Keeping our rich tapestry of history alive – full details of Newham’s Heritage week

Full details of Newham’s Heritage week later this month are now revealed.

The celebration of our history begins on from October 24.

The week is being jointly staged by Newham Council and the Museum for Newham group.

Previous details have been published on the Museum for Newham Facebook Page and with the generous help of the administrators of other Newham memories groups on Facebook and in blogs. Details of some of the events are now also available in the current issue of Newham Mag.

This article is almost 4,000 words long, but in date order, so hopefully you can find something near your home or in short travelling distance that interests you,

In the run up to Heritage week, there are some other events being organised by the council for both adults and youngsters.

These are as follows:

Heritage Themed Coffee Morning. Chat about the past and learn about the fascinating history of the area over a nice hot brew and some scrumptious nibbles. You can also pick up free copies of the Newham Story and our special Heritage Week postcards, bespoke to your area. All welcome. Thursday 20^th October, 10am – 11am. East Ham Library.

Pearlies, Pies and Pints. Pie & Mash, a Cockney sing-a-long and a tea dance. All welcome. Friday 21st October, 7.30-10pm. North Woolwich Learning Zone.

Great War, Craft Activity. Children are invited to this craft session dedicated to our Newham’s Great War exhibition being shown. Children will create ration cards and war time posters and learn what it was like to be living in Newham at the time of the Great War.  Ages 7-11. Friday 21^st October 5.30-6.30pm. East Ham Library

Great War, Drama Workshop. As part of our Newham’s Great War Exhibition children are invited to participate in a workshop to recreate the sounds and drama of The Blitz. Ages 7-11. Friday 21^st October 6.30-7.30pm. East Ham Library.

Children’s Drawing Workshop. Artist Eleanor Pearce will lead children through this fun and engaging  heritage themed workshop, where children will learn to draw heritage buildings and objects using a variety of materials such as pastels, charcoal and drawing pens.  Ages 7-11. Saturday 22 October, 4-6pm. The Gate Library .

Heritage Themed Lego Club. Have a go at recreating Heritage Landmarks with Lego. Ages 5-11. Saturday 22 October, 3-4pm. The Gate Library.

Shakespeare in the Square. Experience historic Theatre Square Stratford, like never before with Signed by Shakespeare in this Deaf-led production celebrating Shakespeare with outdoor performances of his sonnets, scenes and soliloquies in Stratford’s Theatre Square. It is part of the 400 year centenary of William Shakespeare’s death and will reinterpret his works in a contemporary setting & format for Newham Heritage Week, rendering it more relevant to diverse communities & young people. Sign language, mime and dance will be merged into physical theatre to make the performance particularly accessible and enjoyable for people with hearing impairments and small children.
Delivered by The New Black Film Collective in partnership with Definitely Theatre, Artistic Directors of the Future, Dandy Theatre Associates and The Hip-Hop Shakespeare Company with support from Theatre Royal Stratford East and Newham Council. For all ages. Saturday 22  October 2-3pm. Theatre Square (Stratford)

 

Most events in Heritage Week are free, some bear a small cost. Some have to be pre-booked. Here are the full details:

The launch event is called Indulge with the rich heritage of Newham. It opens with a rare opportunity to see Eric Dawson’s orginal artworks of Newham, see local exhibitions, meet heritage professionals and enthusiasts and pick up a free copy of The Newham Story, while stocks late. It is on Monday October 24^th from 5 to 7pm. At The Gate Library in Forest Gate.

From Monday 24th October to Saturday 29th October. 9.30am to 8pmAmrar Zaga (Our Place) – Art Exhibition. Art Exhibition by local artisit and curator Saif Osmani and the Bengali East End Heritage Society. The art exhibition looks at contested boundaries, community tension and spaces deemed under threat due to an ever increasing amount of building and development in East London. Stratford Library, 3 The Grove, Stratford, E15 1EL.

