Roman Road, London facts for kids
Roman Road Market western entrance
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| Location | Bethnal Green/Old Ford, Tower Hamlets, London |
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| Postal code | E2, E3 |
| Nearest train station |  Bethnal Green |
Roman Road is a famous street in East London, England. It runs through parts of Bethnal Green and Old Ford in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. This road is special because it follows an ancient Roman path called the Pye Road. This old road once connected the Roman capital of Iceni (near modern Norwich) to Londinium (which is now City of London). Today, Roman Road is well-known for its lively street market. Its western part is still sometimes called Green Street by local people.
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History of Roman Road
People have wondered if the Romans really marched along what is now Roman Road. This road runs close to another Roman road that linked London to Colchester. However, Roman objects found during digs in 1845 and later seem to show that the name "Roman Road" is correct.
Old maps show that this area was mostly countryside until the mid-1800s. There was a simple footpath, or "Driftway," where Roman Road is now. In 1855, the Metropolitan Board of Works was created to build London's sewer system. This group also worked on improving roads. They built Roman Road on the old footpath, extending Bethnal Green Road and Green Street to the east. Local people and other groups helped pay for it. In the 1930s, Bethnal Green's Green Street officially became part of Roman Road. All the shop and house numbers had to be changed then.
Women Fighting for the Vote
Roman Road was a very important place for the East London Federation of Suffragettes. These were women who fought for the right to vote. Their main office was at 400 Old Ford Road, where Sylvia Pankhurst, a famous leader, lived. The Federation helped many local people by providing food and work. Many women from the area, like Mrs. Savoy, were active Suffragettes. They even went to Downing Street in 1914 to demand the right to vote.
The Suffragettes also published their newspaper, Women's Dreadnought, from 321 Roman Road. They held regular meetings at Bow Baths and had a stall at Roman Road market. There, they sold their newspaper, toys they made, and second-hand items. This helped them raise money and spread their message.
The Roman Road area saw many demonstrations, some of which became violent. For example, in 1913, Sylvia Pankhurst was not allowed to speak at meetings. She went in disguise to a Suffragette meeting at Bow Baths. Police tried to arrest her, but people helped her escape. The newspapers later called one event "The Battle of Bow."
Local Activism and Meetings
In 1887, a social researcher named Charles Booth visited the area. He noted that Beale Road was full of socialists, who were people who believed in sharing wealth and power more equally. He mentioned George Lansbury as their leader. Many local people were very involved in political discussions. In the 1800s, the Hand and Flower Inn was a popular spot for political meetings. Later, Bow Baths became the main place for public meetings. Other places like the Alpha Lecture Hall also hosted debates.
Important Local Buildings
Bow Baths
Bow Baths opened in 1892 to help local people get clean. Most residents at the time did not have bathrooms at home. They used tin baths, or washed in Victoria Park lake or the Canal. The baths were very popular, with long queues on Saturdays. They offered different types of baths, a laundry area, and a swimming pool. The heat from the baths even warmed the Bow Library through pipes under the road.
Bow Baths was also a place for meetings and entertainment. It hosted concerts and variety shows, often mixed with political rallies. Famous speakers like Sylvia Pankhurst and George Lansbury gave talks there. They discussed topics like war, peace, and the right to vote.
The original Bow Baths building was badly damaged during World War II and never reopened. A new Bow Baths was built in 1961, but it closed in 1977. This was because more homes in the area started to have their own bathrooms. The old building was later used as a community center, but it is no longer there.
Bow Library (Idea Store)
The first stone for the Passmore Edwards library on Roman Road was laid in 1900. This happened after local people voted to have a free public library. John Passmore Edwards, a journalist and generous person, gave £4,000 to build it. The library had space for many books and reading rooms. It opened in 1911. The original building is still standing and is a protected historical site.
The library quickly became too small. Over the years, several extensions were planned and built. In 1998, a brand new library opened in William Place. Then, in 2002, a new type of library called an "Idea Store" opened on Roman Road. This was the first one in the country.
