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4
Physical Features and General Character of the
District.—West Ham is situate in latitude 51° 30' to 51° 33' N.,
and longitude 0° to 1' W., to 0° 3' E., on the extreme west of the
County of Essex, and on the eastern side of the administrative
County of London, from which it is separated by the windings of the
River Lee and Bow Creek for 3½ miles.
In shape it is an irregular rhomboid, some 2 miles from west to
east and 4 miles from north to south, comprising within its boundaries
4,706 acres. The northern and eastern sides of the Borough are
contiguous to the populated districts of Leyton and East Ham.
The southern boundary is formed by the River Thames for 2 1/8 miles.
In elevation it is almost flat, varying from less than 5ft. to 45ft. above
ordnance datum, about half of the area being not more than 10ft.
above that level. Chalk may be reached at depths varying from 100ft.
to 150ft., overlaid by green Thanet sands and Woolwich beds, on
which rests 5ft. to 50ft. of London clay. In the north-eastern half of
the Borough 16ft. to 20ft. of river drift gravel overlays the London
clay, sloping down towards the River Lee and River Thames into
marshy clay and alluvium, a large part of the immediate surface being
made ground.