History of
Newham
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" available
from Newham libraries.