EAST HAM

'East Ham' is a place in the London Borough of Newham. It is a built-up district located 8 miles (12.8 km) east north-east of Charing Cross.

Contents

History

Local government and politics

Built and natural environment

Population, culture and faith

People associated with East Ham

Education

Transport

Nearest tube and railway stations

References

History

In 1859 East Ham railway station opened and, although in 1863 the area was still being described as a "scattered village" the availability of transport resulted in increasing urbanization, especially from 1890 onwards.^[1] The electric services of the District Railway first served East Ham in 1908.^[2]

Local government and politics

From 1894 East Ham formed the East Ham Urban District of Essex and was incorporated as a borough on 10 August 1903. As a result of popular pressure East Ham sought and obtained county borough status; becoming, in modern terms, a unitary authority in 1914, taking control of administrative activities on 1 April 1915 and remaining such until 1965 when it was abolished and its former area was merged with that of the County Borough of West Ham to form the London Borough of Newham.
The principal offices of Newham Council are located at the junction of Barking Road and High Street South in the former East Ham Town Hall, a Grade II listed Edwardian structure designed by A. H. Campbell, H. Cheers and J. Smith, with a clock tower built between 1901 and 1903 and opened by Passmore Edwards on the 5th of February 1903.^[3]
East Ham lends its name to the House of Commons constituency of East Ham, which covers East Ham and neighbouring areas. The current MP is Stephen Timms.

Built and natural environment

Housing in East Ham consists principally of Victorian and Edwardian terraced town houses, often in tree-lined avenues, which radiate from the High Street. West Ham United FC is located on the western border of East Ham and the eastern border of Upton Park, in the Tudor district of the town. Places where there are live screenings on matchdays, attracting large contingents of fans, include The Boleyn (Green Street), Earl of Wakefield (Katherine Road), Green Man (Katherine Road) and Denmark Arms (High Street North) public houses, and also the East Ham Working Men's Club, situated at the merging of Boleyn Road and Cleves Road.
There are many places of natural beauty in the otherwise bustling and heavily urban area of East Ham. The graveyard of the Norman St Mary's church, is now ''East Ham Nature Reserve''. This is the largest reserve of its kind in London, housing a number of different species of insect and butterfly for naturalists. Central Park (Central Park Road) and Plashet Park (Plashet Grove) are the two largest parks in East Ham, and both combine open space with playgrounds and cafés. There are also smaller play areas and parks, including Priory Park (Grangewood Street) and Flanders Field, famous for supplying the late former England captain Sir Bobby Moore with space for him to ply his future trade.

Population, culture and faith

East Ham has a large multi-cultural society, predominantly made up of south Asians, African /Caribbean and eastern Europeans; although until recent years it has mostly been the home of white working class people who worked on the docks. There are many stores and restaurants that specialise in ethnic tastes. There are also the traditional East End eateries, including the century-old Robin's, who specialise in the traditional East End dish of pie, mash and jellied eels, although, of course, East Ham is not considered part of the East End proper, having only become part of London in 1965. Residents are also stripped of Cockney-status, due to East Ham being outside the range of the Bow Bells.
There are various places of worship for many different religions, ranging from St. Michael's Church to Plashet Grove Mosque. The Parish Church of St Mary Magdalene dates to the first half of the 12th century and is claimed to be the oldest parish church still in use in London^[4]. It contains a memorial to an Edmond Nevill, who laid claim to the attained title of Earl of Westmoreland in the 17th century.
There are many sporting opportunities for young residents of East Ham to participate in, thanks mainly to the success of the London 2012 Olympics bid being staged in Newham. The main focal points of sporting opportunities are in East Ham Leisure Centre (Barking Road) and Langdon Comprehensive Secondary School (Sussex Road).

People associated with East Ham

★ Ray Jones - Former professional footballer for QPR

★ Andrew Carnegie - Honorary Freeman

★ John Passmore Edwards Honorary Freeman

★ Elizabeth Fry - prison reformer, lived in Plashet House from 1809 to 1829

★ Baron Bethell - pormer mayor, later MP

★ William Stukeley - the Rev. Dr Stukeley, antiquarian, is buried at the Parish Church of St Mary Magdelene cemetery

★ Dick Turpin - allegedly lived in a house at the corner of Market Street^[5]

★ David Bailey (photographer) - moved to East Ham at the age of three

★ Lennox Lewis - boxer, attended Hartley Primary School

★ Gary Brooker - vocalist and piano player for Procul Harum

★ Terrance Dicks - author and scriptwriter, born in East Ham and attended East Ham Grammar School (now Langdon Comprehensive School). His works include ''Doctor Who''

★ Jimmy Greaves - former England international footballer, born in East Ham

★ Noele Gordon - actress, born in East Ham

★ Kano - hip-hop and grime artist, born in East Ham and attended Langdon Comprehensive School

★ Kele Le Roc - singer and R&B artist, attended Langdon Comprehensive School

★ Stanley Holloway - actor, born in East Ham

★ Frank Lampard Sr. - former England international footballer, born in East Ham

★ Gary Lewin - former Arsenal goalkeeper, now Arsenal and England physiotherapist

★ Vera Lynn - born in East Ham

★ David Essex - singer and actor, attended Hartley's Music Academy (now Newham Music Academy)

★ Bert Weedon - born in East Ham. His guitar tabulation was responsible for many a rock career

★ Benjamin Zephaniah - poet and author, lives in East Ham

★ Ali Lodhi - Inspiring Cricketer. played for Essex U19 and South of England U19 - Born in East Ham

Education

:''For details of education in see the London Borough of Newham article''

Transport

Mass transport is provided by East Ham tube station and bus services which form a hub near the Town Hall. To the north of East Ham is Manor Park and Little Ilford, to the east over the North Circular Road is Barking, to the west is Upton Park and to the south over the A13 is Beckton and London City Airport.

Nearest tube and railway stations

★ East Ham tube station

★ Manor Park railway station

★ Upton Park tube station

★ Plaistow tube station

★ Beckton DLR station

References

1. 'Becontree hundred: East Ham', A History of the County of Essex: Volume 6 (1973), pp. 1-8 accessed: 26 April 2007.
2. Rose, D., ''The London Underground: A diagrammatic history'', (1999)
3. Public Monument and Sculpture Association Accessed 1 Apr 2007
4. 'East Ham: Churches', A History of the County of Essex: Volume 6 (1973), pp. 25-31 accessed: 26 April 2007.
5. Stokes, A., ''East Ham from village to County Borough''