The recreation ground at Markhams Chase was created in the early 1960s in part on the former fields of
Bluehouse Farm. The main recreational areas at that time were in two locations. The first location and the larger of the two, was rectangular shaped
running parallel with Leinster Road from its junction with Markhams Chase as far up as the then recently completed cycle path to Laindon Link. The side furthest
from Leinster Road had dense woodland and a ditch bordering most of its length. The second location, which was less than half its size, on one side ran
parallel with the diagonal farm house approach road while also bordering Markhams Chase directly opposite Janet Duke infant school. Both recreational areas
were totally open with no roadside fencing. Recreational activity soon commenced and the main area had three football pitches laid out, which from 1963
were being used by local clubs like Basildon West End Reserves. It was in the 1980s that trees were planted to screen the fencing that was eventually erected
alongside the Leinster Road cycle path. In 1973 the recreation ground was enlarged when the farm house and adjoining land, which included a large pond
completely hidden by dense woodland directly to the rear of the house; which was still residential until around 1972, fell into a ruinous condition and following
a fire was subsequently demolished and the land, including the approach road off Markhams Chase, was then absorbed into the existing recreation ground.
The year prior to that saw the opening of the Bluehouse Community Centre, which was built adjacent to Bluehouse Farm. This new community facility soon proved
very popular with the locals and a playgroup was soon established as was the Council's 'Playleadership scheme', which offered many sporting activities for the
young including the free hire of sporting equipment for use within the recreation ground. Also in the 1970s a children's park opened to the left side of the
Community Centre and an artificial hill was created bordering one of the two ponds now within the recreational area. Within the grounds until 2011 was the
Markhams Chase Sports Centre, opened by Basildon Council in 1989. This stood partly on the site of a former changing
facility erected in the 1970s. The adjacent car park was once the site of Lawrence's General Stores, and run by the owner
Ted Lawrence from 1936 to 27th August 1970, when it closed as a result of a compulsory purchase order for an extension to
the recreation ground. In the 1990s part of the recreation ground was lost to housing. Basildon Round Table
once held their annual Firework Fiesta here, and travelling fun fairs have also set up in the grounds in years
gone by. During early to mid October 2017 a new pathway was completed running from the top end adjacent to Leinster Road around the
outside ending at the Bluehouse Community Centre. | 
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