Ratcliff

Suburb, existing until now.

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Ratcliff (or Ratcliffe) is a former locality now split between the modern day districts of Limehouse, Stepney and Shadwell after being absorbed into them.

The name Ratcliffe derives from a small red sandstone cliff that stood above the surrounding marshes. Located at the western end of Narrow Street it was by the eighteenth century made up of lodging houses, bars, brothels and opium dens. It acquired an unsavoury reputation with a large transient population. In 1794 approximately half of the hamlet was destroyed in a fire but, even so, it continued as a notorious slum well into the nineteenth century.

Ratcliffe was originally known for shipbuilding but from the fourteenth century more for fitting and provisioning ships. By the early seventeenth century it had the largest population of any village in Stepney, with 3500 residents.

A number of sailing warships were built for the Royal Navy here, including one of the earliest frigates, the Constant Warwick in 1645.

From the late sixteenth century Ratcliffe and surrounding areas were notable areas for non-conformist Christianity. The parish church of Ratcliffe, St James in Butcher Row, was built in 1838 and served the area until 1951 when the parish was merged with St Paul, Shadwell.

In late 1811 seven murders took place in Ratcliffe Highway (St George’s Street), allegedly committed by a sailor named Williams, who committed suicide after being captured.

By the latter half of the nineteenth century, the condition of the area had improved somewhat - the 1868 ’National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland’ describes Ratcliffe as inhabited by persons connected with shipping and having extensive warehouses, with the area ’well paved, lighted with gas, and supplied with water from the reservoir at Old Ford’.


Main source: Wikipedia
Further citations and sources


CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE LOCALITY

Born here
Beverly Sand   
Added: 3 Apr 2021 17:19 GMT   

Havering Street, E1
My mother was born at 48 Havering Street. That house no longer exists. It disappeared from the map by 1950. Family name Schneider, mother Ray and father Joe. Joe’s parents lived just up the road at 311 Cable Street

Reply

Mike Levy   
Added: 19 Sep 2023 18:10 GMT   

Bombing of Arbour Square in the Blitz
On the night of September 7, 1940. Hyman Lubosky (age 35), his wife Fay (or Fanny)(age 32) and their son Martin (age 17 months) died at 11 Arbour Square. They are buried together in Rainham Jewish Cemetery. Their grave stones read: "Killed by enemy action"

Reply
Lived here
Kim Johnson   
Added: 24 Jun 2021 19:17 GMT   

Limehouse Causeway (1908)
My great grandparents were the first to live in 15 Tomlins Terrace, then my grandparents and parents after marriage. I spent the first two years of my life there. My nan and her family lived at number 13 Tomlins Terrace. My maternal grandmother lived in Maroon house, Blount Street with my uncle. Nan, my mum and her brothers were bombed out three times during the war.

Reply

LATEST LONDON-WIDE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PROJECT

Comment
Wendy    
Added: 22 Mar 2024 15:33 GMT   

Polygon Buildings
Following the demolition of the Polygon, and prior to the construction of Oakshott Court in 1974, 4 tenement type blocks of flats were built on the site at Clarendon Sq/Phoenix Rd called Polygon Buildings. These were primarily for people working for the Midland Railway and subsequently British Rail. My family lived for 5 years in Block C in the 1950s. It seems that very few photos exist of these buildings.

Reply

Steve   
Added: 19 Mar 2024 08:42 GMT   

Road construction and houses completed
New Charleville Circus road layout shown on Stanford’s Library Map Of London And Its Suburbs 1879 with access via West Hill only.

Plans showing street numbering were recorded in 1888 so we can concluded the houses in Charleville Circus were built by this date.

Source: Charleville Circus, Sydenham, London

Reply
Comment
Steve   
Added: 19 Mar 2024 08:04 GMT   

Charleville Circus, Sydenham: One Place Study (OPS)
One Place Study’s (OPS) are a recent innovation to research and record historical facts/events/people focused on a single place �’ building, street, town etc.

I have created an open access OPS of Charleville Circus on WikiTree that has over a million members across the globe working on a single family tree for everyone to enjoy, for free, forever.

Source: Charleville Circus, Sydenham, London

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Comment
Charles   
Added: 8 Mar 2024 20:45 GMT   

My House
I want to know who lived in my house in the 1860’s.

Reply

NH   
Added: 7 Mar 2024 11:41 GMT   

Telephone House
Donald Hunter House, formerly Telephone House, was the BT Offices closed in 2000

Reply
Comment
Paul Cox   
Added: 5 Mar 2024 22:18 GMT   

War damage reinstatement plans of No’s 11 & 13 Aldine Street
Whilst clearing my elderly Mothers house of general detritus, I’ve come across original plans (one on acetate) of No’s 11 & 13 Aldine Street. Might they be of interest or should I just dispose of them? There are 4 copies seemingly from the one single acetate example. Seems a shame to just junk them as the level of detail is exquisite. No worries if of no interest, but thought I’d put it out there.

