The London Borough of Newham is a London boroughs, London borough created in 1965 by the London Government Act 1963. It covers an area previously administered by the Essex county boroughs of County Borough of West Ham, West Ham and County Borough of East Ham, East Ham, authorities that were both abolished by the same act. The name Newham reflects its creation and combines the compass points of the old borough names. Situated in the East London part of Inner London, Newham has a population of 387,576, which is the third highest of the London boroughs and also makes it the List of English districts by population, 17th most populous district in England. The local authority is Newham London Borough Council. It is east of the City of London, north of the River Thames (the Woolwich Ferry and Woolwich foot tunnel providing the only crossings to the south), bounded by the River Lea to its west and the North Circular Road, London, North Circular Road to its east. Newham was one of the six host boroughs for the 2012 Summer Olympics and contains most of the Olympic Park, London, Olympic Park including the Olympic Stadium (London), London Stadium, and also contains the London City Airport. Major districts include East Ham, West Ham, Stratford, London, Stratford, Plaistow, Newham, Plaistow, Forest Gate, Beckton and Canning Town.

History

The borough was formed on 1 April 1965 under the London Government Act 1963, as a borough of the newly formed Greater London. It broadly covered the areas of the County Borough of East Ham, county borough of East Ham and the County Borough of West Ham, county borough of West Ham that were abolished by the same act. These in turn were successors to the ancient civil and ecclesiastical parishes of St Mary Magdalene's Church, East Ham, East Ham and All Saints Church, West Ham, West Ham. Green Street, London, Green Street and Boundary Road mark the former boundary between the two. North Woolwich also became part of the borough (previously being part of the Metropolitan Borough of Woolwich, south of the river Thames in the County of London) along with a small area west of the River Roding which had previously been part of the Municipal Borough of Barking. ''Newham'' was devised for the borough as an entirely new name.

Manor of Ham

The area of the modern borough was at one time occupied by a manor (an estate or landholding with certain legal responsibilities) called 'Ham'. The name comes from Old English 'hamm' and means 'a dry area of land between rivers or marshland', referring to the location of the settlement within boundaries formed by the rivers River Lea, Lea, River Thames, Thames and River Roding, Roding and their marshes. The first known written use of the term, as 'Hamme', is in an Anglo-Saxon charter of 958, in which King Edgar granted the area to Ealdorman Athelstan. The territory was undivided at that time. A subsequent charter of 1037 describes a transfer of land which has been identified with East Ham, indicating that the division of the territory occurred between 958 and 1037. The Domesday Book shows landholdings divided further, and by the end of the 12th century these manors were being served, singly or in groups of manors, by the familiar Civil Parish#Ancient Parishes, ancient parishes of West Ham, East Ham and Little Ilford (now also known as Manor Park), with some areas by the Roding a part of Barking, London, Barking, and the area now known as North Woolwich attached to Woolwich. The earliest recorded use of the name West Ham, ''Westhamma'', comes in 1186, and East Ham, ''Estham'', is recorded in 1204. The boundary between West Ham, West and East Ham was drawn from the now lost Hamfrith Waste and Hamfrith Wood in the north (then the southernmost parts of Epping Forest which extended as far south as the Romford Road at that time), along Green Street, London, Green Street down to the small, also lost, natural harbour known as Ham Creek. Ham Creek was filled in in the nineteenth century, but the small residual head of the creek still formed the boundary between the two areas into the late 20th century, when what remained was also filled in. The formation of the modern borough in 1965 saw the merger of West Ham, West and East Ham, together with North Woolwich and Barking, London, Barking west of the River Roding. Little Ilford had become part of East Ham as part of earlier local government reorganisations.

Medieval period

The prosperity of the area increased due to the construction of Bow Bridge (London), Bow Bridge, the only bridge over the River Lea, Lea, and the creation of Stratford Langthorne Abbey.

Governance

Unlike most English districts, its council is led by a Directly elected mayors in England and Wales, directly elected mayor of Newham. From 2002 to 2009 one of the councillors had been appointed as the "civic ambassador" and performed the civic and ceremonial role previously carried out by the mayor. The post has been discontinued. At the 2014 Newham London Borough Council election, borough elections held in 2014, the Labour Party (UK), Labour Party won all 60 of the seats on the council. Sir Robin Wales was re-elected as the borough's Executive Mayor with 61% of the first preference votes cast. In 2018, Robin Wales was deselected as the Labour Party (UK), Labour Party mayoral candidate. Rokhsana Fiaz was elected in the position of Executive Mayor, also for the Labour party.

