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 |
|
London borough | Tower Hamlets |
---|---|
Ceremonial county | Greater London |
Region | London |
Country | England |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | LONDON |
Postcode district | E1, E1W, E14 |
Dialling code | 020 |
Police | Metropolitan |
Fire | London |
Ambulance | London |
EU Parliament | London |
London Assembly | City and East |
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
Ratcliff name is from a sandstone cliff. This used to be above the surrounding marshes. This had a red appearance. Hence Red-cliffe.
History
Ratcliffe 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]
Ratcliff, London Media
"Ratcliff Cross", dance tune known before 1726
References
- ↑ 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
- ↑ http://www.godfreydykes.info/The%20lost%20village%20of%20Ratcliff.htm%20(2013_11_05%2019_40_34%20UTC).html