Stepney has come a long way since Dr Barnardo set up his first orphanage for homeless boys.
Living in Stepney
East of Whitechapel and west of Limehouse, Stepney lies in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets and suffered more than most of East London from post-war demolition and reconstruction.
However, workers in the City of London and in Docklands are turning Stepney's remaining working class Victorian terraces into sought-after residences, complemented by regeneration schemes that are razing to the ground 1960s' tower blocks.
Hidden from casual view, Stepney has some fine Queen Anne houses and Victorian Villas in areas such as Stepney Green, Albert Gardens and Arbour Square.
Stepney Green lies to the north of Stepney and is the last patch of green to tell the story of Richard II and the Peasants' Revolt.
The name Stepney Green covers both the green and the charming B140 which is the only blue cobbled street in London.
New affordable housing and conversion flats are popping up in east Stepney along the Grand Union Canal where houseboats can be more expensive than bricks and mortar.
There is also affordable housing on Commercial Road mingling with pockets of attractive Victorian houses.
Stepney has good local shops, various types of restaurant and excellent connections to the City and Docklands via tube and DLR.
Transport
Stepney Green tube station is on Mile End Road near the junction with Globe Road. It is on the Hammersmith & City and District lines providing a direct link to Liverpool Street, Moorgate and Monument.
Shadwell tube station is on Cable Street to the south of Stepney and is served by the East London Line, currently being extended.
The Docklands Light Railway (DLR) also runs through Shadwell connecting Stepney to Bank and stations en route to Beckton, London City Airport, Canary Wharf, Lewisham and Stratford.
For information regarding transport serving London please visit http://www.tfl.gov.uk/gettingaround/default.aspx
For details of train services throughout the UK please visit http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/
History and culture
The spare wheel of a motorcar is called a 'Stepney' in India and derives from the Stepney Spare Motor Wheel Company created by Walter Davies in 1904.
St Dunstan's is Stepney's oldest church; it was founded in 923, although the current building mostly dates from the 1400s. The church has a long association with the sea and used to register maritime births, deaths and marriages until the 19th century.
Traditionally, a poor area of London, Stepney has several good schools including Stepney Green Jewish School.
For current information regarding Stepney please visit http://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/
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