Bow

Settlement in Middlesex

England

Bow

River Lee Navigation, Hackney Wick Looking north from the bridge at White Post Lane. On the left is the Crate Brewery - one of several beer and street food venues that have helped to transform this previously rundown canal backwater into a party hotspot. — River Lee Navigation, Hackney Wick Credit: Mark Percy

Bow is a district located in the borough of Tower Hamlets, in the East End of London, England. It is situated within the historic county of Middlesex, although it is now part of Greater London. Bow is bordered by the River Lea to the east, the Regent's Canal to the south, and Mile End Road to the north.

The area has a rich history, dating back to Roman times when it was a small hamlet known as Stratford-atte-Bow due to the presence of a bridge over the River Lea. In medieval times, Bow became a prosperous village, famous for its bow-shaped bridge and its association with the longbow archers of the Battle of Agincourt.

Today, Bow is a vibrant and diverse neighborhood with a mix of residential, commercial, and industrial areas. The district is known for its Victorian terraced houses, which line many of its streets. The area has seen significant redevelopment in recent years, with the creation of new housing developments and the restoration of historic buildings.

Bow is well-served by public transportation, with several underground and DLR (Docklands Light Railway) stations providing easy access to the rest of London. The district also benefits from a range of amenities, including shops, restaurants, parks, and leisure facilities.

Overall, Bow is a thriving and culturally diverse district with a rich heritage and a convenient location, making it an attractive place for residents and visitors alike.

Show me another place!

If you have any feedback on the listing, please let us know in the comments section below.

Bow Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 51.530154/-0.027055 or Grid Reference TQ3683. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

River Lee Navigation, Hackney Wick

Looking north from the bridge at White Post Lane. On the left is the Crate Brewery - one of several beer and street food venues that have helped to transform this previously rundown canal backwater into a party hotspot.

Mark Percy

Old Ford Locks

The River Lea veers off to the right under the footbridge while the River Lea Navigation continues north through the locks.

Mark Percy

View from platforms 4 and 5 at Stratford station, facing west

Tom Page

The concourse underneath Pudding Mill Lane DLR station and tracks

Tom Page

The View Tube cafe at the end of the Greenway

Tom Page

Barge on the Regent's Canal

Construction of a national canal network began in the late 18th century, but initially the canal from the Midlands ended at Paddington, and there was no link to eastern London until the Regent's Canal was built. It was the brainchild of engineer Thomas Homer who, in 1812, presented a plan to the Grand Junction Company (which owned the canal from London to Birmingham) for the creation of a waterway from Limehouse to Paddington. To begin with the project progressed quickly, largely passing through what was then agricultural land, but it was soon hampered by financial problems. Stubborn and greedy landowners asked inflated prices for property along the preferred route, and, to make matters worse, Thomas Homer disappeared in 1815 taking the company's funds with him. New legislation passed in 1817 enabled the work to be completed by 1820 using funds borrowed from the Treasury. The canals were initially a success, particularly for transporting coal, building materials and other bulky loads, but the rise of the railways not long after the canals were built substantially reduced their importance. Now they are primarily a leisure facility. What was then the Central Electricity Generating Board laid cables under some of the towpaths in the 1970s, as here, and made them suitable for pedestrians again. This old barge just south of Mile End Road looks somewaht derelict but it has new solar panels.

Marathon

Salmon Lane Lock

Construction of a national canal network began in the late 18th century, but initially the canal from the Midlands ended at Paddington, and there was no link to eastern London until the Regent's Canal was built. It was the brainchild of engineer Thomas Homer who, in 1812, presented a plan to the Grand Junction Company (which owned the canal from London to Birmingham) for the creation of a waterway from Limehouse to Paddington. To begin with the project progressed quickly, largely passing through what was then agricultural land, but it was soon hampered by financial problems. Stubborn and greedy landowners asked inflated prices for property along the preferred route, and, to make matters worse, Thomas Homer disappeared in 1815 taking the company's funds with him. New legislation passed in 1817 enabled the work to be completed by 1820 using funds borrowed from the Treasury. The canals were initially a success, particularly for transporting coal, building materials and other bulky loads, but the rise of the railways not long after the canals were built substantially reduced their importance. Now they are primarily a leisure facility. What was then the Central Electricity Generating Board laid cables under some of the towpaths in the 1970s, as here, and made them suitable for pedestrians again. This is on the Regent's Canal looking north past Salmon Lane Lock. The lock keeper's cottage is attractive in rather grim surroundings.

Marathon

Former Stepney Meeting Burial Ground, White Horse Road

Most of this site was formerly a non-conformist burial ground belonging to a church known as Stepney Meeting. In the 17th Century, Stepney was a stronghold of Puritanism and supported Parliament in the Civil War. Stepney meeting was founded in 1644 by a group of Puritans called Independents. It was the first Independent church in East London. The first Stepney Meeting House was built in 1674, near the corner of what is now Stepney Way and Garden Street. The meeting house was re-built in 1863 but destroyed in the Second World War. All that remains are a few ruined walls, surrounded by what is now Stepney City Farm. Stepney Meeting opened this burial ground in 1779, and the first interment took place in 1790. Almshouses for eight women were also built on a site to the east of the footpath. In 1785 Stepney Meeting also built a small charity school between the almshouses and Salmon Lane. The burial ground was closed in 1853 by Order in Council. The 1870 map shows the disused burial ground, the almshouses and the former school on the corner of White Horse Road and Salmon Lane. These buildings were all bombed in the Second World War. In 1972 Stepney Meeting amalgamated with John Knox Church in Stepney Way near the junction with Jubilee Street. This is now called the Stepney meeting House United Reformed Church. The former Stepney Meeting burial ground is one of many non-conformist burial grounds in Tower Hamlets and it reflects the history of dissent in this part of East London. The burial ground is entered from either White Horse Road or Salmon Lane. There is a very good information board by the latter entrance which can be seen at Link This peaceful spot has a number of monuments, including the lozenge shaped graves of the type made famous by Charles Dickens in Great Expectations.

Marathon

Former Stepney Meeting Burial Ground, White Horse Road

Marathon

Entrance to St Dunstan's Churchyard, Stepney

There was probably a church here in Saxon times but the present church dates mainly from the 15th century, although the chancel walls are 13th century. The very large churchyard has some exceptionally fine plane trees.

Marathon

St Dunstan's Churchyard, Stepney

Marathon

Interior of St Dunstan's Church, Stepney

Marathon

Ram at Stepney City Farm

Stepney City Farm is a wonderful community resource in the heart of Stepney and has a real feel of countryside. More about the history of the farm can be seen at Link