Ratcliff, London
Ratcliff is an area of East London. It is in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.[1] It is located on the north side of the River Thames. It was once a hamlet in the historic county of Middlesex.[2]
| Ratcliff | |
|---|---|
 Pitsea Street, viewed from Cable Street | |
  Ratcliff | |
| Location within Greater London | |
| London borough | |
| Ceremonial county | Greater London |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | LONDON |
| Postcode district | E1, E1W, E14 |
| Dialling code | 020 |
| Police | Metropolitan |
| Fire | London |
| Ambulance | London |
| London Assembly | |
Ratcliff is the site of one of London biggest fires in 1794. It began at Clovers Barge Yard. The flames quickly spread to a nearby barge loaded with saltpetre. This was a substance used to make gunpowder and matches. This exploded. Causing the fire to spread and destroying Ratcliff.[3]
Etymology
changeRatcliff name is from a sandstone cliff. This used to be above the surrounding marshes. This had a red appearance. Hence Red-cliffe.
History
changeRatcliffe was known for shipbuilding.[4] It was an important sea departure area. In the sixteenth century. Such as Willoughby and Frobisher.[4] Ratcliffe at this time also had the largest population in Stepney. Having 3500 residents.[4]
Around 1669. Almost 200 Presbyterians were worshipping inside a warehouse in Ratcliffe. There was a purpose-built Quaker meeting house in Schoolhouse Lane that had been built near the same time.[5]
Ratcliffe was divided between the parishes of Limehouse and Stepney until 1866. It was constituted a separate civil parish. It was then administered by Limehouse District Board of Works. In 1900 it joined the Metropolitan Borough of Stepney.[6]
As the warehouses fell into decline. They were not allowed to stand and were cleared for redevelopment.[7]
References
change- ↑ https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/1796
- ↑ "The Lost Hamlet of Ratcliff | Spitalfields Life".
- ↑ "The Ratcliffe Fire of 1794".
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "EoLFHS Parishes: Ratcliff". Archived from the original on 26 December 2005. Retrieved 15 December 2005. accessed 20 April 2008
- ↑ http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=22739 accessed 21 April 2008
- ↑ "Shadwell. East End's Free Art & History". Archived from the original on 12 March 2008. Retrieved 20 April 2008. accessed 20 April 2008
- ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2021-09-18. Retrieved 2020-02-10.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)