Tower HamletsLocal History Library & Archives

Three guided walks in Tower Hamlets

The “Prospect of Whitby”, Wapping Wall, Shadwell

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7.00pm Tuesday 30th June 2009

Starts and finishes at Bethnal Green Underground Station, Cambridge Heath Road.

In the early 18th century Bethnal Green was still a rustichamlet. There were a number of notable houses including Bishop Bonner’s Palace and Bethnall House.

By the middle of the century the population had reached about 15,000 but a hundred years later it had grown to about 82,000 and Bethnal Green had become one of the most crowded districts of London.

This walk focuses on the development of the core of Bethnal Green. Many fascinating buildings remain such as Netteswell House, Paradise Row and the Salmon and Ball public house.

7.00pm Tuesday 28th July 2009

Starts and finishes at Shadwell DLR Station(note: Shadwell Underground Station is currently closed).

This riverside district was largely uninhabited until the 17thcentury when it developed rapidly as a marine-centeredindustrial hamlet. By 1674 it had an estimated population of 8,000, many of who were mariners, watermen and lightermen.Shadwell was created a parish in 1670, the first to becreated from the large parish of St. Dunstan’s, Stepney since Whitechapel in 1338. The population was almost 12,000 in 1851 but dropped by a quarter following the construction of the new Shadwell Basin which caused the demolition ofnumerous houses. By this time Shadwell had degenerated into one of the most squalid districts in London and the notorious Ratcliff Highway was known throughout the world as a place of ill repute. Slum clearance, the Blitz and post-warredevelopment have changed the face of Shadwell dramatically but a number of interesting features survive.

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3.00pm Saturday 12th September 2009

Starts at Aldgate East Station (Commercial Street entrance) and finishes at Limehouse Station (DLR)

The Commercial Road is one of London’s most famousthoroughfares, though not one of its oldest.The road was built by the Commercial Road Company in the first decade of the 19th century to facilitate the transport of goods from the newly-built East and West India Docks.

The road ended at Back Church Lane until 1870, when theMetropolitan Board of Works extended it to Whitechapel High Street. Many streets and squares were developedeither side of it, one of which, Albert Gardens, survivesalmost intact.C

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The walks will be led by Malcolm Barr-Hamilton, the Borough’s Archivist. Copies of old maps and illustrations will besupplied.

There is a limit of 20 places on each walk and tickets (price £2.00) MUST be obtained in advance (see booking form overleaf).

Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. All walks will be last about two hours.

St John’s church, Bethnal Green in theearly nineteenth century

Ticket order formAll tickets priced £2.00 (refundable in the event of cancellation due to bad weather). Please send me:-

....... tickets for Bethnal Green

....... tickets for Shadwell

....... tickets for Commercial Road

I enclose a cheque/P.O. for £ ........... made payable to theLondon Borough of Tower Hamlets, together with a S.A.E. for return.

Name

Address

email: Tel. no.

Where did you obtain this leaflet?

Please return to:Tower Hamlets Local History Library & Archives, Bancroft Library,277, Bancroft Road, London E1 4DQ. Tel 020 7364 1290.email: localhistory@towerhamlets.gov.uk www.ideastore.co.uk

Commercial Road 1851