Delving into why the estate is named Marks Gate today and I find an article on Wikipedia that explains:

‘The name originally referred to an entrance or gate into Hainault Forest at the northern end of the current Whalebone Lane North. The name was derived from the proximity of the gate to the manor of ‘Marks’ which in turn was named from the 14th century de Merk family.^’  

Interestingly, I also found out that David Essex used to live on the estate on Padnall Road, and that scenes for the film Harry Brown starring Michael Caine in 2009 were also filmed on Marks Gate.

The location of Marks Gate to me is a curious one, an estate in the borough of Barking and Dagenham, although at the crossroads and could fall quite easily into neighbouring boroughs Havering and/or Redbridge. It is a large council housing estate, situated in the Chadwell Heath ward, however it is isolated and cut off from the rest of the ward by the A12 running below it, this is linked via a subway, so residents are able to get across. The estate is partly surrounded by green/brown field sites. To me Marks Gate feels like a small island.

More delving, probing and exploring to follow, I’m looking forward to finding out more about the unique qualities that make Marks Gate the estate it is today.