Inner Borough of London, England
"Newham" redirects here. For other uses, see Newham (disambiguation)
London borough in United Kingdom
The London Borough of 🏵 Newham is a London borough created in 1965 by the London Government Act 1963. It covers an area previously administered 🏵 by the Essex county boroughs of West Ham and 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 Inner 🏵 London part of East London, Newham has a population of 387,576, which is the third highest of the London boroughs 🏵 and also makes it the 16th most populous district in England. The local authority is Newham London Borough Council.
It is 🏵 5 miles (8 km) 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 to its east. Newham was one of the six host boroughs for the 2012 Summer Olympics and contains 🏵 most of the Olympic Park including the London Stadium, and also contains the London City Airport. Major districts include East 🏵 Ham, West Ham, Stratford, Plaistow, Forest Gate, Beckton and Canning Town.
History [ edit ]
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 and the 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 East Ham and West Ham. 🏵 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.[1]
Manor of Ham [ edit ]
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 Lea, Thames and Roding and their marshes.[2]
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.[3]
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 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, 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.[4]
The boundary between 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 down to the small, also lost, natural harbour known as Ham Creek. Ham 🏵 Creek was filled-in in the nineteenth century,[5] 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 and East Ham, together with North Woolwich and Barking west of the River 🏵 Roding. Little Ilford had become part of East Ham as part of earlier local government reorganisations.
Medieval period [ edit ]
The 🏵 prosperity of the area increased due to the construction of Bow Bridge, the only bridge over the Lea, and the 🏵 creation of Stratford Langthorne Abbey.
Governance [ edit ]
A map showing the wards of Newham since 2002
Unlike most English districts, its 🏵 council is led by a 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.[6]
At the borough elections held in 2014, the 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 2024, 🏵 Robin Wales was deselected as the Labour Party mayoral candidate. Rokhsana Fiaz was elected in the position of Executive Mayor, 🏵 also for the Labour party.[7]
Coat of arms [ edit ]
The borough adopted West Ham's coat of arms, but with a 🏵 motto adapted from that of East Ham.[8]
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 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".
Greater London 🏵 representation [ edit ]
For elections to the Greater London Council, the borough formed the Newham electoral division, electing three members. 🏵 In 1973 it was divided into the single-member Newham North East, Newham North West and Newham South electoral divisions.[9] The 🏵 Greater London Council was abolished in 1986.
Since 2000, for elections to the London Assembly, the borough forms part of the 🏵 City and East constituency.
Demography [ edit ]
Population pyramid of Newham in 2024
Population figures [ edit ]
Population Year Pop. ±% 1801 🏵 8,875 — 1811 11,166 +25.8% 1821 13,005 +16.5% 1831 15,553 +19.6% 1841 17,758 +14.2% 1851 24,875 +40.1% 1861 69,355 +178.8% 🏵 1871 113,835 +64.1% 1881 158,314 +39.1% 1891 259,155 +63.7% 1901 338,506 +30.6% 1911 442,158 +30.6% 1921 448,081 +1.3% 1931 454,096 🏵 +1.3% 1941 377,508 −16.9% 1951 313,837 −16.9% 1961 271,858 −13.4% 1971 235,496 −13.4% 1981 209,131 −11.2% 1991 221,146 +5.7% 2001 🏵 243,737 +10.2% 2011 307,984 +26.4% 2024 351,030 +14.0% Source: A Vision of Britain through time, citing Census population
Newham has, after 🏵 Barnet and Croydon, the third highest population of the London boroughs, with a population numbering 382,984 as of 2024. 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 Docklands as well as development related to the 2012 Olympics have contributed to reversing its declining trend.[10]
Ethnicities [ 🏵 edit ]
Population pyramid of Newham by ethnicity in 2024
Ethnic makeup of Newham in single year age groups in 2024
UK born 🏵 and foreign born population pyramid in Newham in 2024. Males and females representing the UK born population while foreign males 🏵 and females representing the foreign born population.
Newham has the youngest overall population and one of the lowest White British populations 🏵 in the country according to the 2011 UK Census. The borough has the second-highest percentage of Muslims in the UK, 🏵 after the neighbouring London Borough of Tower Hamlets, at 32%. A 2024 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.[11]
Newham is very ethnically diverse. 🏵 When using Simpson's Diversity Index on 10 aggregated ethnic groups, the 2001 UK Census identified Newham as the most ethnically 🏵 diverse district in England and Wales, with 9 wards in the top 15.[12] However, when using the 16 ethnic categories 🏵 in the Census so that White Irish and White Other ethnic minorities are also included in the analysis, Newham becomes 🏵 the second-most ethnically diverse borough[13] with six out of the top 15 wards, behind Brent with 7 out of the 🏵 top 15 wards.
