Poplar

DISTRICT
Poplar
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Population
PostCode District	E14
Borough	London Borough of Tower Hamlets
OS Grid Reference
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Poplar is a residential district in East London largely based around Chrisp Street and is part of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It lies to the immediate north of Canary Wharf , south of Bromley-by-Bow and east of Limehouse and Bow Common and west of Blackwall.

Description

Taking its name from the now rare Black Poplar trees, which once flourished in the area, the first record of Poplar was in the 1300s. The area’s rich history includes the 1921 Poplar Rates Rebellion, led by the then-Mayor George Lansbury, who was later elected as leader of the Labour Party. Today, Poplar is a unique area of East London, home to Chrisp Street Market, the River Lea and Limehouse Cut canal. Shops and local businesses are focused around Chrisp Street Market – the first purpose-build pedestrian shopping area in the UK in 1951.[1]

Community

Neighbours in Poplar was formed in October 1969, when some concerned people gathered together a large number of senior citizens for a Christmas Party and to aid vulnerable people, especially those living alone and often undocumented, to live fulfilling and meaningful lives.[2] There is an arts & community centre called Poplar Union which that opened in 2017, and is situated between the Limehouse Cut and Bartlett Park on Cotall Street.[3] Spotlight is creative youth service on Hay Currie Street, is for young people and is a free service.[4].

There is also the Aberfeldy Community Centre,[5] and Teviot Centre[6]

Landmarks

Poplar biggest landmark is Lansbury Estate, a large, historic council housing estate, built by 1951, it became the ‘Live Architecture Exhibition’ of the Festival of Britain. Critics were generally underwhelmed by the project, with one or two notable exceptions. Writing in The New Yorker in 1953, Lewis Mumford remarked, "I shall be surprised if Lansbury is not one of the best bits of housing and urban planning anywhere."[7] Within the estate is Chrisp Street Market, designed by Frederick Gibberd, and built as part of the Festival of Britain in 1951.[8] Inside is Maureen's Pie & Mash[9] a famous and locally popular café located in the market, serving traditional Pie and Mash.[10]

Another landmark is the Balfron Tower, completed in 1967, remains one of the best-known works of the modernist architect Ernő Goldfinger.[11]

There is also the White Horse of Poplar High Street is a big wooden sign located on Poplar High Street,[12] and the Spratt's Complex housing development, once the largest pet food factory in the world.[13]

Recreation

The area largest, historic and most popular park in Bartlett Park,[14], other parks include Poplar Recreation Ground,[15], Langdon Park.[16], Jolly's Green,[17] Millennium Green, and Braithwaite Park.[18]

Services

The Poplar Job Centre is located within the area, and is on Dod Street.[19] It is set to be demolished to make way for dozens of new flats and relocate to Mansell Street.[20]

Transport

London Buses routes 15, 108, 115, 309, D6, D7, D8 and N15, N550 and N551 all run in Poplar.

More information on the Wikipedia page [21]