East Ham

infobox UK place
country = England
map_type = Greater London
region= London
population=
official_name= East Ham
constituency_westminster= East Ham
post_town= LONDON
postcode_area= E
postcode_district= E6
london_borough= Newham
dial_code= 020
os_grid_reference= TQ425835
longitude= 0.0554
latitude= 51.5323

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.

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. [ [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=42740 'Becontree hundred: East Ham', A History of the County of Essex: Volume 6 (1973), pp. 1-8] accessed: 26 April 2007.] The electric services of the District Railway first served East Ham in 1908. [Rose, D., "The London Underground: A diagrammatic history", (1999)]

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 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, and including a landmark clock tower. Built between 1901 and 1903, the Town Hall was opened by Passmore Edwards on 5 February 1903. [ [http://pmsa.cch.kcl.ac.uk/UEL/NE048.htm Public Monument and Sculpture Association] Accessed 1 Apr 2007]

East Ham is also the name of a parliamentaryHouse of Commons constituency 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.

There are many green spaces in the otherwise bustling and urbanised area of East Ham. The graveyard of the Norman St Mary's church, is maintained as a nature reserve, the largest of its kind in Greater London. 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, where England football captain Bobby Moore played as a child during the late 1940s and early 1950s.

Population, culture and faith

East Ham is a multi-cultural area, with large numbers of south Asians, African /Caribbean and eastern Europeans resident. There are many stores and restaurants specialising in ethnic tastes. There are also still traditional East End eateries, including the century-old Robin's, which specialises in the traditional East End dish of pie, mash and jellied eels, although, of course, East Ham is not considered part of the historic East End, having only become part of Greater London in 1965.

There are numerous 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 Greater London [ [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=42745 'East Ham: Churches', A History of the County of Essex: Volume 6 (1973), pp. 25-31] accessed: 26 April 2007.] . It contains a memorial to an Edmond Nevill, who laid claim to the attainted 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. Focal points of sporting opportunities include East Ham Leisure Centre (Barking Road) and Langdon Comprehensive Secondary School (Sussex Road).

People associated with East Ham

*David Bailey (photographer) - moved to East Ham at the age of three
*Derek Bellotti - former goalkeeper for Southend, Charlton
*Baron Bethell - former mayor, later MP
*Gary Brooker - vocalist and piano player for Procul Harum
*Andrew Carnegie - philanthropist and Honorary Freeman
*Terrance Dicks - author and scriptwriter, born in East Ham and attended East Ham Grammar School (now Langdon Comprehensive School). His works include "Doctor Who"
*Lonnie Donegan - Glasgow-born influential 1960s Skiffle musician lived in East Ham from an early age.
*John Passmore Edwards philanthropist and Honorary Freeman
*David Essex - singer and actor, attended Newham Music Academy (now Newham Music Turst registered charity 1050105)
*Elizabeth Fry, prison reformer
*Noele Gordon - actress, born in East Ham
*Jimmy Greaves - former England international footballer, born in East Ham
*Ray Jones - former professional footballer for QPR
*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
*Frank Lampard Sr. - former England international footballer, born in East Ham
*Gary Lewin - former Arsenal goalkeeper, now Arsenal and England physiotherapist
*Lennox Lewis - boxer, attended Hartley Primary School
*Vera Lynn - born in East Ham
*Robert Pratten - cult film director grew up in East Ham, attended Brampton Manor Primary and Secondary Schools
*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 [Stokes, A., "East Ham from village to County Borough"]
*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

Education

:"For details of education in East Ham see the List of schools in the London Borough of Newham"

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