Reply
Comment
Diana   
Added: 28 Feb 2024 13:52 GMT   

New Inn Yard, E1
My great grandparents x 6 lived in New Inn Yard. On this date, their son was baptised in nearby St Leonard’s Church, Shoreditch

Source: BDM London, Cripplegate and Shoreditch registers written by church clerk.

Reply
Comment
Vic Stanley   
Added: 24 Feb 2024 17:38 GMT   

Postcose
The postcode is SE15, NOT SE1

Reply


NEARBY LOCATIONS OF NOTE
Limehouse Limehouse is a National Rail station, also connected to the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) network.

NEARBY STREETS
Abbotshade Road, SE16 Abbotshade Road is a road in the SE16 postcode area (Rotherhithe)
Albert Gardens, E1 Albert Gardens, an almost intact late-Georgian residential square
All Saints Court, E1 All Saints Court is a block on Johnson Street
Ann Street, E1 Ann Street is an old East End street
Arbour Square, E1 Arbour Square is a late Georgian square in Stepney
Arta House, E1 Arta House is a block on Devonport Street
Balmoral Court, SE16 Balmoral Court is located on Rotherhithe Street (Rotherhithe)
Barnardo Gardens, E1W Barnardo Gardens was created as local streets were swept away in the 1960s
Barnardo Street, E1 Dr Thomas John Barnardo founded a boy’s orphanage in Stepney Causeway
Barton Mews, E14 A street within the E14 postcode (Limehouse)
Bath Court, E1W Bath Court is a block on Glamis Place
Beatson Walk, SE16 Beatson Walk is one of the streets of London in the SE16 postal area (Rotherhithe)
Bekesbourne Street, E14 Bekesbourne Street is one of the streets of London in the E14 postal area (Limehouse)
Bellamys Court, SE16 Bellamys Court is located on Abbotshade Road (Rotherhithe)
Bere Street, Bere Street is an old East End street
Berglen Court, E14 Berglen Court is a block on Branch Road (Limehouse)
Billing House, E1 Billing House is a block on Commercial Road
Blenheim Court, SE16 Blenheim Court can be found on Rotherhithe Street (Rotherhithe)
Boulcott Street, E1W Boulcott Street is one of the streets of London in the E1 postal area (Ratcliff)
Bower Street, E1 Bower Street is a road in the E1 postcode area
Branch Road, E14 Branch Road is one of the streets of London in the E14 postal area (Limehouse)
Brigantine Court, E14 Brigantine Court is a block on Spert Street (Limehouse)
Brodlove Lane, E1W Brodlove Lane is a road in the E1W postcode area
Brook Street, E1 Brook Street was an old name for this section of Cable Street (Ratcliff)
Brunton Place, E14 Brunton Place is one of the streets of London in the E14 postal area
Bull’s Buildings, E1W Bull’s Buildings was a close off White Horse Street (Ratcliff)
Butcher Row, E1W Butcher Row is a road in the E1W postcode area (Limehouse)
Bylands Close, SE16 A street within the SE16 postcode (Rotherhithe)
Campania Building, E1W Campania Building is a block on The Highway (Ratcliff)
Capstan Court, E1W Capstan Court can be found on Wapping Wall
Caroline Street, E1 Caroline Street is one of the streets of London in the E1 postal area (Ratcliff)
Chalkwell House, E1 Chalkwell House can be found on Commercial Road
Chaseley Street, E14 Chaseley Street runs from Barnes Street to Yorkshire Road
Commercial Road East, Commercial Road East is an old East End street
Corrigham House, E1 Corrigham House is a block on Pitsea Street (Ratcliff)
Cosmo Apartments, E1 Cosmo Apartments is sited on Westport Street
Cowley Street, Cowley Street is an old East End street
Cranford Street, E1W Cranford Street is a road in the E1W postcode area (Ratcliff)
Devonport Street, E1 Devonport Street connects Commercial Road and Cable Street
Donovan House, E1W Donovan House is a block on Lukin Street
Dowson House, E1 Dowson House is located on Commercial Road
Drewton Street, E1 Drewton Street was previously James Street
Dunstan Place, E1W Dunstan Place first appeared on the 1830 map, replacing an area called Globe Yard (Ratcliff)
Edward Mann Close East, E1 A street within the E1 postcode (Ratcliff)
Elf Row, E1W A street within the E1W postcode
Elizabeth Square, SE16 Elizabeth Square is one of the streets of London in the SE16 postal area (Rotherhithe)
Falkirk Court, SE16 Falkirk Court is a block on Rotherhithe Street (Rotherhithe)
Fisher House, E1 Fisher House is a block on Cable Street
Flamborough Walk, E14 A street within the E14 postcode
