"Life in the "London 2012" borough of London" East Ham by gorty1999

East Ham is now a thriving town, arguably on its uppers, with around 40,000 inhabitants, many from around the globe. One of the first recorded references to East Ham was when the area, which had previously belonged to the Abbey of Westminster and then Montfichets, was divided into the East and West Hams in 1319. Up until the 19th century little of note happened, according to the history books, with East Ham which was a rural village acting as a gateway between London and Essex. But the expansion of the Royal Docks area changed it forever.

West Ham became a feeding town for the shipping industries and the Beckton Gas Works and East Ham catered for the more socially mobile families who had benefited from the trade. During the Second World War East Ham and West Ham suffered the worst of the Blitz which left much of the area a wasteland. The post-war years saw massive reconstruction, both physically and socially.

Thousands of families moved out and those who remained were joined by people from the former commonwealth colonies of the Indian sub-continent and West Indies. The future looks right for East Ham. With the Olympics due in 2012, a new river crossing linking north and south London & coffee shop culture on it's way, is it any wonder house prices are doubling every 5 years !!!!

• Pros:House prices to get your foot on the property ladder
• Cons:An urban mix awaiting the Olympic vibe to arrive