Did you know that...
In a 958 Anglo-Saxon document, West Ham E13 is recorded as Hamme. The Domesday Book mentions the area as Hame. The name derives from the Old English word “hamm” that means dry land between rivers. Lea, Thames, and Roding are the rivers in question.
West Ham United Football Club takes its name after the area. The club was originally called Thames Ironworks after Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Company where the players worked. West Ham Stadium opened in 1928 and closed in 1972. Some of the nearby streets are named after speedway riders.
All Saints Church is a grade I listed building dating from the 12th century. Professional boxer Lennox Lewis who holds the undisputed world heavyweight champion title was born in West Ham E13 in 1965. Opera singer Leon Greene, cricketer Ronnie Irani, poet Gerard Manley Hopkins, keyboardist and composer Colin Towns, information technology specialist Allan Levene, and footballer Mark Noble are other famous residents.
West Ham is an area and a previous East London borough and parish, situated 9.8 km (6.1 miles) east of Charing Cross. It forms the central western portion of the present London Borough of Newham. West Ham is directly located on the River Thames’ north side and River Lea’s east side.
The area borders Bromley-by-Bow, Stratford, Canning Town and Poplar, while straddling Green Street as the borders of East and West Ham. The area has a football team, West Ham United F.C., and 3 ruby teams, namely East London RFC, Phantoms RFC and King’s Cross Steelers, all of which play in Essex RFU leagues.