Aerial View 3

Housing and industry densely cover the western half of Newham.


This photograph was taken on 31st May, 1960 from an altitude of 5,280 feet. Overall the general mass of housing and streets can be seen. Some particular features: Top left: the vast expanse of Stratford Railway Works and the main line to and from Liverpool Street; Top, left to right: the straightness of Stratford High Street and Romford Road belies its origins as a Roman road; the older streets of Martins Lane and Angel Lane appear some ten or twelve years before Stratford Shopping Centre is developed. Left, top to bottom: the River Lea and its tributaries form the borough's western boundary; Centre Right: West Ham Park is clearly visible, providing a 'green lung' for the area; the Northern Outfall Sewer bisects the borough from north-west to south-east; Bottom centre: the old Abbey Mills junction curves away from the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway to join the former North Woolwich Branch, to the right of which is the East London Cemetery.

Aerial View 3