Monday 24th October to Friday 28th October. 10am to 1pm Tuesday and Thursday Evenings 6pm to 8pm. River Christian Centre.

Chance to see Grade II Listed Chapel with stained glass windows and architectural features. Exhibitions on Canning Town from the 1st World War to the 1980s.

River Christian Centre, Vincent Street, Canning Town, E16 1LZ. Doreen Macintosh: doreen@river-church.org.uk. Free.

 

Monday 24th October 11am to 1pm.

Museum on Wheels. Celebrate and enjoy Newham’s heritage through Eastside Heritage’s unique museum on wheels. office@ech.org.uk. Little Ilford Learning Zone. Free Entry.

Monday 24th October to Friday 28th October 2pm to 4pm. House Mill. Daily guided tour of two floors of the Grade I Listed House Mill. Tours at 2pm and 3pm. Lasting approx 30 mins. House Mill, Three Mill Island, Bromley by Bow, London, E3 3DU. Please bring proof of LBN residency to enjoy free of charge. The cafe in the Miller’s House will be open, serving tea and cake.

 

Monday 24th October 3.15pm to 5.15pm.

The ASTA trail, Silvertown: trains, planes and graffiti walls.

An audio trail of Silvertown, created by young people at the ASTA Centre and composer Jo Thomas featuring original music and interviews with local residents – a unique insight in to the history of Silvertown. Meet: DLR ticket offce/machines London City Airport DLR station.

Email Dr Toby Butler t.butler@uel.ac.uk Limited Places – Booking Essential.

Led by Dr Toby Butler and students of UEL. Audio equipment provided. Distance of 3.5km. Guided by Dr Toby Butler and students of UEL.

 

Monday 24 October , 1.30-4.30pm. Heritage Games. Come along and play heritage games from the early 20th century. All welcome. North Woolwich Library

October 24th to 30th: All Newham libraries. See venues for opening times.

Community Neighbourhoods Historical Postcards. Each Newham Library will be distributing three unique postcards depicting their local area in archived images.  Available on request while stocks last.

24th-30th October. See venue opening times. All Newham libraries, Postcard Collectors Prize Draw. Collect all thirty heritage postcards (three from each of Newham’s ten libraries) and be entered into a prize draw for a yearly English Heritage family membership (for two adults and up to 12 children) plus a wealth of heritage themed goodies.

24^th-30^th October. Eric Dawson: The Originals. Opportunity to see an exhibition of artist Eric Dawson’s Original Water Colours, painted locally in Newham. The first 50 visitors to the exhibition who show a copy of the Newham Mag (issue 351) will receive a free copy of the book Looking Back by Eric Dawson, a fascinating memoir of growing up in West Ham, packed full of beautiful water colours depicting what life was like back in the early 20th century. 24-30 October.11am-7pm Monday to Friday. The Gate Library.

24^th to 30^th October. Forest Gate Faces. Revealing exhibition detailing the story of Forest ate residents from the 1890s onwards.   The first fifty visitors to the exhibition to show this booklet will receive a free copy of The Newham Story, a wonderful 26 page history of Newham spanning periods from 4000bc to the present day and packed full of fabulous historic facts and photos. 24-30 October. See venue opening times. The Gate Library.

Monday 24^th to 30th October. The Changing Face of Forest Gate. Informative exhibition about the changing face of Forest Gate from the nineteenth century onward. The Gate Library, Forest Gate. See venue opening times

24-30 October. See venue for opening times. Keir Hardie Exhibition Exhibition about the life and times of legendary Newham politician Keir Hardie. Beckton Globe Library.

24-30 October Newham’s poets and writers. Exhibition about Newham’s poets and writers. See venue for opening times. Beckton Globe Library

24^th – 30^th October. Black Saturday. Find out about what happened to Newham during the blitz on Black Saturday. The first 50 visitors to the exhibition who show issue 351 of the Newham Mag will receive a free copy of The Newham Story. See venue opening times. Canning Town Library.