Frederick Square, SE16 Frederick Square is a location in London (Rotherhithe)
Garth Street, Dean Street was renamed Garth Street, E1 in 1876
Glamis Place, E1W Glamis Place is a road in the E1W postcode area
Glamis Road, E1W Glamis Road is one of the streets of London in the E1W postal area
Glasshouse Fields, E1W Glasshouse Fields was Glasshouse Street until 1862
Glasshouse Street, E1W Glasshouse Street is an old East End street
Goodhart Place, E14 Goodhart Place is one of the streets of London in the E14 postal area (Limehouse)
Gordon House, E1W Gordon House is a block on Glamis Road
Gosling House, E1W Gosling House is a block on Gosling House
Green Dragon Alley, E14 Green Dragon Alley is a long-gone alleyway off Narrow Street (Limehouse)
Gwent Court, SE16 Gwent Court is a block on Byelands Close (Rotherhithe)
Hampton Court, SE16 Hampton Court is a block on Rotherhithe Street (Rotherhithe)
Harding Street, Harding Street is an old East End street
Hardinge Lane, E1W Hardinge Lane is a road in the E1 postcode area
Hardinge Street, E1W Hardinge Street existed in the 1750s or before as St George’s Path
Havering Street, E1 Havering Street is a road in the E1 postcode area
Head Street, E1 A street within the E1 postcode
Heckford Street Business Centre, E1W A street within the E1W postcode (Ratcliff)
Heckford Street, E1W Heckford Street is one of the streets of London in the E1W postal area (Ratcliff)
Helena Square, SE16 Helena Square is a location in London (Rotherhithe)
Horseferry Road, E14 Horseferry Road is a road in the E14 postcode area (Limehouse)
Ikøn House, E1W Ikøn House is sited on Cable Street
Ionian Building, E14 A street within the E14 postcode (Limehouse)
James Place, James Place is an old East End street
Jardine Road, E1W Jardine Road is a road in the E1W postcode area (Ratcliff)
John Bowles Court, E1W John Bowles Court is a block on Schoolhouse Lane
John Scurr House, E14 John Scurr House is located on Ratcliffe Lane (Limehouse)
Johnny Andrews House, E1 Johnny Andrews House is a block on Boulcott Street (Ratcliff)
Johnson Street, E1 Johnson Street first appears as John Street on 1820s mapping, but not on 1810s maps
Kensington Court, SE16 Kensington Court is a block on Rotherhithe Street (Rotherhithe)
King & Queen Wharf, SE16 A street within the SE16 postcode (Rotherhithe)
La Figa Restaurant, E14 La Figa Restaurant is a block on Narrow Street (Limehouse)
Labour in Vain Street, E1W Labour in Vain Street is an old East End street
Lake Street, E1 Lake Street was at first called Thomas Street
Lavender House, E1 Lavender House is a block on Commercial Road (Ratcliff)
Lavender House, SE16 Lavender House is a block on Rotherhithe Street (Rotherhithe)
Lavender Pumphouse, SE16 Lavender Pumphouse is a location in London (Rotherhithe)
Lavender Road, SE16 Lavender Road is one of the streets of London in the SE16 postal area (Rotherhithe)
Leading Street, Leading Street is an old East End street
Len Bishop Court, E1W Len Bishop Court is a block on Schoolhouse Lane (Ratcliff)
Lion Court, E1W Lion Court is a block on The Highway
Love Lane, Love Lane is an old East End street
Lower Shadwell Street, Lower Shadwell Street is an old East End street
Lucas Street, Lucas Street is an old East End street
Lukin Street, E1 Lukin Street is one of the streets of London in the E1 postal area
Malthouse Apartments, E1 Malthouse Apartments is a block on Caroline Street
Market Hill, Market Hill is an old East End street
Mauretania Building, E1W Mauretania Building is a block on Jardine Road (Ratcliff)
Medland House, E14 Medland House is a building on Branch Road (Limehouse)
Merchant Court, E1W Merchant Court can be found on Wapping Wall
Metropolitan Wharf, E1W Metropolitan Wharf is one of the streets of London in the E1W postal area
Monza Building, E1W Monza Building is located on Monza Street
Monza Street, E1W Monza Street lies south of the Shadwell Basin
Moore House, E1W Moore House is a block on Martineau Street
Ogilvie House, E1 Ogilvie House is a block on Stepney Causeway (Ratcliff)
Old Church Road, E1 Old Church Road is a road in the E1 postcode area
Peartree Lane, E1W Peartree Lane is a road in the E1W postcode area
Pelican Stairs, E1W Pelican Stairs is a road in the E1W postcode area
Pinchin Johnsons Yard, E1W Pinchin Johnsons Yard is one of the streets of London in the E1 postal area
