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NATURAL AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS.
The County Borough of West Ham is a large autonomous
area which is situated in latitude 51° 30' to 51° 33' N. and
longtitude 0° 1' to 0° 3' E., outside the eastern boundary of the
Count)' of London. The whole of the area, which is approximately
4 miles from north to south and about 2 miles from east to west,
lies in the County of Essex, and it is bounded on the north by the
Borough of Leyton and the County Borough of East Ham, on the
east by the County Borough of East Ham, on the south by
the River Thames and on the west by the Metropolitan Boroughs
of Poplar and Hackney. The area is generally very flat, varying
from less than 5 feet to 45 feet above sea level, about half the
area being not more than 10 feet above that level.
The area which constitutes the County Borough of to-day
is of great antiquity. The Romans were certainly here at an early
date, and numerous Roman remains have been found. In Saxon
times the name of "Hamme" came into use, and it is said that
Alfred the Great was responsible for the construction of the
numerous watercourses which are a notable physical feature of
West Ham to-day. From an ecclesiastical point of view this
district became important in early times, and the great Abbey of
West Ham was founded in the year 1135. The Abbey was
surrendered to Henry VIII. in 1538, and few traces of its fabric
now remain. The present Parish Church of West Ham was
founded in the twelfth century. Until comparatively recent times
the area consisted of a number of scattered centres separated by
undeveloped land. Of these, the most important were Stratford,
Plaistow and Upton. Many industries had been carried on in the
area, but with the industrial revolution, and the coming of the
railway in 1839, an incredible expansion of these industries
occurred. Some idea of the growth of the area in population and
wealth may be obtained from the statement that, whereas in 1856
the population was 27,000, in 1886 it was 180,000; and that,
whereas the rateable value in 1856 was £8o,ooo, in 1886 it was
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