Ramsden Bellhouse appears in the Domesday Book as Ramesduna.  The records show that there were 56 households in the village, amongst them there were 4 slaves. 

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Ramsden is thought to mean ‘Little Wooded Valley of the Ravens’, ‘wild garlic dene’or ‘rams valley’.  Bellhouse was added during the 13th Century, named after the 'de Belhus' family who were given the land.2  The family also owned land in Aveley where Belhus Country Park and Little Belhus Hall are today.

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St. Mary The Virgin’s Church is around a mile along Church Road from London Road and is next door to Ramsden Bellhouse Hall. The hall, now a private residence, is a Grade II listed building, built in the late 1500's, set back from the road and hidden from view.

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The church of St Mary the Virgin is Grade II listed.  It was 'remodelled' in the 1800's but the wooden tower, roof and south porch date from the 1400's.

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