A 3½ mile circular walk from Stratford Station. West Ham Park is maintained by the Corporation of London. You may find it useful to request a copy of the park map in advance of your visit. Tel 020 8472 3584.

From the station cross Great Eastern Road into the shopping centre.
The mall is lined with market stalls as it was built on the site of Angel Lane Market.

Walk through to the centre then go left (North). This emerges into Gerry Raffles Square. Continue into Theatre Square.
The Theatre Royal was built for William Charles Dillon in 1884 to the designs of James George Buckle. Between 1953 and 1979 it was taken over by Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop. [website]

Return via Salway Road to the Broadway.
Opposite is the new Stratford Library.

Follow the Broadway to the right and then the left going around the church island.
St John's Church was built in 1834 and became the parish church in 1844. There is a memorial of 1879 to 18 Protestants burned at the stake in 1555-6.

Go along Romford Road walking on the right hand side.
The Old Dispensary is an 18th century weatherboarded building. It operated until 1861 when Mary Curtis provided land in West Ham Lane for a new dispensary. Opposite is a former Working Men's Club. There are 18th century houses further along.

Cross and go into Water Lane to the left.
There is a Stratford Common marker on the corner, relocated from the east side of the common (now Caernavon Road). The fine Central Library and Technical Institute was built in 1898 on the site of Gallows Green. Designed by JGS Gibson & SB Russell it was financed from a share of custom duties collected by the PLO. In 1992 it became the University of East London's Stratford Campus.

Return to Romford Road
Opposite were the premises of West Ham Electricity, opened in 1906 and rebuilt 1927-30. These have now been converted to apartments.

Continue along Romford Road walking on the left hand side.
The Passmore Edwards Museum was built in 1900 and housed the Essex Field Club's collection. It was refurbished in 1990. Opposite is Bow County Court. The new fire station opened in 1964. The Pigeons pub is over 200 years old.

Cross and go right into Faraday Road
There is a new development for the Toynbee Housing Association.

Continue through Fairland Road. Cross Ham Park Road and enter West Ham Park at Linden Gate.
Linden Cottages are to the right and a Wildlife Garden to the left. The park dates back to 1566 and was originally part of the Upton House estate. From 1762-80 it was owned by philanthropist Dr John Fothergill who established a botanical garden. In 1812 the banker Samuel Gurney acquired the property. The house was demolished in 1872 and the grounds sold on condition they became a public park. It has been maintained by the Corporation of London since 1874 and is Grade II listed.

There are maps at the entrances or they are available at the park office. Explore the northern half at this stage and the southern half on the return. Walk to the south of the cricket pitch for views of Canary Wharf and Stratford Church. Exit at the Margery (NE) Gate and go right along Ham Park Road. At the end go left along Upton Lane.
The Old Spotted Dog was originally a 16th century timber-framed hall deriving its name from Henry VIII's hunting kennels. During the plague in 1603 city merchants used it as an exchange. There were additions to the building in the 19th century and it is now undergoing extensive work. The grounds of Clapton Football Club (founded in 1878) were formerly a cricket pitch. The former Upton Cross Church is now a glass warehouse.

Return and continue southwards along Upton Lane.
Meggs Almshouses moved from Whitechapel Road in 1893. On the right further along is a view of the park nursery. This produces some 200,000 plants for use in the City's parks and gardens and at state occasions. There is no public access but tours can be arranged with the park office.

Re-enter the park at the Nursery Gate. Go between the playground/paddling pool and Nature Area/East Lodge. Enter and explore the seven acre Ornamental Garden. Exit by the Iris Garden and go past the Bandstand. Join the main path and go left between the all-weather pitch and football pitch/running track. Exit at the South Gate and go right along Portwey. At Vicarage Lane cross to the church.
All Saints belonged to Stratford Abbey. It was rebuilt in 1180 and enlarged in the 13th century. The tower was added in the 15th century and the side chapels in the 16th. The clock, made in 1857, is said to be the prototype for Big Ben. The Angel pub in Church Street has an old advertisement painted on its side wall.

From the church cross Densham Road into Stratford Park and walk diagonally across.
The park was laid out and opened in 1898. Some original features survive and it has an award-winning performance space.

Exit into West Ham Lane and go right. At the end go left along Broadway.
The former West Ham Town Hall was opened in 1869. It was restored after a fire in 1982 and re-opened as a public hall in 1986. Adjacent to this was the fire station.

Cross at the island with the large sculpture and follow signs back to the station.

© london-footprints.co.uk 2006

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