Bethnal Green

**Bethnal Green** is an area in East London and is part of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. Located 3.3 miles (5.3 km) northeast of Charing Cross, it was historically a hamlet in the ancient parish of Stepney, Middlesex.

## Description

The topographer Daniel Lysons suggested in the late 18th century that Bethnal was a corruption of the name Bathon-Hall which would have been the residence of a notable Bathon family who owned large areas of Stepney, the parish of which Bethnal Green was once a part. "Green" related to an area which lay "about half a mile beyond the suburbs".

The area emerged from the hamlet which developed around the Green, much of which survives today as Bethnal Green Gardens, located on Canbridge Heath Road, following population increases caused by the expansion of London in the 18th century, it was split off from Stepney as the parish of Bethnal Green in 1743. It became part of the metropolis in 1855 and the County of London in 1889. The parish became the Metropolitan Borough of Bethnal Green in 1900. In 1965 it was abolished and became a district in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.

## Geography

Bethnal Green has a number of conservation areas set up by Tower Hamlets Council due to its historic history and landscape, including the Bethnal Green Gardens Conservation Area which was designated in July 1969 and then extended in October 2008 to the south west of the tube station due to significant buildings located in and around the junction of Bethnal Green Road, Roman Road and Cambridge Heath Road, which ensures these landmarks will be preserved. Hackney Road has a very special architectural and historic character of buildings and areas adjoining the road which are composed of a dense concentration of modest sized properties.

The streetside buildings seem neglected but form part of the industrial heritage and character of Vyner Street and also Wadeson Street, which contains a row of three storey Victorian workshops mostly converted to residential use. Both types contribute to the character of the area. Also, Old Bethnal Green Road and around the roads of the Winkley Estate, which has a very cohesive character and little scope exists for change. The buildings contained within the area being considered form an important group worthy of protection and enhancement.

## Governance

Bethnal Green falls within the parliamentary constituency of Bethnal Green and Bow within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.

## Community

Today a wide community exists in Bethnal Green, one example of this is The Roman Road E2 Hamper to the east of the green, which is used as a tool by local shops in Bethnal Green to reach out to customers in the community, aiding in promoting their businesses, products and services.

Further extensive community provision and training is provided by Morpeth School via its connection to the community. Morpeth Sixth Form is also actively involved in some community enrichment project, with support from the Roman Road Trust and Drumworks, who are a band based in Morpeth School associated with the Barbican Centre.

## Education

Mowlem Primary School, which opened in 1887 and was called Mowlem Street School. As the population grew, the school was enlarged in 1898 and changed once again in 1902 for 410 boys and 410 girls. A new single-storey building catering for a total of 280 children was opened in 1971 when it was renamed Mowlem Primary School.

## Transport

Bethnal Green is served by London Buses, including route 8, 26, 55, 254 and 388 to Central London, and also routes 106, 309, 394, D3, D6 and night routes N8, N26, N55 and N243.

## References

1. ↑ "Bethnal Green" 27-38. British History Online. Archived from the original on 04 February 2021.
2. ↑ "Bethnal Green: Settlement and Building to 1836" 91-95. British History Online. Archived from the original on 14 June 2021.
3. ↑ "Hackney Road" (PDF). London Borough of Tower Hamlets. Archived from the original on 03 November 2021.
4. ↑ "Regents Canal" (PDF). London Borough of Tower Hamlets. Archived from the original on 03 November 2021.
5. ↑ "Old Bethnal Green Road" (PDF). London Borough of Tower Hamlets. Archived from the original on 03 November 2021.
6. ↑ "Roman Road E2 Hamper". Roman Road Trust. Archived from the original on 03 July 2019.
7. ↑ "Morpeth School". Avanti Architects. Archived from the original on 10 August 2019.
8. ↑ "Morpeth students bring Christmas cheer to Globe Town Market Square". Roman Road Trust. Archived from the original on 19 April 2021.
9. ↑ "Contact". Drum Works. Archived from the original on 16 May 2021.
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "History". Mowlem Primary. Archived from the original on 03 March 2021.
11. ↑ "Bethnal Green". bustimes.org.