Pinnacle Way, E14 A street within the E14 postcode (Limehouse)
Pique Mews, E1W A street within the E1W postcode
Pitsea Street, E1 Pitsea Street is a road in the E1 postcode area (Ratcliff)
Poonah Street, E1 Poonah Street first appears as a name in 1891
Powlesland Court, E1 Powlesland Court is a block on White Horse Road
Railton House, E1 Railton House is a block on Arbour Square
Ratcliffe Cross Street, E1W Ratcliffe Cross Street is one of the streets of London in the E1 postal area (Ratcliff)
Ratcliffe Lane, E14 Ratcliffe Lane runs south of Limehouse station (Limehouse)
Redcastle Close, E1 Redcastle Close arrived with the construction of the Glamis Estate
Regents Gate House, E14 Regents Gate House is a block on Horseferry Road (Limehouse)
Rochelle Court, E1 Rochelle Court is a block on Commercial Road
Ronald Street, E1 Ronald Street appeared in a series of parallel streets first emerging in the 1830s
Rosea House, E1 Rosea House is sited on Boulcott Street (Ratcliff)
Roslin House, E1W Roslin House can be found on Brodlove Lane
Rotherhithe Tunnel, E14 Rotherhithe Tunnel is a road in the E14 postcode area (Limehouse)
Saloon House, E14 Saloon House is sited on Brunton Place (Limehouse)
Sandringham Court, SE16 Sandringham Court is a block on Rotherhithe Street (Rotherhithe)
School House Lane, School House Lane is an old East End street (Ratcliff)
Schoolhouse Lane, E1W Schoolhouse Lane connects Cable Street and The Highway (Ratcliff)
Scotia Building, E1W Scotia Building is a block on Jardine Road (Ratcliff)
Shadwell Pierhead, E1W Shadwell Pierhead is one of the streets of London in the E1W postal area
Shipwright House, E1 Shipwright House is a block on Boulcott Street (Ratcliff)
Sims House, E1 Sims House is a block on Havering Street
Sirius Building, E1W Sirius Building is a block on Jardine Road (Limehouse)
Sophia Square, SE16 Sophia Square is a development off of Sovereign Crescent (Rotherhithe)
Sovereign Crescent, SE16 Sovereign Crescent is a road in the SE16 postcode area (Rotherhithe)
Spert Street, E14 A street within the E14 postcode (Limehouse)
St. Georges Square, E14 A street within the E14 postcode (Limehouse)
Stepney Causeway, E1 Stepney Causeway is associated with Thomas John Barnardo, who opened his first shelter for homeless children at number 18.
Sun Tavern Place, E1 Sun Tavern Place was not named directly after an inn but after Sun Tavern Fields, a ropewalk which it was built over
Tarbert Walk, E1 A street within the E1 postcode
The Listed Building, E1W The Listed Building can be found on The Highway (Ratcliff)
The Ship Apartments, E1 The Ship Apartments is a block on Hardinge Street
Thirza House, E1 Thirza House is a block on Devonport Street
Thirza Street, E1W Thirza Street was situated off Hardinge Street, immediately south of the railway
Thomas Street, Thomas Street is an old East End street
Thornwill House, E1W Thornwill House is a building on Martineau Street
Topaz Court, E1W Topaz Court is a block on Elf Row
Trafalgar Court, E1W Trafalgar Court is a building on Wapping Wall
Unicorn Building, E1W Unicorn Building is a building on The Highway (Limehouse)
Unit Mosaic Building, E14 Unit Mosaic Building is a building on Narrow Street (Limehouse)
Vogler House, E1W Vogler House is a block on Lukin Street
Wakeling Street, E14 A street within the E14 postcode (Limehouse)
Wapping Wall, E1W Wapping Wall runs parallel to the northern bank of the Thames with many converted warehouses facing the river
Warren Place, E1W A street within the E1 postcode (Ratcliff)
Warton Court, E1W Warton Court is sited on Cable Street
Warton Place, E1W Warton Place, at the turn of the twentieth century, led to a glass factory
Westminster Court, SE16 Westminster Court is sited on Rotherhithe Street (Rotherhithe)
White Horse Street, E14 Until the early 20th century, White Horse Street stretched uninterrupted from Stepney Churchyard to Butcher Row, leading down to the riverside (Limehouse)
Windsor Court, SE16 Windsor Court is a block on Rotherhithe Street (Rotherhithe)
Yorkshire Place, E14 Yorkshire Place was initially called Railway Place
Yorkshire Road, E14 Yorkshire Road is one of the streets of London in the E14 postal area
Zenith Building, E14 Zenith Building is located on Commercial Road (Limehouse)


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