Barking Abbey is situated a short distance from Barking town centre between Abbey Road and Broadway. Today only the ruins remain of this once great Abbey together with the Curfew Tower (picture opposite) alongside the surviving St Margaret’s Parish Church. Recent archaeological excavations have revealed some of the remains of the first abbey of Erkenwald. Jewelry, carved bone, pottery, gold thread and glassmaking show have now made Barking Abbey into one of the most important religious archaeological sites in Europe today. The Abbey remains are open to the public at all times. There is no admission charge.