The History of Newell Street - Limehouse
House History of Newell Street, London
No.15 Newell Street was built during the 1760s and is part of one of the last remaining Georgian terraced rows in the area. Formerly known as Church Row, Charles Dickens visited his godfather here during the 1820s. Neighbouring St Anne’s was designed by Sir Nicholas Hawksmoor and features the highest Church clock in London.
The 18th century
Newell Street was laid out for building in the mid 1700s on ground to the west of the new St Anne’s Church. St Anne’s was built for the expanding east-end population in 1712-24, but was only consecrated in 1730. John Rocque’s map from 1746 still shows the church surrounded by fields and gardens.
Newell Street is first recorded as Church Street, but later changed to Church Row (the northern section) and Church Lane (the southern section towards the river). Records from the Tower Hamlets Commissioner of Sewers shows rates being paid for Church Street in 1766; however house numbers are not listed. Today’s house numbers 11 to 23 were originally numbered 9 to 3, as shown on Richard Horwood’s map from 1799, No.15 was formerly No.7.
Dickens in Church Row
Charles Dickens formerly spent time in Church Row, when visiting his Godfather, Christopher Huffam, a successful ship builder and sail maker who went on to become gentleman in waiting to William IV. When Dickens was only around ten years old and his father was in financial trouble Dickens became a regular visitor to Church Row. There is however some confusion about which house belonged to Huffam, one source stating it is today’s No.5 Newell Street, another source that it is today’s No.11.
The 19th century
The 1841 census records show Church Row during the early 19th century was home to the professional working classes, with occupations including boat builders, solicitors, engineers and clerks. Unfortunately no house numbers are given, so it is not possible to identify the occupants of No.7 Church Row.
In the 1851 census, No.7 Church Row was home to Joseph Hecley, aged 43, married to Agnes, aged 42. Joseph and Agnes have nine children, seven daughters and two sons, aged between eighteen and three. Also in the house at this time is Joseph’s nephew, William, aged eight and one “General Servant”, Ann Walker, aged 19.
Changing residents
By the 1881 census the demographics of the area began to change with more working class residents closely associated with the docks and canal nearby. Having been renamed and renumbered in 1875, the census shows No.15 Church Row as home to William Bailey, a Blacksmith, aged 45, with his wife Jane and seven step children. By this time, the house has also been divided into separate apartments, with two further families, listed as “Lodgers”.
During the latter part of the 19th century, No.15 Church Row became home to a mixture of working class families, including Ebenezer Gowen, a 42 year-old “schools attendance officer” and John Burnell, a “general labourer” in 1891. In 1901 the house is home to Albert Punter, a “farrier and blacksmith”, with his wife Elizabeth and their six children aged between nine and one. Also in the house was George Moore, a bricklayer and his two sons, Albert and Alfred, and Henry Shaw, a 37 year-old “block packer”, with his wife May and three daughters, Ada, Edith and Lillian.
The 20th century
In 1905 No.15 Church Row became the home of William Joseph Hatchman, a beer bottler, who continued to live in the house with his wife Rebecca and his son, William Jnr, until the 1950s. The Valuation Tax record in 1910 shows the gross value of No.15 Church Row as £295, with the house valued separately at £145.
Church Row was renamed Newell Street in 1938, in honour of local councillor, James Edgar Newell.
Today
No.15 Newell Street is part of a Grade II listed terraced row and sits within the St Anne’s Church Conservation Area. The exterior of the house features stucco to the first floor, pediment door cases and fanlight above the door. The drawing room is also believed to contain an original swan nest fireplace.
(c) Melanie Backe-Hansen - Chesterton Historian