Coat of arms

The borough adopted County Borough of West Ham, West Ham's coat of arms, but with a motto adapted from that of County Borough of East Ham, East Ham. The arms include the following elements: * The crosier signified the Cistercian Stratford Langthorne Abbey. * The sword and the red and yellow chevronells are taken from the arms of De Montfitchet, William de Montfitchet, a major local landowner and founder of the abbey. * The crossed hammers represent the Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Company, once a major local employer. * The ship in full sail represents the maritime trades and the area's links to the sea. * The arms also include a sun rising in the east. The borough's motto, ''"Progress with the People"'' is an English translation of East Ham's Latin ''"Progressio cum Populo"''.

Demography

Population figures

Newham has, after Barnet and Croydon, the third highest population of the London boroughs, with a population numbering 382,984 as of 2021. Despite growing since the 1980s, it is still drastically lower than its pre-war peak. In the period between 1951 and 1981, Newham's population shrunk by 28.87% owing to factors such as the war bombings and the increasingly high unemployment. The redevelopment of the London Docklands, Docklands as well as development related to the 2012 Olympics have contributed to reversing its declining trend.

Ethnicities

Newham has the youngest overall population and one of the lowest White British populations in the country according to the United Kingdom Census 2011, 2011 UK Census. The borough has the second-highest percentage of Islam in the United Kingdom, Muslims in the UK, after the neighbouring London Borough of Tower Hamlets, at 32%. A 2017 report from Trust for London and the New Policy Institute found that 36% of local employees in Newham are in low paid work; the highest percentage of any London borough. Newham also has a 37% poverty rate, which is the second-highest rate in London. Newham is very ethnically diverse. When using Simpson's Diversity Index on 10 aggregated ethnic groups, the United Kingdom Census 2001, 2001 UK Census identified Newham as the most List of English districts and their ethnic composition, ethnically diverse district in England and Wales, with 9 wards in the top 15. However, when using the 16 ethnic categories in the Census so that White Irish people, Irish and White Other ethnic minorities are also included in the analysis, Newham becomes the second-most ethnically diverse borough with six out of the top 15 wards, behind London Borough of Brent, Brent with 7 out of the top 15 wards. Newham has the lowest percentage of White British residents of all of London's boroughs. The White British proportion of the population fell from 33.8% in 2001 to 16.7% in 2011; this decrease of 37.5 percentage points is the largest of any local authority in England and Wales between the two censuses. The joint-lowest wards with White British population are Green Street East and Green Street West, both having 4.8% – the third-lowest behind Southall Broadway and Southall Green in London Borough of Ealing, Ealing. East Ham North follows closely, at 4.9%. People of White British ethnicity nevertheless remain the largest single group in the borough. The largest non-White British ethnic groups are Indian (14%), African (12%), Bangladeshi (12%) and Pakistani (10%). Newham has had a large Asian community for many decades; more than half of Newham's Upton and Kensington wards were of ethnic minority origin in 1981. The nationality to increase the most in number since 1991 is the Bangladeshi community. Newham has the largest total population of Asian origin in London; it is notably a borough with high populations of all three largest British Asian nationalities: Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi - Newham has the 5th highest Indian population in London and the 2nd highest each for both Pakistani and Bangladeshi. Newham has 1,340 residents who were born in Ukraine, the highest population of Ukrainians in the UK.

Health

In 2018, Newham had the lowest life expectancy and the highest rate of Cardiovascular disease, heart disease of all London boroughs together with the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. In 2019, the BBC reported that Newham had the highest rate of tuberculosis in the UK at 107 per population, which was higher than Rwanda (69) and Iraq (45) according to WHO figures from 2013. More than 80% of TB cases in London occur in people born abroad. The UK average was 13.

Religion

The following table shows the religious identity of residents residing in Newham according to the 2001, 2011 and the 2021 censuses.

Education

A 2017 report b
Trust for London
and th
New Policy Institute
finds that the GCSE attainment gap between advantaged and disadvantaged pupils in Newham is the 4th best out of 32 London boroughs.

Schools and colleges

The Borough is the education authority for the district providing education in a mix of Foundation school, Foundation, Community school (England and Wales), community and voluntary aided schools. The borough also owns and operates Debden House, a residential adult education college in Loughton, Essex, and is home to th
Rosetta Art Centre
a dedicated Visual arts, visual art organisation which delivers courses at its base in Stratford, London, Stratford and produces participatory art projects, programmes and initiatives. The Essex Primary School in Sheridan Road with over 900 pupils is one of the biggest primary schools in London.