Newham has the lowest percentage of White British residents of all of London's boroughs.[14][15] The joint-lowest wards with 🏵 White British population are Green Street East and Green Street West, each having 4.8% – the third-lowest behind Southall Broadway 🏵 and Southall Green in Ealing. East Ham North follows closely, at 4.9%.[16]
As of the 2024 UK census, people of "Bangladeshi" 🏵 ethnicity are the largest single group in the borough at 15.9%. "White British" are the second largest group at 14.8%, 🏵 with "White Other" third largest at 14.6%, "African" fourth largest at 11.6%, "Indian" next largest at 11% and then "Pakistani" 🏵 at 8.9%. 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.[17] The nationality to increase the most in number since 1991 is the 🏵 Bangladeshi community.[18] 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, having the 5th highest Indian population in London and the 2nd highest 🏵 each for both Pakistani and Bangladeshi.[19]
Newham has 1,340 residents who were born in Ukraine, the highest population of Ukrainians in 🏵 the UK.[20]
Health [ edit ]
In 2024, Newham had the lowest life expectancy and the highest rate of heart disease of 🏵 all London boroughs together with the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.[26]
In 2024, the BBC reported that Newham had the highest 🏵 rate of tuberculosis in the UK at 107 per 100000 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.[27]
Religion [ edit ]
Religious makeup of Newham by single year age groups in 2024
The following table shows 🏵 the religious identity of residents residing in Newham according to the 2001, 2011 and the 2024 censuses.
Religion 2001[29] 2011[30] 2024[31] 🏵 Number % Number % Number % Christian 114,247 46.8 123,119 40.0 123,746 35.3 Muslim 59,293 24.3 98,456 32.0 122,146 34.8 🏵 Jewish 481 0.2 342 0.1 448 0.1 Hindu 16,901 6.9 26,962 8.8 21,405 6.1 Sikh 6,897 2.8 6,421 2.1 5,638 🏵 1.6 Buddhism 1,592 0.7 2,446 0.8 2,160 0.6 Other religion 664 0.3 1,090 0.4 1,765 0.5 No religion 21,978 9.0 🏵 29,373 9.5 50,795 14.5 Religion not stated 21,838 9.0 19,775 6.4 22,933 6.5 Total 243,891 100.00% 307,894 100.00% 351,100 100.0%
Education 🏵 [ edit ]
A 2024 report by Trust for London and the 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.[32]
Schools and colleges [ edit 🏵 ]
The Borough is the education authority for the district providing education in a mix of Foundation, community and voluntary aided 🏵 schools.[33] The borough also owns and operates Debden House, a residential adult education college in Loughton, Essex, and is home 🏵 to the Rosetta Art Centre, a dedicated visual art organisation which delivers courses at its base in 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 [ edit ]
The University of East London has two campuses in Newham:
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.[34]
Places of interest [ edit ]
Community [ edit ]
The Hub, 🏵 a community resource centre built by the local community, in Star Lane, E16, featuring up to the minute "green" features 🏵 [ clarification needed ]
Grassroots, 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 [ edit ]
Newham has ten libraries (Beckton, Canning Town, 🏵 Custom House, East Ham, Green Street, Manor Park, North Woolwich, Plaistow, Stratford and Forest Gate).[35]
Museums [ edit ]
North Woolwich Old 🏵 Station Museum. Closed in 2008. [36]
Three Mills, a mill complex on the east bank of the 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 [ edit ]
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 by Friends of Queens Market.
Parks and open spaces [ edit ]
80 🏵 hectares within the borough are designated as part of the Metropolitan Green Belt.
Performance [ edit ]
Green Street where the population 🏵 is predominantly South Asian
Shopping and exhibitions [ edit ]
Sport [ edit ]
Newspapers [ edit ]
The local newspaper is the Newham 🏵 Recorder.[39]
Districts [ edit ]
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.
Building 1000 – Newham Council Headquarters
Parishes [ edit ]
The borough is covered 🏵 by the following ecclesiastical parishes of the Church of England:
Transport [ edit ]
Since the 1980s, public transport in Newham has 🏵 undergone many upgrades and improvements are still continuing to this day.
The Docklands Light Railway (DLR) first opened in 1987, and 🏵 was extended from Tower Hamlets through to Beckton in 1994. The network and has undergone many extensions since, including to 🏵 serve London City Airport, as well as Stratford International station in 2011 after its High Speed 1 link opened in 🏵 late 2009. The Jubilee Line Extension was completed in 1999, including new or improved stations at Canning Town, West Ham 🏵 and Stratford. The DLR network compensates for Newham's lack of tube stations, of which there are only 6, in comparison 🏵 with other London boroughs. The Crossrail scheme - opening as the Elizabeth line in 2024 - also delivered improved rail 🏵 connections to several stations as it heads through the borough on an east west axis. Of the 28 stations in 🏵 Newham, only 4 stations lack step free access - thanks to the recent age of many of the stations in 🏵 the borough.
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.
London 🏵 City Airport is in Newham
List of stations [ edit ]
Travel to work [ edit ]
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%.[40]
River services [ edit ]
Woolwich Ferry
Royal Wharf
Cable car [ edit ]
International services [ edit ]
Bus 🏵 routes [ edit ]
Over 30 London Buses bus routes 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.[42]
Town twinning [ 🏵 edit ]
Newham is twinned with:
Freedom of the Borough [ edit ]
The following people and military units have received the Freedom 🏵 of the Borough of Newham.
Individuals [ edit ]
Military Units [ edit ]
G Company 7th Battalion The Rifles: 23 June 2012.[45]
Notable 🏵 people [ edit ]
See also [ edit ]
