EAST HAM
Incuding Beckton
East Ham, Essex (Dom. Hamme, which includes both East Ham and West
Ham), 1 mile west of Barking, 5½ miles from London by road, and 4¾ miles by the Southend
Railway; population of the entire parish 4334, but this includes portions of the
ecclesiastical districts of Forest Gate, 779, and Victoria Docks, 1322: East Ham proper
contains 2233 inhabitants.
The village straggles for above a mile along the lane which runs from
Little Ilford to the Thames opposite Woolwich, the chief part being south of the Barking
road. The railway station is at the extreme north of the village, the church at the
extreme south, 1½ m. from the station. There is little noteworthy in its history or
appearance. The manor belonged, in the time of the Confessor, to the Abbey of Westminster;
was alienated before 1226, and afterwards belonged to the Montfichets. In 1319 it was
divided, and a moiety since known as East Ham Hall granted in reversion to the abbot and
convent of Stratford, by whom it was held till the Suppression; the manor-house, near the
church, is now a farmhouse. The occupations are mostly agricultural. A large proportion of
the land is laid out as market-gardens, East Ham being noted for the growth of onions, and
especially pickling onions, which are pulled by the rood and sold by the gallon. A ton of
seed is sown yearly by one farmer. Potatoes are also largely grown. Between the village
and the Thames is the broad tract of marsh land known as East Ham Level, famous for
grazing.
The Church (St. Mary Magdalene) stands south of the village, at the
edge of the marsh. It is of flint and stone, partly of Norman date, much patched and
somewhat dilapidated; has nave, chancel, and apse, and a low massive west tower (the upper
part modern), with double buttresses at the angles. An avenue of limes runs from the west
door to the road; south of the church is a good-sized yew tree - the trunk 7 ft. in girth:
altogether, though lonely looking and somewhat neglected, it is, with its surroundings, a
more than commonly picturesque village church, and the architecture is worth examining.
[Handbook to The Environs of London : James Thorne 1876]
St. Mary Magdelene's Church
From a digital photograph by Dave Wild
Church Records:
- St. Mary Magdalene, High St South
Baptisms 1701-1960, Marriages 1696-1982, Burials 1700-1960 : ERO
Baptisms 1960- date, Marriages 1982- date, Burials 1960-1975 : Not deposited
Monumental Inscriptions :
EoLFHS Publications
- St. Andrew, Roman Rd, Beckton
Baptisms 1934-1952, Marriages 1946-1952 : ERO
- St. Bartholomew, Barking Rd
Baptisms 1945-1952, Marriages 1903-1977 : ERO
Baptisms 1952- date, Marriages 1977- date : Not deposited
- St. George and St. Ethelbert, Burford Rd
Baptisms 1923-1955, Marriages 1924-1967 : ERO
Baptisms 1955- date, Marriages 1967- date : Not deposited
- St. John the Baptist, High Street North
Marriages 1871-1902 : ERO
- St. Michael and All Angels, Beckton Rd, Beckton
Baptisms 1909-1941, Marriages 1924-1941 : ERO
- St. Paul, Burgess Rd
Baptisms 1924- date, Marriages 1925- date : Not deposited
- St. Michael (Roman Catholic), Tilbury Rd
Formed 1926
- Primitive Methodist Chapel, High St. South
Marriages 1913-1940 : ERO
- Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, Abbotts Park
Baptisms 1893-1904 : ERO
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