undefined

Farming was the most important way of making a living until the mid 19th century. Real change came in the 1850s with the building of the Royal Docks for the new large steam ships. At that time they were the largest docks in the world and the first directly linked to the railways. Thousands of people moved in to take up the jobs that were created. New residents included those from other parts of London and Britain but also Indians, Chinese, Africans, Jews and Italians These industries declined bringing unemployment on a large scale work.When war broke out in 1939, others joined the armed forces. Heavy bombing brought devastation to the south of the borough and so after the war many new council houses were built.
From the 1950s new families, many from Asia and the Caribbean were recruited to help with post - War reconstruction. Those escaping persecution in other parts of the world have joined them. Newham is now a diverse place with 150 languages spoken from worldwide all in one London Borough.