The
Stepney Historical Trust was set up in 1989 in order to advance the public's education in the history of
StepneyStepney is an inner-city district in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It is located east north-east of Charing Cross and forms part of the East End of London. The area is a mix of post-war high density housing, Victorian mansion blocks and terraced housing that were not demolished during slum...
and the surrounding areas. It is based in the London Dockers Athletic and Social Club in 6 Boulcott Street, London, England E1 0HR.
The Trust has been responsible for a number of historical lectures, exhibitions and historical excursions to many areas of Historical importance.
The
Stepney Historical Trust was set up in 1989 in order to advance the public's education in the history of
StepneyStepney is an inner-city district in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It is located east north-east of Charing Cross and forms part of the East End of London. The area is a mix of post-war high density housing, Victorian mansion blocks and terraced housing that were not demolished during slum...
and the surrounding areas. It is based in the London Dockers Athletic and Social Club in 6 Boulcott Street, London, England E1 0HR.
The Trust has been responsible for a number of historical lectures, exhibitions and historical excursions to many areas of Historical importance. One of the Trustees, Brian Nicholson was the former President of the TGWU (
Transport and General Workers' UnionThe Transport and General Workers' Union, also known as the TGWU and the T&G, was one of the largest general trade unions in the United Kingdom and Ireland - where it was known as the Amalgamated Transport and General Workers' Union - with 900,000 members...
) and has worked with a number of past Labour Governments. Another Trustee, Julia Hunt BA (Hons) has a number of books about the area in particular the London years of Captain Cook, one of our greatest explorers and a fine Mariner.
The Trust has also been responsible for the putting up of its own plaques that are largely ignored by the guide books to the area. One plaque is dedicated to Captain Cook himself and can be seen on a building called Free Trade Wharf in a road called
The HighwayThe Highway, formerly known as the Ratcliffe Highway, is a mile-long road in the East End of London, with several historic landmarks nearby. The route dates back to Roman times. In the 19th century it had a very notorious reputation for vice and crime and was the site of the infamous Ratcliff...
which was formerly known as the Ratcliff Highway, scene of the infamous
Ratcliff Highway murdersThe Ratcliff Highway murders were two vicious attacks that resulted in multiple fatalities, and occurred over twelve days in the year 1811, in homes half a mile apart near Wapping in London.-Murders:...
. Another plaque is to the Boxing Champion, Jack 'Kid' Berg in
Cable StreetCable Street is a mile-long road in the East End of London, with several historic landmarks nearby, made famous by "the Battle of Cable Street" of 1936.-Location:Cable Street runs between the edge of The City and Limehouse:...
which was so named because ship's rope was entwined there. There is also a plaque to the Thames River Police, now known as
Thames DivisionThe Marine Policing Unit is a Central Operations branch of London's Metropolitan Police Service.-Role:...
, in their Police Station in Wapping High Street. Finally, there is a plaque on Gosling House, Cable Street dedicated to
William PerkinSir William Henry Perkin, FRS was an English chemist best known for his discovery, at the age of 18, of the first aniline dye, mauveine.-Early years:...
who discovered a dye called '
mauveineMauveine, also known as aniline purple and Perkin's mauve, was the first synthetic organic dye.Its chemical name is3-amino-2,±9-dimethyl-5-phenyl-7-phenazinium acetate...
' which the derivatives are still used today for medical applications.
The Trust is also a registered charity and exists purely on members subscriptions and grants. It is a non-profit making organisation and any donations are always welcome. The Trust has just published a quarterly newsletter called the "Ratcliff Communities Riverside Journal" which can be obtained from the Trust itself or local libraries in Tower Hamlets.