East Ham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids East Ham |
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 East Ham Town Hall, on the Barking Road |
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 East Ham
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| Population | 76,186 (2011 Census) |
| OS grid reference | TQ425835 |
| • Charing Cross | 8 mi (12.9 km) W |
| London borough | |
| Ceremonial county | Greater London |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | LONDON |
| Postcode district | E6 |
| Dialling code | 020 |
| Police | Metropolitan |
| Fire | London |
| Ambulance | London |
| EU Parliament | London |
| UK Parliament |
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| London Assembly | |
East Ham is a busy area in the London Borough of Newham, England. It is located about 8 miles (12.8 km) east of Charing Cross in central London. East Ham is part of the historic county of Essex. It is known as a "Major Centre" in the London Plan, which guides development in the city. About 76,186 people live here.
Contents
History of East Ham
What's in a Name? (Toponymy)
The name "Hamme" was first written down in 958. This was in an old Anglo-Saxon document. It described the area of Ham, which was not yet divided. The name comes from an Old English word, 'hamm'. This means 'a dry area of land between rivers or marshland'. This describes East Ham's location well. It is found between the Lea, Thames, and Roding rivers and their marshy areas.
The name "East Ham" first appeared in 1204 as EstHam. This was to tell it apart from Ham or West Ham. The areas of East and West Ham became separate parishes by the end of the 1100s.
How East Ham Was Governed (Administration)
East Ham became its own local government area in 1878. It formed a local board to manage the area. In 1886, the area grew to include Little Ilford (also called Manor Park).
In 1894, East Ham became an Urban District. An elected council took over from the board. Then, in 1903, East Ham became a Municipal Borough. This meant it had more power to govern itself.
On April 1, 1915, East Ham became a county borough. This meant it was a town that managed itself like a county. It stayed this way until 1965. Then, it joined with the County Borough of West Ham to form the London Borough of Newham.
The main offices for Newham Council were in the old East Ham Town Hall. This is a beautiful Edwardian building with a clock tower. It was built between 1901 and 1903. Most council offices moved to a new building in 2010.
East Ham is also the name of a parliamentary area. This area is represented by a MP in the UK government. The current MP for East Ham is Stephen Timms.
Early Buildings
Boleyn Castle was a large house on Green Street. It was built in the 1500s and stood until the 1950s.
Growing with the Railway (Economic Development)
East Ham railway station opened in 1859. At first, East Ham was still a "scattered village." But having a train station helped the area grow. More and more homes and businesses were built, especially from 1890 onwards. Electric train services started in East Ham in 1908.
East Ham Pals in World War I
In 1915, the people of East Ham helped create a special army unit. It was called a "Pals battalion." These units were made up of local men who joined the army together. The East Ham unit became the 32nd (East Ham) battalion of the Royal Fusiliers.
This battalion fought on the Western and Italian fronts during World War I. A full army battalion usually had about 1,036 men. The East Ham Pals lost 444 soldiers by March 1918. The unit was then broken up. The remaining soldiers joined other units because the British Army needed more men.
Geography of East Ham
Homes in East Ham
Most homes in East Ham are Victorian and Edwardian terraced houses. These are often found on streets lined with trees.
Green Spaces and Parks
East Ham has many green spaces, even though it is a busy city area. The graveyard of the old Norman St Mary's church is now a nature reserve. It is the largest of its kind in Greater London.
Central Park and Plashet Park are the two biggest parks in East Ham. Both have open areas, playgrounds, and cafés. There are also smaller parks like Priory Park and Flanders Field. Famous English football captain Bobby Moore played football at Flanders Field when he was a child. Today, Flanders Fields is home to Flanders FC and is used by community groups.
People and Culture (Demography)
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East Ham is a very multicultural area. Many people from the Caribbean, South Asia, Africa, and Eastern Europe live here.
In 2011, a census showed that many people in East Ham's wards were from Black, Asian, and minority ethnic backgrounds. For example, 90.8% of East Ham North ward and 89.9% of Green Street East ward were from these backgrounds.
Places of Worship (Religion)
East Ham has many places of worship for different religions. You can find churches, Hindu temples, and mosques. The Parish Church of St Mary Magdalene is very old. It dates back to the 1100s and is said to be the oldest parish church still in use in Greater London.
There are two Hindu temples in the area. One is for Mahalakshmi and the other for Murugan. The Murugan temple was recently rebuilt with a larger prayer hall and a traditional temple tower. East Ham also has many mosques because of its large Muslim community. Some of these include Islamic Dawah Centre, Masjid Tauheed, Jamia Mosque, Masjid Bilal, and Madina Masjid.
Getting Around (Transport)
You can travel around East Ham using the Underground station. The station is served by the District and Hammersmith & City lines.
To the north of East Ham are Manor Park and Little Ilford. To the east, across the North Circular Road, is Barking. To the west is Upton Park. To the south, across the A13, is Beckton.
Sport in East Ham
Before West Ham United moved to the London Stadium in 2016, their home ground was the Boleyn Ground. This stadium was located just inside East Ham's border with West Ham. There was also a local football club called East Ham United. It later joined with another club in 2001, but the combined club closed in 2006.
Local Community Activities
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ParkLives
Newham Council offers free or low-cost activities for local people. One example is the ParkLives scheme. This program hosts free activities in Newham's parks. These include yoga, tennis, rounders, and other fun sports.
East Edge Sisters WI
East Ham has its own Women's Institute group, started in 2016. This group meets every second Tuesday of the month. They are a modern WI group. They host activities and talks. They also run a pop-up café at local events, like The Newham Show and art exhibitions.
Bike from Boleyn
Bike from Boleyn was created by the Boleyn community in 2016. They organize a bike ride twice a year. The ride goes from Upton Park to West Ham's new stadium. This helps to show the historic and community links between the areas. It also encourages cycling in the borough.
The Greatfield Residents Association
The Greatfield Residents Association is a group for local residents in East Ham South. Their goal is to improve the local area and create a "sense of togetherness." The group meets regularly and publishes a newsletter. They also help with local events and work with the council to make improvements. In 2016, they started a craft and food market to show off local talent.
Bonny Downs Community Association
Bonny Downs Community Association (BDCA) is a charity in East Ham. It was founded in 1998. BDCA runs two community centers in East Ham. These are The Well Community Centre and Flanders Playing Field. This is where Bobby Moore was discovered by West Ham United Scouts. BDCA offers many activities for older people, young people, children, and families.
Local News
The Newham Recorder is a local newspaper. It is available both in print and online.
Local Blogs
Some local residents run blogs about the area. One example is EastBlam. This blog shares local events and reviews. It was even mentioned in the Evening Standard as a "blog to watch."
Notable People from East Ham
- Jimmy Bullard – A former professional footballer.
- Terrance Dicks – A writer for Doctor Who and children's author.
- Idris Elba – A famous English actor, musician, and DJ.
- Elizabeth Fry – An English reformer who worked to improve prisons.
- Noele Gordon – An English actress and TV presenter.
- Bill Kaine – A professional footballer.
- Kano – An English rapper and actor.
- Dame Vera Lynn, DBE – A singer and actress popular during World War II.
- Fred Massey – An English footballer.
Images for kids
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University of East London student accommodation beside the Royal Albert Dock
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The war memorial in East Ham, now a Grade II listed structure
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The purpose-built Burton store in the High Street at East Ham
See also
In Spanish: East Ham para niños
