East Ham and West Ham, now the London Borough of Newham, have seen some dramatic changes since the beginning of the 19th century. ‘Obnoxious’ trades no longer welcome in the capital flourished in these two Essex townships. As dockyards, gasworks and a rail junction to the north in Stratford grew up, West Ham became one of the most populous boroughs in England, and green space was eaten away. This entertaining narrative follows the history of these boroughs, from the horticultural gardens that once bloomed, of the Quakers who resided there, and of the later labour disputes in the industrial era, before the face of the area changed once more with the closing of the docks and gasworks. Well illustrated and engagingly told, this book will appeal both to Londoners and to those with an interest in English social and economic history.
245 x 185mm (hardback with 163 illustrations) 144 pages
Published 2004
