Stratford

Stratford New Town Methodist Church

STRATFORD NEW TOWN E15 began in 1870 when Chapel Street members started services in Chandos Road and transferred later to the Mechanics Institute [of the Great Eastern Railway] in Store Street. New Town was attached to The Grove church until 1919. From 1919 to1939 it majored on youth work, leading to a sports ground at Lambourne End.  In the 1939-1945 war the congregation used the Anglican St. Marks which the Methodists later bought.


(Text: Colin Marchant Faith Flows in Newham Project,with additional information from Newham Heritage Service; photograph: Matthew Crisp. More information about the history of the Methodist Church in Newham can be found in Colin's article Methodism in Newham on the website )

Stratford New Town Methodist Church

Co-operative Jug

This commemorative jug was produced for the jubilee of the Stratford Co-op. The scene depicts Straford Broadway with the Gurney memorial and St John's church.

Co-operative Jug

Judiciary

West Ham had its own senior judge for many years.


The picture is of the Recorder's procession in 1953 in Church Street, having left West Ham Church it is going to the Court House in West Ham Lane. In front is the beadle, and the procession is headed by George E. Smith, Town Clerk and Clerk of the Peace (who later became the first Town Clerk of Newham), and Alderman William Gillman, Mayor, followed by Walter Raeburn, Esq., Q.C., the Recorder, and his Clerk. Arthur Lewis, MP for North West Ham can be seen together with Aldermen the Mesdames Parsons, Harris, Cook and Barnes; the aldermen are followed by the councillors.


In 1889 West Ham became a County Borough under the Local Government Act, 1888. This Act established County Councils which took over the ancient administrative functions of the county Quarter Sessions. Essex County Council is formed.


In1894 West Ham is granted its own Quarter Sessions of the Peace with its own Recorder and obtained its own Coroner the following year. The sittings dealt with criminal cases and administrative matters such as licensing.


Quarter Sessions - as the name suggests - were held four times a year in each county and county borough. The terms were Epiphany (January), Easter (April), Midsummer (July) and Michaelmas (October).


A Recorder was a senior judge of some important urban centre and was a part-time appointment as the office holder was usually a distinguished lawyer with their own practice.  The position carried a great deal of prestige.

Judiciary

Moravians in Newham

The Harold Road congregation was settled in 1976 by members of the old Upton Manor congregation which had closed several years earlier.

Moravians in Newham

Opening Ceremony

October 1900 saw the opening of the Passmore Edwards Museum and the re-opening of the West Ham Municipal Technical Institute.

Opening Ceremony

J. Keir Hardie

Presentation and Unveiling of a Bust of J. Keir Hardie took place at West Ham Town Hall, Stratford, on 20th January 1948. An eight-page pamphlet, admission ticket  and invitation card.

J. Keir Hardie

Australian Sportsman and West Ham

Plans have been announced that the Australian Olympic team are going to set up their Headquarters in Newham for the 2012 Games at the new Westfield Centre at Stratford, well the Sporting stars of Australia had a `second home` with West Ham (now Newham) for many years.


Since the arrival of Speedway (Dirt Track) Racing from Australia in 1928, invented by the Great Australian Showman Johnnie Hoskins in 1923, the Australians have always seen West Ham as being a` Home` for their Champions.


The first-ever Speedway meeting at West Hams Custom House Stadium in July 1928 showed three Australians who were to become Champions in Great Britain, Paddy Dean (who won the West Ham Invitation Handicap at this meeting), Billy Galloway and `Buzz` Hibbard (who became a member of the first West Ham team in 1929 along with another Aussie, Les Maguire).


Later, a young Australian called Arthur Wilkinson arrived and became a member of the team.


He was to become West Ham’s First World Speedway Champion in 1938, and know to all as `Bluey`.

Australian Sportsman and West Ham

West Ham Baptist Tabernacle

West Ham (Strict Baptist) Tabernacle in West Ham Lane, E15.

West Ham Baptist Tabernacle

Stratford Underground Train Crash 1953

On the evening of 8 April, 1953, signal failures led to delays on the Central line, with drivers again following 'stop and proceed' rules. However, a train heading eastbound towards Epping ploughed into the back of a stationary train waiting in the tunnel between Stratford and Leyton just before 7pm, leaving twelve passengers dead and many wounded.


The driver was hurt but survived and was later charged with having ignored the 'stop and proceed' rules by a Public Inquiry.


 It was the 6.55 Epping train which run into the back of a Hainaught bound train.


Seem the driver passed a signal at Red, and because the tunnel curves round he did not see the other train which was standing still until it was too late.


There are various reports on the incident which states 12 killed, but the British Pathe News states 8 adults and one child.


Amongst the 42 who were injured was the driver of the Epping Train who had to have his leg Amputated

Stratford Underground Train Crash 1953

Gurney monument -2


  The year is 2002 and the Gurney obelisk still stands amidst the hustle and bustle of Stratford. 

Gurney monument -2
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