80 years of production at Ford Dagenham

In a year of milestones for Ford of Britain, the company is also recognizing 80 years of production at Ford Dagenham, its largest UK facility.

Thousands of Irish men found work at the Dagenham plant after the Ford assembly ceased in Cork.

From Edsel Ford digging the first turf in May 1929 to the first vehicle, a Model AA truck, rolling off the production line on 1st October 1931, Ford's Dagenham estate took 28 months to build. Roll forward 80 years and Dagenham remains Ford's largest UK facility and one of the country's main automotive centers.

Dagenham today is home to an engine plant, a stamping plant and tool room, a power train engineering team and a substantial transport operation. Some 4,500 people work on the Dagenham Estate, making it London's largest industrial employer.

In its 80 years, nearly 11 million vehicles and more than 38 million engines have been built at the 475-acre site.

And Dagenham's future looks bright, with Ford committing to a £1.5 billion of investment in affordable, low C02 technologies over the next five years at its four UK engineering and manufacturing facilities.