24- 30 October. Newham Sporting Life. Revealing exhibition about Newham’s sporting heroes. The first 50 visitors to the exhibition who show issue 351 of the Newham Mag will receive a free copy of The Newham Story. See venue opening times. Stratford Library.

24-30 October. Newham’s Great War. Fascinating insight into the part played by Newham and its brave soldiers during world war one. The first fifty visitors to the exhibition who show Newham Mag 351 will receive a free copy of The Newham Story. See venue opening times. East Ham Library.

24-30 October. I belong to Newham. Famous faces from the London borough of Newham come to life in this informative and inspiring exhibition. See venue opening times. Manor Park Library.

24-30 October Eric Dawson: The West Ham Exhibition. Captivating exhibition about local artist Eric Dawson and his images of the West Ham area. See venue opening times. Green Street Library.

24- 30 October. Women and Protest. Exhibition about women and their part in protest movements which have affected Newham. See venue opening times. North Woolwich Library.

24-30 October. Bengali East End Heritage Society Exhibition. Art Exhibition by local artist and curator Saif Osmani and the Bengali East End Heritage Society. The art exhibition looks at contested boundaries, community tension and spaces deemed under threat due to an ever increasing amount of building and development in East London. See venue opening times. Stratford Library .

24-30 October. Faith in Newham Exhibition. History and impact of the churches, synagogues, mosques and temples of Newham. See venue opening times    . East Ham Library.

Tuesday 25th October. 11am and Friday 28th October at 11am. Heritage Walking Tour: Olympic Park. A 1.5 hour (approx) walk using oral histories. Meet at Mocha East Vue Tube. To book email Eastside Heritage: office@ech.org.uk.. Free but pre-booking essential.

 

Tuesday 25th October at 2pm. London Personally Heritage Walks – How E15 became E20.

No part of London has gone through more changes than Stratford the shopping and transport hub of Newham.

On the ancient road from London to Colchester the area takes its’ name from the ancient abbey on the River Lea. With the coming of the railways in the 1840’s industry grew up around the old town and by the end of the 19th century Stratford had become an important trading shopping and political centre with some of Newham’s best Victorian and Edwardian buildings.  Its history and struggles and the effect of bringing the Olympics to the area with stunning new architecture and the Queen Elizabeth Park will all be taken in on this walk. MEETING POINT: Outside Stratford Station by the Robert Engine. FINISH POINT: Pudding Lane DLR Station. Stan Harris – info@londonpersonally.co.uk. £10 per head. To book: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/how-e15-became-e20-tickets-28141163979.

Tuesday 25th October 4pm to 5pm. House Mill: ‘From Gin and Vice to Tea and Temperance’. A talk by Eleanore Bloom, a senior volunteer at House Mill, a registered City Guide and member of London Historians. Eleanor will talk and present the story of this important episode in London’s social history, during which we will be pleased to offer tea and biscuits; but not gin and vice! House Mill, Three Mill Island, Bromley by Bow, London, E3 3DU.

Tuesday 25 October. 11am to 1pm. Children’s Heritage Themed Greeting Card Workshop. Children will create their own greeting cards adorned with places and faces from Newham’s history.Ages 5-11. Plaistow Library

Tuesday 25 October. 11am-12.30pm        Heritage Themed Coffee Morning. Chat about the past and learn about the fascinating history of the area over a nice hot brew and some scrumptious nibbles. You can also pick up free copies of the Newham Story and our special Heritage Week postcards, bespoke to your area.All welcome. Custom House Library.

