A typically east end locale, the housing range found here is an assortment of mostly terraced architecture, simple yet convenient. North of New Plaistow Road (A112) are mostly modest Victorian homes, bay windows, brickwork – ornate yet rugged. Meanwhile, the narrow streets sandwiching Manor Road (A1011) were developed post-war with many still reserved for council housing. West Ham is on the District, Jubilee and Hammersmith and City tube lines meaning a journey to London Bridge takes 18 minutes. The DLR also services the area and takes 10 minutes to reach London City Airport. The locale is well-suited to both young professionals – with Westfield in the bustling Stratford just up the road, and those desiring a more serene means of escape – West Ham Park is a 77-acre public open space perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon stroll. Ranelagh Primary School is on Corporation Street and is rated ‘good’ by Ofsted, while West Ham CofE Primary School is on Portway, also rated ‘good’.

The pivotal point in the history of this locale was the 1844 Metropolitan Building Act. This, broadly speaking, prohibited and regulated the use of certain construction practices which were deemed dangerous to public health, thus forcing particular industries out of inner London. Unfortunately, though, for West Ham and everything else east of the River Lea, the regulations did not apply. All industry, from chemicals to printing, clustered into the neighbourhood to take advantage of the closest location to London where one was allowed to manufacture. Of course, this also contributed to dire working and living conditions, leading Charles Dickens’ brother to write a report in the Times in 1855 on the failure of West Ham administration. In 1856 a local board of health was created to address these issues.

The Boxer Lennox Lewis was born, in 1965, to Jamaican parents in West Ham. Lewis was the first British boxer since Bob Fitzsimmons to hold the title of undisputed world heavyweight champion. He is known for his nonchalant disposition in the boxing ring. Though he moved to Canada when still very young, a significant fan base developed back in the UK and in 1999 Lewis was awarded BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

West Ham United Football Club, named after the area, was once known locally as the Irons and Hammers. The football club formed in the summer of 1895 from a group of “enthusiasts, with the love of football within them”. The amateurs were a group of workers from “the Limited”, or Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Co. Ltd.

A noticeable feature lacking in the area is the richness of amenities like those which are present in, the neighbouring Stratford or Canary Wharf. The high-street outlets along New Plaistow Road are by and large limited to greasy spoon cafés, takeaways and betting shops. For some, though, this lack of pretension is a blessing in disguise.

The area recently lost one of its most treasured features – The Boleyn Ground or Upton Park, where West Ham Football Club used to play. The club relocated to Stratford, leaving the building to be demolished and replaced with new luxury housing. Although this work has reduced the anti-social behaviour and noise associated with games, it is having a detrimental impact on the local economy and the community’s pride. The site is currently still in construction, with Barratt Homes working on a complex of 18 buildings containing a total of 843 homes. The area will be known as Upton Gardens and will feature roof terraces, a public library, as well as a number of commercial spaces.