By Robert Rogers

In 1100AD, a bridge was built across the Channelsea River to avoid the dangerous crossing of the River Lea at Old Ford by Queen Matailda, who was the wife of King Henry. The word Stratford means `Street over the Ford.'

This action linked Stratford Atte Bow (the modern Bow) and Stratford Langthorn (the modern Stratford), and begun the creation of Stratford as a major area to the east of what had become the Capital of England, London. In 1135, William De Montfichet, Lord of Ham, founded the Abbey of St Mary, better known as Stratford Abbey.He endowed it with what became the nucleus of the manor of West Ham.Shortly afterwards the Abbey joined the Cistercian Order as its second foundation in England.The Cistercians were devoted to Husbandry and the Agricultural economy of West Ham developed under their care.Land was reclaimed from the marshes, sheep grazed, crops grew and the Mills turned, an idyllic country scene, very different from today’s Stratford!The original endowment, which was eleven acres of meadow and two mills soon developed.At the height of its prosperity in the 14th & 15th centuries, the Abbey owned the large part of what has become the modern Newham, with considerable property elsewhere in Essex. The Abbey itself covered twenty acres of Buildings and Domestic grounds.The only remains of any records of the ground owned is at Trinity Collage, Dublin, Eire, which is an agreement between the Abbott of Stratford and the Prioress of Holywell, regarding the Tithes of Leyton.

The great gate of the Abbey was by St Richards Chapel, which stood the spot now known as Bakers Row. The remains of the gate could still be seen in the 19th century.

In 2008 Archaeologists dug up the area to photograph the remains of the old gate (see Photo).In 1538 the Abbey surrendered to the Commissioners of King Henry VIII, who had begun to dissolve Religious Houses in 1536.The last Abbot of Stratford, William Huddleston, signed the deed of surrender. The Abbey and land was granted to Sir Peter Meautis, and most buildings were demolished or fell into ruin.The final dispersal of the Abbey remains was in 1780, when Thomas Holbrook bought the site. He had the foundations dug up and the stones were sold for Buildings.