Forgotten Stories

Local journalist and historian Colin Grainger recalls the childhood song that dates back to the day in 1899 when a 30-ton whale met its grisly end on the banks of the River Thames in North Woolwich. read more…

In the second part of this special this special edition of Forgotten Stories we remember The Silvertown Explosion through the eyes and ears of relatives and friends of those who were about on the fateful day, and those who remember the stories of the horrors that were passed on to them.
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Keith Lloyd lived in West Silvertown for 24 years and has written two short stories about the 1917 Silvertown explosion in which he recalls the memories of his mother and his grandfather. read more…

Former North Woolwich PC Alan Godfrey worked as the local Home Beat officer for over 30 years until he retired in 1993. Now 78, Mr Godfrey talks with great pride about the heroism of former officers who died in the line of duty. read more…

To mark the centenary of the biggest explosion in the history of London, West Ham MP Lyn Brown, who grew up in Silvertown, and Joan Plant, who still lives in the house she was born in North Woolwich, recall the impact the Silvertown Explosion had on the community and their family lives. read more…

The Silvertown Explosion hit London’s Royal Docks in the East End of London on January 19 1917. It claimed 73 lives, injured almost 500, destroyed over 900 houses, left up to 70,000 badly damaged, and left thousands of families homeless. This year marks its 100th anniversary.

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Several events commemorating the tragic events of the 1917 Silvertown Explosion will take place in and around London’s Royal Docks on January 19. read more…

Ammunition supplies soon began to dwindle in World War I as Britain was unprepared for a long conflict. One of the sites the Ministry of Munitions investigated to produce the various components of ammunition, such as the volatile explosive TNT, was the Brunner Mond chemical works at Crescent Wharf in Silvertown. read more…