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Havering Country Park was formerly part of Havering Park, which was itself part of the estate of the medieval Royal Palace of Havering. Havering Palace was in the village of Havering-atte-Bower, just to the north-west of the parish church which was built on the site of one of the Palace's chapels. Its long royal history commenced in 1066 when William the Conqueror decided to keep the manor of Havering for himself. James I was the last monarch to stay there regularly and in 1638 Charles I was the very last monarch to stay at Havering. After the Restoration, the house then known as Havering House was occupied by the Earl of Lindsey, but, despite much money being spent on it, it became vacant between 1686 and 1719 when it was reported to be in ruins. By 1816 there was no trace of it.