Tuesday 25^th October. 10am to 3.30pm. West Ham Oral Histories (Children) . If you are a young West Ham fan then this is for you. In this one day work shop you will learn the unique skill of recording oral histories and take part in an intergenerational workshop to record memories from the Boleyn and beyond. Booking essential. Please contact Stratford Library. Ages 9-11. Stratford Library

Tuesday 25^th October. 10am – 3.30pm. West Ham Oral Histories (Adults) . Do you have a long list of memories and experiences from your time as a Hammers fan? If so come along to this intergenerational workshop and share your most treasured moments. These memories will be recorded for future generations and become part of West Ham United’s archives. Please bring along a treasured piece of your West Ham memorabilia to show and tell.  Booking essential. Please contact Stratford Library. Ages 30+ years . 10am – 3.30pm. Stratford Library

Wednesday 26th October 1pm to 3.30pm. The North Woolwich Trail: Deep Water. An audio trail featuring the sound and voices of the River Thames and Newham Docklands as you follow a route through the three former Royal Docks. Meet: King George V DLR station. Email Dr Toby Butler t.butler@uel.ac.uk Limited Places – Booking Essential

Wednesday 26th October 2pm to 4pm. Museum on Wheels. Celebrate and enjoy Newham’s heritage through Eastside Heritage’s unique museum on wheels. Beckton Globe. Free Entry.. Audio equipment provided. Distance of 3.5km. Guided by Dr Toby Butler and students of UEL.

Wednesday 26th October 3pm to 4pm. House Mill: ‘Sharing Stories’. House Mill resident storyteller Shamim Azad, a Bangladeshi born British bilingual poet, storyteller and writer will be with us for this unique event. Shamim is part of the East End storytelling group, which invites local residents to join in sharing some the stories brought together by the East End’s rich, diverse history of immigration. We invite Newham’s older residents (50+) to hear Shamim’s stories and to tell your own. House Mill, Three Mill Island, Bromley by Bow, London, E3 3DU.

Wednesday 26th October 4pm. West Ham United Football Club Reminiscence Session. Come along and share memories of The Irons. Forest Gate Learning Zone. Free.

Wednesday 26th October at 6.45pm. Lecture – Forest Gate: Growth of a Victorian Suburb. Lecture by local historians Peter Williams and Mark Gorman. The Gate, Forest Gate Library, 6-7 Woodgrange Road, E7 0QH. Entry by Free Ticket – only available from The Gate beforehand. Refreshments on sale.

Wednesday 26 October, 6.30-7.30pm. Faith in Newham   Dr Colin Marchant presents a lecture about historic the faith buildings of Newham. All welcome. East Ham Library.

Wednesday 26 October. 1.45 to 6pm. Children’s Heritage Themed Greeting Card Workshop. Children will create their own greeting cards adorned with places and faces from Newham’s history. Ages 5-11. Green Street Festival  (taking place in Queens Market).

Wednesday 26^th October. Heritage Themed Coffee Morning, 11am-12.30pm. Chat about the past and learn about the fascinating history of the area over a nice hot brew and some scrumptious nibbles. You can also pick up free copies of the Newham Story and our special Heritage Week postcards, bespoke to your area. All welcome. The Gate Library.

Wednesday 26^th October. Forest Gate Heritage Lecture Join historian Peter Williams for an evening of discussion about the fascinating history of Forest Gate. All welcome. 6.30-8pm. The Gate Library.

Thursday 27th October 11am. Brick Lane Music Hall Open Morning. A chance to see the Brick Lane Music Hall – a Grade II Listed building and learn about the history of music hall in East London from Vincent Hayes MBE the founder and director of Brick Lane. Brick Lane Music Hall, 443 North Woolwich Road, North Woolwich E16 2AA (500m – a third of a mile in old money – from Pontoon Dock DLR station). Booking Essential. Email kjenservices@hotmail.com. Refreshments Provided. Booking Essential.