University

The University of East London has two campuses in Newham: *the University of East London Stratford Campus, Stratford Campus, at Stratford, London, Stratford *the University of East London Docklands Campus, Docklands Campus, next to the regenerated Royal Albert Dock, London, Royal Albert Dock Birkbeck Stratford is a collaboration between Birkbeck, University of London and UEL to increase participation in adult learning. This is based on the UEL/Birkbeck shared campus, USS (University Square Stratford), in the centre of Stratford. The University of East London had formed a partnership with the United States Olympic Committee which resulted in the United States Olympic Team using University of East London campuses as training bases during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Places of interest

Community

* The Hub, Newham, The Hub, a community resource centre built by the local community, in Star Lane, E16, featuring up to the minute "green" features * Grassroots, Newham, Grassroots, also built by the local community and another innovative green resource centre built by the community. Grassroots is in Memorial Recreation Ground, E15 * Rosetta Art Centre, situated in walking distance to Grassroots, also in E15

Libraries

Newham has ten libraries (Beckton, Canning Town, Custom House, East Ham, Green Street, Manor Park, North Woolwich, Plaistow, Stratford and Forest Gate).

Museums

* North Woolwich Old Station Museum. Closed in 2008. * Three Mills, a mill complex on the east bank of the River Lea (England), River Lea. A trading site for nearly a thousand years, the House Mill was built in 1776 and was (and remains) the country's largest tide mill. It has been restored and contains much of its original machinery including four large waterwheels, millstones and grain chutes.

Markets

There are a number of local markets in the Borough, including Queens Market, which the council was controversially seeking to redevelop. The proposal was successfully opposed b
Friends of Queens Market

Parks and open spaces

80 hectares within the borough are designated as part of the Metropolitan Green Belt.

Performance

Stratford Circus Arts Centre
, a community arts venue which presents theatre, dance, music, circus and comedy from around the world for communities in Newham and East London. The organisation works with schools and local groups in Newham to provide classes, workshops and outreach opportunities. Stratford Circus Arts Centre partners with Newham Council fo
Every Child a Theatre Goer
which invites every year 6 child to a performance at the venue * Theatre Royal Stratford East * St Mark's Church, Silvertown The church was designed by Samuel Saunders Teulon. It was built between 1861 and 1862 after a cholera epidemic swept the district and local clergy appealed through the columns of The Times for funds to provide an architectural, as well as spiritual, beacon for the area. It is now the home of the St Mark's Church, Silvertown, Brick Lane Music Hall.

Shopping and exhibitions

* Queen's Market – an historic street market * ExCeL London, ICC London – ExCeL – International Conference Centre * Gallions Reach Shopping Park * East Shopping Centre – Europe's first purpose-built boutique Asian shopping centre * Green Street (street), Green Street – a shopping street mostly catering for the Asian community * Stratford Centre * Westfield Stratford City, Westfield Shopping Centre, Stratford – The largest Westfield Group, Westfield Shopping Centre in Europe.

Sport

* Newham was one of the six host boroughs for the 2012 Summer Olympics * West Ham United F.C. play its home matches at the London Stadium (formerly the London Stadium, Olympic Stadium) in Stratford, London, Stratford * The Newham and Essex Beagles Athletics Club has its headquarters at the London Marathon Community Track in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park adjacent to the London Stadium. * Clapton F.C., a non-league football club, plays at the Terence McMillan Stadium in Plaistow, Newham, Plaistow * Athletic Newham F.C., a non-league football club, plays at the Terence McMillan Stadium in Plaistow * London APSA F.C., a non-league football club, plays at the Flanders Playing Fields in Napier Road, East Ham * London Regatta Centre, a charitable organisation promoting water sports such as rowing and dragon boats, is in Beckton

Newspapers

The local newspaper is the ''Newham Recorder''.

