Local lad Billy Bragg uncovers his family history at Valence House

Singer-songwriter Billy Bragg, nicknamed ‘The Bard of Barking’ is one of the most successful artists to have come out of the borough. He has just received the prestigious Ivor Novello Award for outstanding contribution to British music so we thought we would catch up with the man himself and explore his early days growing up in Barking and historical family ties with the help of the Archives and Local Studies Centre at Valence House.

If you would to learn more about your own family history, find out about the Valence History Helpdesk.