| DISTRICT | ||
| Poplar | ||
|---|---|---|
| Image | ||
| Population | ||
| PostCode District | E14 | |
| Borough | London Borough of Tower Hamlets | |
| OS Grid Reference | ||
| Latitude | ||
| Longditude | ||
Poplar is an area in East London, and is in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets and is located in the London Docklands.
Toponymy[]
Originally known as the manor of Popeler, the area was given to the Abbey of St Mary de Graces in the late 1300s by William of Wykeham, the Bishop of Winchester,[1] and as Le Popeler in 1412.[2]
History[]
Poplar became one of London’s first multi-ethnic districts, with inhabitants of Indian, Chinese and Nubian origin from the 17th century, where Poplar provided homes for workers at the Port of London.[3]
In the 1600s, John Mucknell lived in Poplar. He was originally born in Stepney but moved to the area with his wife after they got married. Originally a commander serving on a ship for the East India Company, Mucknell became known as the “King’s Pirate” during the English Civil War.[4]
The Lansbury Estate, a large, historic council housing estate, built by 1951, it became the ‘Live Architecture Exhibition’ of the Festival of Britain. Critics were generally underwhelmed by the project, with one or two notable exceptions. Writing in The New Yorker in 1953, Lewis Mumford remarked, "I shall be surprised if Lansbury is not one of the best bits of housing and urban planning anywhere."[5] Within the estate is Chrisp Street Market, designed by Frederick Gibberd, and built as part of the Festival of Britain in 1951.[6] Maureen's Pie & Mash was also open around this time,[7] which is a famous and locally popular café located in the market, serving traditional Pie and Mash.[8]
Balfron Tower was completed in 1967, remains one of the best-known works of the modernist architect Ernő Goldfinger.[9]
Community[]
Neighbours in Poplar was formed in October 1969, when some concerned people gathered together a large number of senior citizens for a Christmas Party and to aid vulnerable people, especially those living alone and often undocumented, to live fulfilling and meaningful lives.[10] There is an arts & community centre called Poplar Union which that opened in 2017, and is situated between the Limehouse Cut and Bartlett Park on Cotall Street.[11] Spotlight is creative youth service on Hay Currie Street, is for young people and is a free service.[12].
There is also the Aberfeldy Community Centre, [13] and Teviot Centre - [14] and [15]
Landmarks[]
There is also The White Horse of Poplar High Street is a big wooden sign located on Poplar High Street,[16] and the Spratt's Complex housing development, once the largest pet food factory in the world.[17]
Recreation[]
The area largest, historic and most popular park in Bartlett Park,[18], other parks include Poplar Recreation Ground,[19], Langdon Park.[20], Jolly's Green,[21] Millennium Green, and Braithwaite Park.[22]
Services[]
Poplar Post Office branch is located on Market Square, in Chrisp Street Market [23][24][25] The Poplar Job Centre is also located within the area, and is on Dod Street.[26] It is set to be demolished to make way for dozens of new flats and relocate to Mansell Street.[27]
Transport[]
London Buses routes 15, 108, 115, 309, D6, D7, D8 and N15, N550 and N551 all run in Poplar.
For pages on local streets see Category:Streets in Poplar here -[28]
More information on the Wikipedia page [29]