Thursday 27th October 11am (lasts approx 30 mins + short Q&A).  Talk: A Brief History of Theatre Royal. Built in 1884, renovated by Frank Matcham in 1902, and home to Joan Littlewood’s world-famous Theatre Workshop Company, Theatre Royal has been entertaining audiences for 131 years. Murray Melvin, Theatre Royal Stratford East’s Honorary Archivist and Member of Joan Littlewood’s Theatre Workshop, gives a special talk on the history of this much loved Grade II Listed building in the heart of Stratford. Theatre Royal Stratford East (auditorium stalls), Gerry Raffles Square, London, E15 1BN . Free. Booking advised: Theatre Royal Stratford East box office on 020 8534 0310 (some places available on the day on a first come, first served basis).

Thursday 27th October 1pm – 2pm. Open Archive. A chance to see some of Theatre Royal’s Archive Collection, with Murray Melvin, Theatre Royal Stratford East’s Honorary Archivist and Member of Joan Littlewood’s Theatre Workshop. Theatre Royal Stratford East (Murray Melvin Meeting Room).

openarchive@stratfordeast.com.  Note:. Free. But places limited to 10 on a first come, first served basis. Booking: openarchive@stratfordeast.com or 020 8279 1131.

Thursday 27th October at 1.30pm. London Personally Heritage Walks – Monks, Sewage and Iron.

Stan Harris O.B.E. will be leading a series of walks on behalf of London Personally for Newham Heritage Week and this walk broadly along the River Lea and West Ham explores how Newham developed from  rural countryside to East London’s industrial heartland. Next to the gritty industrial history , stories of ancient monasteries and London’s finest example of Victorian engineering you will also be able to enjoy much of the Art Trail on this part of the Lea and have a rest and refreshments at a riverside community café at Cody Dock. START POINT    Bromley-by-Bow Station (District and City and Met line.) FINISHING POINT  Star Lane Station (DLR). Stan Harris – info@londonpersonally.co.uk. £10 per head. To Book: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/monks-sewage-and-iron-tickets-28140981433

TOO  FAR/ TOO LONG?  We are within walking distance of public transport throughout.

REFRESHMENT /FACILITIES STOP:  We hope to have a 20 minute stop at the charming Cody Dock cafe on the Lee itself around 3.30pm.

Thursday 27th October 2pm to 4pm. The West Silvertown Trail: gun powder, flour and flood. An exciting audio trail includes the beauty of Barrier Park, the horror of the biggest explosion ever to rock London and first hand accounts of working lives in the riverside factories and flour mills.

Meet: Main entrance Excel Centre (Custom House DLR station). Email Dr Toby Butler t.butler@uel.ac.uk Limited Places – Booking Essential. Audio equipment provided. Distance 2km walk guided by Dr Toby Butler and students of UEL.

 

Thursday 27th October 6.30pm to 8pm. House Mill: Guided Tours of House Mill with Gin Tasting. Join us at House Mill to tour this spectacular Grade I Listed building, to learn about its role in the 18thC “Gin Craze” and to sample a range of London Gins. House Mill, Three Mill Island, Bromley by Bow, London, E3 3DU. To reserve a place please email: info@housemill.org.uk. There is a token charge of £5 per person. Owing to space restrictions within the heritage building, this event is

limited.

 

Thursday 27th October  7pm: Screening. Film Screening and Discussion – Foreign Pickers by Kathrin Bohm (My Villages) for Company Drinks, in collaboration with Sue Giovanni. This screening will be accompanied by a talk by Kathrin Bohm and Dr Toby Butler, University of East London, discussing the history and heritage of hop picking and Kathrin’s ongoing project, Company: Movements, Deals and Drinks. Two new Company Drinks beverages which resulted in East London pickers going to Kent in 2016 will be also avaliable: a Thinning Soda and a Gleaned Cider.

University of East London, University Square, 1 Salway Road, Stratford, E15 1NF. Further details: t.butler@uel.ac.uk. Free. No need to book.

 

Thursday 27th October 6pm. Eastside Heritage. Share your memories of Silvertown and North Woolwich. Shipman Youth Centre. Organised by Eastside Heritage: office@ech.org.uk. Free.

