Posted by: Robert Rogers

The area, now know as Newham, was mentioned in the Doomsday Book. It would seem that the Normans showed a great interest in the area.

By the 12th Century a Norman called Robert Gernon held the title of Great Lord and Baron of Hamme.

The name of Ham has various meanings: Ham(me) meaning low lying Pastures; it is also an Anglo Saxon word for Home or Resident, hence the word Hamlet (as in Tower Hamlets).There is another possible reason for East & West Ham.Two Saxon freemen owned the area through which flowed a creek. The west of the creek (West Ham?), was owned by `Alestan`, with the East side (East Ham?) being owned by `Leured`, it became know as Ham creek.

The Photo shows West Ham Church which has stood in Stratford since Norman times, and was rebuilt by Gilbert De Montifichet, another Lord of the Manor.