East London and its History
East London from the City eastwards expands through Greater London and spreads outwards in a vast sprawl of concrete and brick. To the south lie the downs of
Kent, while to the north, ancient Epping Forest where I used to live still holds its own.
The eastern boundaries of Greater London touch the marshy shores of the Thames Estuary as the river nears the end of its journey to the sea, passing by Southend on Sea in Essex. All Londoners have a different idea of where the East End is, so let's start by being clear. To the west, the border is the City of London, to the south the River Thames, to the east the River Lea and to the north, Victoria Park and Hackney. The East End suffered greatly in the bombing of the Second World War. Particularly in 1940, endless bombing raids aimed at the docks, factories and the City itself steadily obliterated much of this part of London. Places of interest include the very old Whitechapel Bell Foundry, which still makes bells, the East London Mosque and the London Furniture College, the Whitechapel Tube Station and the Whitechapel Art Gallery. Incidentally, there is a street market open every day opposite the Hospital, at one end of which is a new, small and very odd restaurant in a purpose-built modern building on the pavement that used to be a public convenience. Aldgate has two claims to fame, a one way system that receives a daily mention on morning traffic reports and Middlesex Street, better known, but not officially, as Petticoat Lane. For those of us who are prepared to go a bit off the beaten track this under-visited area of Bromley-by-Bow offers a wonderful variety of history and stories of suffragettes, almshouses and royal hunting lodges. The Tower of London is here. Limehouse, London’s original Chinatown is now the Belgravia of the Docklands but evidence of its seafaring past remains with warehouses and ropewalk. Literary associations abound too, with Fu Man Chu and Narrow Street where Dickens set scenes for Our Mutual Friend. The tour finishes with a riverside walk to the old sugar warehouses, now housing a Museum in Docklands where it will end in time for a performance at noon by the Grand Union Youth Orchestra of East London. This is Jack the Ripper Country: The story of the Whitechapel murders is one of the great unsolved mysteries in the world. It is also one of the most facinating and blood thirsty tales you will ever hear. It happened here in London in the year 1888. In the early hours of the 31st of August 1888 a man is walking to work down a dark lane in Whitechapel, he sees a shapeless bundle lying on the ground near some gates, curious he goes over to invetigate. His gruesome discovery of a murdered East End prostitute then started one of the most famous man hunts in the world. Ripperologist's and amateur sleuth's to this day are still trying to work out the identity of a man they called Jack the Ripper. Leave East London for Explore London Page
|
Punting on the River Cam
Bath Crescent and Gardens
Click to Review
Leeds Castle in Kent
Bournemouth Beach in Dorset
Jurassic Coast Path
Beachy Head Cliffs in Sussex
Bourton on the water
Canterbury Cathedral in Kent
Hampton Court Gardens
This is my Free Newsletter
Click to Review
Kew Gardens
Bourton River Cotswolds
Durdledoor Lulworth Cove
Cotswold Church
Eurostar in Paris
Coach Tours in London
Click to Review
Contributing writer