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Early Days

Situated in the traditional heart of the East End of London, Green Street dates back to Tudor Times when most of the area was made up of marshland.

Settlers

But it has gone through significant changes and experienced wave after wave of migration in the intervening years. The original native population was made up of Celtic Britons until the arrival of foreign settlers; The Angles, Anglo- Saxons and other various Norse people.

Green Street was heavily bombed during the Second World War (WWII) and experienced its first regeneration during the 50’s and 60’s; when it was predominantly made up of Jewish settlers, who were mostly tailors. It was regenerated again in the 90’s when the council received £6 million pounds for government funded regeneration. Today, Green Street is largely made up of the Asian Community, who arrived in the 70’s and has a high population of Africans and Afro-Caribbeans.

Green Street in the 1970's

20th Century

Situated in the London Borough of Newham, Green Street runs along the former boundary between two old boroughs – East ham and West Ham. One end of the street plays host to West ham football club, founded in 1895, and formerly known as The Thames Ironworks Team. In 1900, the team changed its name to West Ham United.

Business Hub

Green Street thrives as a commercial hot spot; it sits on the District line and is one of the largest shopping centres catering for the Asian community of London. Centrally located at the heart of traditional East End, it has over 400 independent shops. Renowned for its multitude of Saree and jewellery shops, Green Street can be remembered as the place where Cherie Blair, wife of the former British Premier, went shopping when she wanted a Saree outfit.

Queen’s Market situated towards the bottom of the road after Upton Park Station, is a focal point on Green Street. It has numerous traders in its market stalls and pitches where you see a myriad of faces and hear different sounds of nations bellowing at you. The market caters for a vibrant mix of exotic fresh produce (fruits and vegetables), spices, Indian and African foods.

Green Street would not be complete without a mention of the Pie & Marsh shop opposite Upton Park Station.Ìý A traditional East-End meal which consists of steak and kidney pie with marsh potato and gravy, which is often not very appetising and you sometimes get eel with it.

Green Street

Present Day

Today, Green Street serves as a multi-cultural backdrop for the East-End of London due to its lively and energetic mix of race and cultures; Asians, Africans, Afro-Caribbean’s, Irish, Turks and most recently, Eastern Europeans, and has one of the most diverse populations of any London Borough.

It is now embarking on a new phase of regeneration, in preparation for the 2012 Olympic Games. If the games are a success, perhaps Green Street will no longer remain what locals describe as – Newham's best kept secret?