St Paul's Church
St Paul's Church is located at the corner of Roman Road and St Stephen's Road in Old Ford. It was built in 1878. The church next to it, St Stephens Church, was destroyed during World War II. St Paul's Church received a large grant to be renovated in 2003. This work added a café, a gym, and spaces for exhibitions and meetings. The church's new design has won awards for its unique look.
St Barnabas Church
St Barnabas Church is at the corner of Roman Road and Grove Road. It was first built as a chapel by Baptists in 1865. They later sold it to the Church of England. During World War II, the church was damaged by bombs, and its tall spire had to be removed. Much of the church was rebuilt in the 1950s. It has a special sculpture by Don Potter and a memorial for local men who died in World War I.
Old Cinemas and Music Halls
In the past, many pubs in the area had music hall shows. As movies became popular, special buildings were needed for cinemas. Roman Road had four cinemas that were built between 1910 and 1912. All of them closed after World War II. These included:
- Geisha Cinema
- Old Ford Picturehouse
- Victoria Picturehouse (the building still exists and is now a church)
- Empire Picture Drome
Homes on Roman Road
Roman Road was once lined with many Victorian houses of different sizes. Some were large, while others were small and crowded. The area had a mix of very poor and well-off people living close by. During World War II, many houses were destroyed by bombs. After the war, many old, poor-quality homes were torn down. New housing estates were built in their place.
Some famous housing estates built in the area include:
- Susan Lawrence House (opened 1954)
- Lakeview Estate (designed in 1958)
- Cranbrook Estate (opened in 1964, won an award)
- Keats House (built 1966)
- Lanfranc Estate (built 1969-1976)
Over time, many of these estates have been updated. Housing associations, which are groups that manage affordable homes, have become very important. The Old Ford Housing Association now manages most of the housing estates near Roman Road.
Roman Road Market
Roman Road Market on market day.
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| Location | Roman Road, Bow, Tower Hamlets, Greater London |
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| Opening date | 1843 |
| Management | Tower Hamlets London Borough Council |
| Owner | Tower Hamlets London Borough Council |
| Environment | Street |
| Goods sold | General goods |
| Days normally open | Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays |
| Website | http://romanroadlondon.com/ |
Roman Road Market is a historic marketplace and the main shopping area for Bow. It is located in East London and is part of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. The market gets its name from the wider Roman Road itself. The area around the market is often called "Roman" or "The Roman." This area is famous for being part of the route taken by Boudica from Colchester to burn Londinium in ancient times. It is one of Britain's oldest known trade routes, and there has been a market here for over 150 years.
History of the Market
As more roads, houses, and factories were built, people needed places to buy everyday items. Street sellers, called costermongers, began selling their goods. People also used their front rooms as shops, and soon, shops lined Roman Road. The Roman Road Market likely started as early as 1843. It was illegal at first but managed to stay open. By 1887, it was a well-known market. People could buy all sorts of things, from cheap goods to good quality items. "Going down the Roman" has been a tradition for many generations.
The market used to stay open for very long hours, sometimes until 10 pm. Today, market days are Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. However, many shops on Roman Road are open all week. In 1910, traders formed a union to help market sellers and local residents.
In 1959, the council tried to move the street market to a new location. But the traders resisted, and the market stayed on Roman Road. In 1989, Roman Road Market was named a Conservation Area. This means it is protected because of its historical importance and its special character as a traditional East End market.
Shops at the Market
Over the years, many different shops have been on Roman Road. These included larger stores like Woolworths and Presto. There were also smaller, local shops like Millett and Cohen the tailors. Many market stallholders became well-known, such as the "Banana Man."
Number 526 Roman Road has been a traditional pie and mash shop since the 1920s. In 1939, George Kelly took it over. His family, the Kelly Pie and Mash dynasty, owned many such shops across London.
