Blue Plaques in the East End of London
Everybody knows the blue plaques dotted around London – Charles Dickens lived here, Winston Churchill died there. But did you ever wonder how your street got its name? The history of the East End is the story of the characters and personalities who built it – philanthropists, politicians, businessmen and entrepreneurs – and they live on in the names of our streets and buildings.
Like Brabazon Street, in Poplar. Reginald Brabazon, Lord Meath, was one of that huge band of Victorians who devoted themselves to philanthropic works. After a time in the diplomatic service he founded, in 1880, the Metropolitan Public Gardens Society, becoming its chairman. And Londoners have Brabazon, who was also a London County Council alderman, to thank for the creation of the capital’s parks and open spaces – among them the disused Victoria Park Cemetery which became Meath Gardens.
East London exploded in size with the massive docks-building of the 18th and 19th century, and no-one played a bigger part than the engineer, John Rennie.
The Scot moved to London in 1791 as consultant and engineer for the West India and East India Docks. In 1798 he became a member of the Royal Society and is commemorated in Rennie Cottages, Colebert Avenue, E1 and John Rennie Walk in Wapping. One of the founding industries of the East End was silk, and one man who became rich through his trade in the fabric was Thomas Parmiter, of Bethnal Green. Parmiter died in 1682 and bequeathed part of his fortune for the setting up of a school for ten poor children and six almshouses for poor and deserving old folk. His original establishments are long gone but were rebuilt in Gloucester Street, E2, now called Parmiter Street.
Every time you pick up a magazine or newspaper you owe a small debt to William Caslon, for he devised some of the most popular typefaces in printing. And though Caslon lived in the East End nearly 300 years ago, many of his designs are still popular today. Caslon was born in Worcestershire in 1692, but set up shop as a gun engraver and tool maker in Minories. He started making type for printers and later retired to his country house in rural Bethnal Green. There is the traditional blue plaque in Chiswell Street, in the City, but he is marked locally by William Caslon House, Patriot Square and Caslon Place, Cudworth Street, E1.
Brewers played a big part in the history of the East End, and more than one left a permanent mark. Edward Mann not only played his part in the history of the Mann, Cross and Paulin brewery in Whitechapel Road, he was the first mayor of Poplar, elected in 1900. Edward Mann Close, in Pitsea Street, E1 marks his contribution to the East End’s history. Henry Raine, born in 1679 into a brewing family in Wapping, may be long forgotten for his beer, but his contribution to education lives on. Raine’s School moved from Wapping more than 100 years ago, but Raine’s original 1719 schoolhouse still stands in Raine Street, Wapping. Just a few of the names and characters who live on in the streets and buildings of the East End. So next time you’re flicking through your London A to Z, just stop and think – you’re reading a true history book.