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| First ref: 8th Century as 'Blithehall' from the Saxon name 'Blida'. Originally a Roman settlement. Found fame through the legend of the Blind Beggar, a 13th century fable. Elizabethan Bethnal Green - wealthy, dominated by 3 large residential properties; Henry de Montford's (the Blind Beggar) old house, Nettleswell House in Old Ford Road and a nouveau riche pile called Kirby's Castle after its owner John Kirby. Reubens stayed in Bethnal Green from 1629-30 with Sir Balthazar Gerbier using his wife and children as models. In the 18th century the Blind Beggar was on all Bethnal Green inn signs and the private mad house - Kirby's Castle - was called Blind Beggar House. 1801 - The Regent's Canal was opened to link the Grand Junction Canal's Paddington Arm with the Thames at Limehouse. In Elizabeth's reign French silk weavers had set up an industry in the nearby Spitalfields and Whitechapel and in the 18th century there was a huge influx of weavers from all over the country moving into the area as overspill from the surrounding areas. 100 years after the Hugenot immigration the north side of Victoria Park became known as Jews Walk due to the Jews who had come from Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands. These were very wealthy families consisting mainly of traders and merchants. |
19th century Bethnal Green was one of the most overcrowded slum areas of London. However after leaving the Cambridge Heath Turnpike up the Hackney Road all became fields and woodland. Between 1790-95 there was a huge increase in the housing/population bringing the number of people living in Bethnal Green up to 74,988. In the next 100 years this was up to 129,680. Huge infant mortality. Water was only supplied 'thrice weekly and for two hours at a time and at low pressure.' 19th century. The weaving industry collapses and people turn to religion; Anglo-Catholicism makes a return, as it is distraction from the poverty and mortality pervading everything. 1841 - Kirby's Castle is an insane asylum with 587 inmates and 45 staff. It finally closed in 1920 after WW1 where German shop owners were stored as their shops were looted. 1920s/30s - New blocks of flats are built, but WW11 sees the destruction of 2,233 homes. Population is halved and by 1964 only 46,420 are residents. Of course there is now a steady increase in people coming to live in Bethnal Green. About LAND |
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