Stratford, London



Stratford is a district in northeast London, England and part of the London Borough of Newham. It is located 6 miles (9.7 km) east northeast of Charing Cross and is one of the major centres identified in the London Plan. It was historically an agrarian settlement in the ancient parish of West Ham, which transformed into an industrial suburb following the introduction of the railway in 1839. As part of the growth of London in the late 19th century, Stratford significantly expanded and increased in population, becoming the centre of administration of the Borough of West Ham in 1886 and it has formed part of Greater London since 1965. The more recent economic history is underpinned by a move away from railway works and heavy industry towards becoming a significant commercial and cultural centre. Stratford is adjacent to the London Olympic Park and is currently experiencing regeneration and expansion linked to the 2012 Summer Olympics.

'''Toponymy '''

The name is first recorded in 1067 as Strætforda and means 'ford on a Roman road'. It is formed from Old English 'stræt' and 'ford'. The crossing is that of the London to Colchester road over one of the many branches of the River Lea to the west of the settlement. The nearby settlement of Bow —over the River Lea and now in Tower Hamlets— was also known as Stratford and a variety of suffixes were used to distinguish the two. The settlement to the east of the Lea was also known as Estratford refererring to the location east of the other Stratford, Statford Hamme alluding to the location within the parish of West Ham, with Abbei Stratford and Stretford Langthorne both referring to the presence of Stratford Langthorne Abbey.

'''Economic development '''

The introduction of the railway at Stratford in 1839 caused a focus of activity within the fast-expanding Stratford New Town.

'''Local government '''

Stratford was one of three ancient wards in the large parish of West Ham, in the Becontree hundred of Essex. It came within the Metropolitan Police District in 1840. Despite forming part of the built up area of London the parish remained outside the statutory metropolitan area established in 1855 and the County of London established in 1889. Instead, administrative reform was undertaken in the area in much the same way as a large provincial town. A local board was formed in 1856 under the Public Health Act 1848 and subsequently the parish was incorporated as a municipal borough in 1886. In 1889 the borough was large enough in terms of population to become a county borough and was outside the area of responsibility of Essex County Council. Stratford formed the centre of administration of the county borough and was the location of the town hall.

'''Geography '''

Stratford is located in the northwestern extremity of the London Borough of Newham and borders to the west with Hackney Wick in the London Borough of Hackney and Bow in London Borough of Tower Hamlets, and to the north with Leyton in London Borough of Waltham Forest. Within Newham, Forest Gate is the the east, West Ham to the southeast and Plaistow to the south. The River Lea and the complex network of Bow Back Rivers mark the western limits of the area.