Ratcliff (London)
 
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Location of Ratcliff in Greater London |
Ratcliff or Ratcliffe is a borough of London . The former hamlet lies on the north bank of the Thames between the districts of Shadwell and Limehouse and borders on Stepney to the south . Like this one, Ratcliff belongs to the London Borough of Tower Hamlets .
The name "Ratcliff" is derived from a sandstone rock that was found in the surrounding swamps. The sandstone was red, so it was called the Red-cliffe .
history
Ratcliff has been known as a shipbuilding site since at least the 14th century. A number of warships for the Royal Navy were built here in the 17th century . One of the earliest frigates , the Constant Warwick , was also built here in 1645. At that time, Ratcliff was the most populous village in the Stepney area with 3,500 residents. Hostels, bars, brothels, concert halls and opium dens have sprung up on the edge of Narrow Street on the Wapping Waterfront . These crowded and dirty neighborhoods were getting a bad name. In 1794 about half of the village was destroyed by fire. Even after that it remained a slum . The situation only improved in the 19th century. In late 1811 there were seven murders on the Ratcliffe Highway (now St. George Street ). The crime was committed by a sailor named John Williams, who committed suicide.
Web links
- Ratcliffe ( Memento of October 1, 2006 in the Internet Archive ) on Eolfhs.org (English)
- Ratcliff on Eastlondonhistory.com
Coordinates: 51 ° 31 ′ N , 0 ° 3 ′ W