On the 18th May 1984, the Thames Barrier was officially `opened` by Her Majesty the Queen, eighteen years after it was first considered as the answer to the possible flooding of London.

It cost £435M to build and has been described as the Eight Wonder of the World.

In 1972 the Thames Barrier & Flood Prevention Act was passed by Parliament and construction of the Barrier begun in 1974.

It became operational in October 1982 and was first used in February 1983.

Eastern Counties Railways first opened a workshop at Stratford in 1839.

The most famous Locomotive Superintendent at Stratford was James Holden, the man Holden Point is named after.

In 1891, the Great Eastern Railways works set a world record when on the 10th December, 85 men built a six-wheeled couple engine and tender in 9 hours, 47 minutes.

In Cooperages, Craftsmen called Coopers made Barrels.

They have their own Guild in the City of London.

The two major cooperages in West Ham were Halls of Custom House at Mortlake road, and Ryan’s at Temple Mills in Stratford.

The Stratford Express on Saturday the 4th May 1929, carried a report on the Speedway Meeting at Custom House Stadium on Thursday 2nd May.

“West Ham’s team certainly justified their selections when they beat Coventry City 31 points to 11 in their inter-track race on Thursday night. Each of the six heats was keenly contested. The Coventry team rode very consistently but their efforts however were unavailing against the Superior riding and Track craft of the home team”.

Large areas of what is now Newham were covered in Marsh.

In West Ham the major ones were Trinity Marsh (348 Acres), Middle Marsh (293A), New Marsh (523A), West Marsh (381A) and the largest was Stratford Marsh.

The first mention of Marshland being reclaimed was by the Cistercian Monks at Stratford Abbey. They turned the land into pastures for Animals and for growing food.

Another meaning of the word `Ham` is Low Lying Pastures,

   
V2 attacks on West/East Ham September 1944-March 45 

It was said that a Tug Captain could follow the River Thames not only by the Reaches and the Buoys, but also the sights and the smells from the Riverside.

So lets go back over 50 years and imaging a ride aboard a Tug from the entrance of the Royal Victoria Dock to the entrance of the King George V Dock on a summer’s day.

Entering the Royal Victoria Dock by gate No.3, we walk along to the Tidal Basin to pick up our Tug.