 

Thursday 27th October 7pm. Eastside Heritage. Talk by historian Graham Hill on the Silvertown Explosion. Shipman Youth Centre. Organised by Eastside Heritage: office@ech.org.uk. Free.

 

Thursday October 27^th,. Children’s Heritage Themed Greeting Card Workshop. Children will create their own greeting cards adorned with places and faces from Newham’s history. Ages 5-11. 1-3pm, Canning Town Library

Thursday 27 October, 10.45am-12noon. Heritage themed coffee morning. Chat about the past and learn about the fascinating history of the area over a nice hot brew and some scrumptious nibbles. You can also pick up free copies of the Newham Story and our special Heritage Week postcards, bespoke to your area. All welcome.Canning Town Library.

Thursday 27 October, 11am-5.30pm. Building Beckton’s Industrial  Heritage. Participants will review archival images and present day photographs of the Beckton Sewage Works, The Chimney and Cyprus Estate in response they will recreate the buildings using papier mache, card, and paper  to create a display mini exhibition. Ages 8-11 years with parent welcome. Beckton Globe.

Friday 28 October. 11-1pm Children’s heritage themed greeting card workshop. Children will create their own greeting cards adorned with places and faces from Newham’s history. Ages 5-11. Manor Park Library

Friday 28^th October 6.30-7.45pm. Morris Dancing Performances. Traditional Morris dancing performances for all to enjoy. All ages welcome. East Ham Library.

Saturday 29 October. 1-3pm.Children’s heritage themed drawing workshop. Artist Eleanor Pearce will lead children through this fun and engaging  heritage themed workshop, where children will learn to draw heritage buildings and objects using a variety of materials such as pastels, charcoal and drawing pens. Ages 4-6. The Gate Library

Saturday 29 October, 12noon-4pm Children’s heritage themed greeting card Workshop. Children will create their own greeting cards adorned with places and faces from Newham’s history. Ages 5-11. East Ham Library

Saturday 29 October, 3-4pm Heritage Themed Lego Club. Have a go at recreating Heritage Landmarks with Lego. Ages 5-11. The Gate Library

Saturday 29th October Noon to 4pm. Newham Heritage Awareness Day. End of week, boroughwide Heritage Awareness Day. East Ham Library. The day will have something for all ages and interests including information stalls, exhibitions, pop up museum and a chance to give your views in a future Museum for Newham.

Kevin Jenkins: kjenservices@hotmail.com. Free Entry.

Saturday 29 and Sunday October 20. Abbey Mills Pumping station, Abbey Lane E15 2RW built between 1865 and 1866, it is often described as the Cathedral of Sewage. A rare opportunity of a guided tour of this magnificent building.
Tours on: Saturday 29th October at 11am, Noon, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm
Sunday 30th October at 11am, Noon, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm.
Pre-booking only before 5pm on Monday 24th October.
To book email Kevin at kjenservices@hotmail.com stating preferred date, time and number of spaces required.

Sunday 30 October, 2-4pm. Children’s heritage themed greeting card workshop. Children will create their own greeting cards adorned with places and faces from Newham’s history. Ages 5-11. Stratford Library

Sunday 30th October 11am to 4pm.  House Mill: Guided Tours. Guided tours of the Grade I Listed House Mill. Visit four of the floors of House Mill with one of our trained volunteer guides. You will learn of House Mill’s history and the Trust’s plans for its future which will restore the heritage machinery to working order, develop hydro-electrcity using the wheels, broaden activities to include a vibrant activity hub for Newham. These plans already include an art gallery, event space, wedding ceremony and reception venue, so come and share them with us! House Mill, Three Mill Island, Bromley by Bow, London, E3 3DU. Please bring proof of LBN residency to enjoy free of charge. The cafe in the Miller’s House will be open throughout, serving a range of fresh foods and drinks.

* Apologies for the change in style in some parts of this report.

Pictures: See previous post.