Shadwell                                      Parish Map Opens new Browser window

CHURCH RECORDS St Paul The Highway Baptisms 1670-1927 Marriages 1670-1934 Burials 1670-1903: LMA East London Hospital for Children Baptisms 1877-1931: LMA

A district of Stepney which was virtually uninhabited until the 17th century when a marine-centred industrial hamlet grew up with roperies, tan yards, breweries, wharves, smiths and numerous taverns. By 1674 many of the 8,000 inhabitants were mariners, watermen or lightermen. Development had been greatly encouraged by the enterprising speculator, Thomas Neale, who built St. Paul's chapel in 1656 and petitioned Parliament for the creation of a new parish in 1669. When established the following year, Shadwell was the first parish to be created from St. Dunstan's Stepney since Whitechapel in 1338. St. Paul's was also known as the sea captain's church due to the fact that 75 ship's captains are buried in its churchyard. Captain Cook also had his son baptised here. St Paul, Shadwell © Harry Weston