West Ham is a historic inner-city district in East London, situated 6.1 miles east of Charing Cross and forming part of the London Borough of Newham since 1965, having previously been an ancient parish within Essex. Its name, first appearing as 'Hamme' in 958 AD and 'Westhamma' in 1186, originates from Old English for "dry land between rivers or marshland," reflecting its geography near the Lea, Thames, and Roding.
From 1844, West Ham experienced rapid urbanisation, transforming into a major Victorian manufacturing hub for pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and processed foods. This industrial boom, driven by industries relocating from central London, earned it the nickname "London over the border." Once lauded as the "Factory centre of the south of England" due to its vital docks and concentrations of industry, the district later faced significant deindustrialisation and job losses. However, the 21st century has brought some revival and development, partly spurred by the 2012 Olympic Games, with areas like Stratford and Canning Town seeing regeneration.