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Museums and heritage
London is home to the best
museums in the world, all of them a short tube ride from Newham.
But, as befits an area with ancient roots, the borough itself has a
lot to offer visitors with an interest in London
history.
The story of generations of native EastEnders and
successive waves of immigration seeps from the very fabric of this
unique corner of the capital. The long-tradition of industry,
maritime adventure and working class life has left an indelible
impression on the area, nowhere more so than the Royal Docks - in
their day the biggest in the world.
For the visitor, there are a number of things to see when in town.
The first stop will have railway enthusiasts all steamed up. North
Woolwich Old Station Museum is the only steam railway museum in
London and has plenty in store for all ages and levels of interest.
Abbey Mills Pumping Station is a favourite with doyens of Victorian
architecture. Designed by the legendary Joseph Bazalgette, the
building has acquired the affectionate nickname 'the Cathedral of
Sewage'. Three Mills Island is another 19th century treasure. This
little-known part of London nestles amongst the waterways and
wildlife found in the Lea Valley Park. It is home to the oldest
tidal mill in Britain - a beautiful example of the architecture of
the time. More recently the 3 Mills Film Studio has given new
purpose to the location.
While the focus of historical interest centres on the docks and
the stretch of river known as the Thames Gateway, visitors to
Newham will also be pleasantly surprised to come across:
- St Mary of Magdalene - one of London's last surviving
Norman churches
- The Old Dispensary - a 3 hundred year old dispensary on Romford
Road
- The magnificent Thames Barrier
Park
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