Districts

See ''List of districts in the London Borough of Newham'' for the full list, including neighbourhoods or localities which form part of the areas listed below. * Beckton * Canning Town * Custom House, Newham, Custom House * East Ham * Forest Gate * Manor Park, Newham, Manor Park * North Woolwich * Plaistow, Newham, Plaistow * Silvertown * Stratford, London, Stratford * Upton Park, London, Upton Park * West Ham

Parishes

The borough is covered by the following ecclesiastical parishes of the Church of England: *Parish of the Divine Compassion, Plaistow and North Canning Town **St Martin's Church, Plaistow **St Mary's Church, Plaistow **St Philip and St James Church, Plaistow **St Matthias' Church, Canning Town *St Luke's Church, Canning Town *Church of the Ascension, Victoria Docks *St John's Church, North Woolwich *St Mark's Church, Beckton *Parish of East Ham, Holy Trinity **St Bartholomew's Church, East Ham **St Mary Magdalene's Church, East Ham **St Alban's Church, Upton Park **St Edmund's Church, Forest Gate *St George's and St Ethelbert's Church, East Ham *St Paul's Church, East Ham *Little Ilford **St Mary's Church, Little Ilford **St Michael's Church, Romford Road *St Barnabas' Church, East Ham, St Barnabas, Little Ilford *Emmanuel Church, Forest Gate, Emmanuel Forest Gate, with St Peter's, Upton Cross *St Mark's Church, Forest Gate *St Saviour's Church, Forest Gate, St Saviour and St James, Forest Gate *St Margaret with St Columba, Leytonstone *St Paul's Church, Stratford, St Paul and St James, Stratford *St John's Church, Stratford, St John with Christchurch, Stratford *All Saints Church, West Ham

Transport

Since the 1980s, public transport in Newham has undergone many upgrades and improvements are still continuing to this day. The Jubilee Line Extension was completed in 1999, including new or improved stations at Canning Town, West Ham and Stratford station, Stratford. The Docklands Light Railway opened in 1987 and has undergone many extensions since, predominantly serving Newham and neighbouring Tower Hamlets. The DLR network compensates for Newham's lack of tube stations, of which there are only 6, in comparison with other London boroughs. It was extended to serve London City Airport, as well as Stratford International station in 2011 after its High Speed 1 link opened in late 2009. The Crossrail scheme will also improve rail connections to several stations as it heads through the borough on an east west axis. As a result of all the recent developments, the borough contains one of only two airports located within the Greater London boundary and currently the only railway station outside of central London that is served by high speed rail. BACF departure London city Airport

List of stations

*Abbey Road DLR station *Beckton DLR station *Beckton Park DLR station *Cyprus DLR station *Canning Town station – Jubilee line and DLR *Custom House station - Elizabeth line and DLR *East Ham tube station – District line, District and Hammersmith & City line, Hammersmith & City lines *Forest Gate railway station – Elizabeth line *Gallions Reach DLR station *King George V DLR station *London City Airport DLR station *Manor Park railway station – Elizabeth line *Maryland railway station – Elizabeth line *Plaistow tube station – District and Hammersmith & City lines *Pontoon Dock DLR station *Prince Regent DLR station *Royal Albert DLR station *Royal Victoria DLR station *Star Lane DLR station *Stratford station – Abellio Greater Anglia, c2c, Elizabeth line, Jubilee line, Jubilee and Central line (London Underground), Central lines, London Overground and Docklands Light Railway, DLR *Stratford High Street DLR station *Stratford International station – Southeastern (train operating company), Southeastern, DLR *Pudding Mill Lane DLR station *Upton Park tube station – District and Hammersmith & City lines *Wanstead Park railway station – London Overground *West Ham station – c2c, Jubilee, District and Hammersmith & City lines, and DLR *West Silvertown DLR station *Woodgrange Park railway station – London Overground

Travel to work

In March 2011, the main forms of transport that residents used to travel to work were: underground, metro, light rail, tram, 23.0% of all residents aged 16–74; driving a car or van, 7.6%; bus, minibus or coach, 7.6%; train, 7.2%; on foot, 4.1%; work mainly at or from home, 1.4%; bicycle, 1.0%.

River services

* Woolwich Ferry

Cable car

* London Cable Car

International services

* Dutchflyer rail-sea service via Stratford station to the Netherlands * London City Airport * Stratford International station (No Eurostar trains stop) Bus Route 304 in Newham, London

Bus routes

London Buses routes 5, 25, 58, 69, 86, 97, 101, 104, 108, 115, 147, 158, 173, 238, 241, 257, 262, 276, 300, 304, 308, 309, 323, 325, 330, 339, 366, 376, 388, 425, 473, 474, 541, D8, W19, School buses routes 673, 678 and Night route N8, N15, N86, N205, N550 and N551 all serve the London Borough of Newham with main interchanges at Stratford, Stratford City and Beckton bus stations, with large bus interchanges also available at East Ham and Upton Park.

Town twinning

Newham is twinned with: * Kaiserslautern, Germany

Freedom of the Borough

The following people and military units have received the Freedom of the City, Freedom of the Borough of Newham.