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History of Mile End
The name Mile End comes from a milestone signifying positioned one mile east the City of London’s boundary at Aldgate, although the stone was actually near Stepney Green tube station.
During the peasant’s revolt against high taxes in the late 14th century, some 60,000 men from Essex led by Jack Straw camped in Mile End and were met there by Richard II to sign a charter.
In 1887 Queen Victoria opened the Queen’s Hall which was a large complex containing a library, gymnasium, swimming pool and winter garden. This People’s Palace offered entertainment as well as education for the poorer classes and was highly popular. It was destroyed by fire in 1931 but rebuilt a few years later. It closed in 1954.
Mile End, as much of the East End was heavily bombed during WWII and was a much neglected area of London until recent years. Only a year ago, a unexploded bomb was found during building work near Mile End Station.
Rachel Whiteread won the Turner prize with her cast of the inside of 193 Grove road before it was cleared for the extension of Mile End Park.
Today, as the are gets regenerated and as prices drive people further out from Shoreditch, Whitechapel and Bethnal Green, Mile End is becoming an increasingly attractive area. The recently extended Mile End Park includes and ecology area, an outdoor climbing wall and many activities for young children. Close to the City and Docklands, it is an attractive area for those on a smaller budget while ebing easy to commute to. Properties are mainly ex-local authority, post war houses or new build.
Places of interest
• Mile End Park and Arts Pavilion
Transport Links – Visit Transport for London for more information
Bow Road – Hammersmith & City and District Lines
Mile End – Hammersmith & City and District Lines
Stepney Green – Central Line
Local Authority
Tower Hamlets – http://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/
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