as an outdoor pursuits centre for the schools of Barking and is now an educational facility for the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. The intervening years have seen many developments which have increased the versatility of the service that we offer. Currently the Centre is open throughout the year and runs courses during the week and at weekends for both school and adult groups.
Built in 1904 the house was originally classified as a medium sized family residence.
An aerial photograph from the 1960s shows a house that is very different from that existing today.
These aerial photographs were taken in the 1970s. Notice the lounge extension. The addition of a small classroom. The stable block (seen on the right of the photograph above) has been developed. The lean to constructions ajoining the back of the stable block have been removed
The vegetable garden was still providing the house with fresh food.
By 1995 the Vegetable garden had gone and a second classroom been added. Shortly after this photograph was taken the garage became an equipment store and a teaching area.
Today the vegetable garden is a low ropes course. The paddock has become a games field, it also boasts an abseil and climbing tower. In 1999 Barking and Dagenham purchased two of the adjoining fields giving us 12 acres of land. The additional space has allowed us to construct an assault course, dig a large pond used for scientific study and build an authentically designed and constructed Iron age mud hut. In 2007 we opened a purpose built indoor climbing wall and a new canoeing and kayak store.
