Driving Colour into Dagenham: New Art Installation Celebrates Ford Heritage at Dagenham Green
A restored 1966 MK1 Ford Cortina has been unveiled as a vibrant new public artwork at Dagenham Green, marking the transformation of part of the former Ford Motors site into one of East London’s most exciting new residential neighbourhoods.
Completed during a community celebration on 22 January, the live art installation pays tribute to Dagenham’s industrial and social heritage.
For buyers considering a new home in East London, Dagenham Green represents more than just a new address, it’s a place shaped by history, culture and long-term investment.
Honouring Dagenham’s Industrial and Social Legacy
The unveiling event brought together local leaders including the MP for Dagenham and Rainham, Margaret Mullane, the Mayor of Barking and Dagenham, local schools, charities and members of the Challingsworth family.
Among those attending was Tracy Goodman, daughter of Ford sewing machinist and women’s rights campaigner Dora Challingsworth.
Dora was one of the women who led the historic 1968 and 1970 Ford sewing machinists’ strikes at the Dagenham plant. Their three-week walkout was instrumental in the introduction of the Equal Pay Act 1970, a defining moment in Britain’s fight for workplace equality and a pivotal chapter in Dagenham’s history.
Her daughter delivered a moving tribute at the event, ensuring that the stories of courage and community remain woven into the fabric of this new neighbourhood.
A Landmark Artwork Linking Past and Present
The installation was completed live by renowned street artist Penfold (Tim Gresham), celebrated for his bold, graphic public artworks across the UK.
His latest creation reimagines a classic 1966 MK1 Ford Cortina, originally built at the former Ford factory on this very site. The restored vehicle, provided by respected restoration specialists Type 2 Detectives, has been transformed into a bright, eye-catching art piece displayed atop a shipping container within the development.
The artwork will remain at Dagenham Green for three months before travelling to The Art Gallery at Escapade Silverstone during the 2026 Grand Prix at Silverstone Circuit.
For residents, it provides:
- A distinctive community focal point
- A celebration of local identity
- A conversation-starting landmark
- A visible link between Dagenham’s manufacturing past and its residential future
Dagenham Green: A New Community in East London
Dagenham Green is being delivered through a joint venture between housing association Peabody and award-winning housebuilder The Hill Group.
Phase One at Dagenham Green will deliver 935 new homes, offering a mix of private sale apartments, shared ownership homes, build-to-rent properties and affordable rent options.
Looking ahead, the wider masterplan will create more than 3,500 new homes in total, alongside a five-acre public park, cafés and restaurants, flexible workspaces and beautifully landscaped public spaces. Residents will also benefit from excellent transport connections into Central London, making it a highly convenient location for commuters.
A Neighbourhood That Celebrates Its Story
From industrial innovation to social activism, Dagenham has long been a place of resilience and progress.
Now, at Dagenham Green, that legacy lives on not only through a restored Ford Cortina brought vividly back to life, but through thoughtfully designed homes, green space and a masterplan built for the future.
For buyers seeking a new home in East London with heritage, character and long-term potential, Dagenham Green offers an opportunity to be part of a story that continues to evolve.
Explore available apartments, discover the masterplan and find your place in this exciting new East London neighbourhood.
