Newham's key location as the gateway to
London has shaped its past and will influence its future.
Five miles east of the City of London, Newham is bounded
by the River Thames in the south, by the River Lea in
the west, the River Roding in the east and Wanstead Flats
in the north.
Farming was the most important way of making
a living until the mid 19th century. Some industries emerged
along the River Lea between the 13th and 19th centuries
but communities did not grow into towns. Real change came
in the 1850s with the building of the Royal Docks for
the new large steam ships. At that time they were the
largest docks in the world and the first directly linked
to the railways. Other industries were attracted to the
area which grew
to be the most important manufacturing centre in southern
England. Thousands of people moved in to take up the jobs
that were created. New residents included those from other
parts of London and Britain but also Indians, Chinese,
Africans, Jews and Italians.
 |
Within a generation these industries declined,
bringing unemployment on a large scale. Some left to seek
work elsewhere. When war broke out in 1939, others joined
the armed forces. Heavy bombing brought devastation to
the south of the borough and so after the war many new
council houses were built. From the 1950s new families,
many from Asia and the Caribbean, were recruited to help
with post - War reconstruction. They have been joined
by those escaping persecution in Africa and other parts
of the world. Newham now has the most diverse population
in the country.
Several themes occur over and again throughout
Newham's history over the last 150 years; changes in industry,
unemployment and settlers. These themes are explored in
"The Newham Story" a booklet produced by the
Council in 2002.
Related links: Local
History Message Board / Local
history sites
Advice
