Editing Millwall (section)

==History==
[[File:Poplar Met. B Ward Map 1916.svg|thumb|A map showing the Millwall ward of Poplar Metropolitan Borough as it appeared in 1916.]]
Millwall is a smaller area of land than an average [[parish]], as it was part of [[Poplar, London|Poplar]] until the 19th century when it became heavily industrialised, containing the workplaces and homes of a few thousand dockside and shipbuilding workers. Among its factories were the shipbuilding ironworks of [[William Fairbairn]], much of which survives as today's [[Burrells Wharf]]. It was in this era also that [[Millwall F.C.]] was founded, in 1885, as Millwall Rovers.<ref name="Lindsay8">{{Cite book |title=Millwall: A Complete Record, 1885–1991 |last=Lindsay |page=8}}</ref> First nicknamed 'the [[Stevedore|Docker]]s' before becoming 'the Lions', the team moved south of the river to [[New Cross]] in 1910, however a set of amateur football pitches remain, adjoining [[Cubitt Town]] alongside the City Farm that was added in the 20th century.<ref name="Millwall Official History">{{cite web |title=Millwall History |url=http://www.millwallfc.co.uk/club/history/ |work=Millwall Football Club |access-date=5 September 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121001154410/http://www.millwallfc.co.uk/club/history/ |archive-date=1 October 2012}}</ref><ref name="Millwall origins">{{cite web |title=Millwall origins |url=http://www.millwall-history.co.uk/origins.htm |work=The Millwall History Files |access-date=28 August 2010 |archive-date=13 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100413110045/http://www.millwall-history.co.uk/origins.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

Originally known as ''Marshwall'', the area acquired its new name with its breakaway from its former [[parish]] of Poplar. The replacement was due to the large number of [[windmill]]s built on the river wall in the 18th century.[[File:View of Millwall in 1733.jpg|thumb|View of Millwall, London in 1733]] Improvements led by the Lord Mayor [[William Cubitt (politician)|William Cubitt]] in reinforcing the land solved the periodic flooding caused by major snow melt and [[spring tide]]s. Corn and wheat were brought along the [[River Thames]] to be ground into flour there.

On 31 January 1858, the largest ship of that time, the [[SS Great Eastern|SS ''Great Eastern'']], designed by [[Isambard Kingdom Brunel]], was launched from [[Napier Yard, Millwall|Napier Yard]], the [[shipyard]] leased by [[Millwall Iron Works|Messrs J Scott Russell & Co]]. The 211 metre (692&nbsp;ft) length was too wide for the river, and the ship had to be launched sideways.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portcities.org.uk/london/server/show/ConNarrative.61/chapterId/1225/The-Great-Eastern-as-a-passenger-liner.html |title=Port Cities London - "Building the Great Eastern" |access-date=17 Apr 2007 |archive-date=11 February 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080211185829/http://www.portcities.org.uk/london/server/show/ConNarrative.61/chapterId/1225/The-Great-Eastern-as-a-passenger-liner.html |url-status=live }}</ref> A section of the concrete and timber substructure from the launch site is now preserved on-site for public display at the modern Napier Avenue. Due to the technical difficulties of the launch, this was the last ship of such a size to be built on the island, though other builders such as [[Alfred Yarrow|Yarrows]] and [[Samuda Brothers]] continued building warships on the island for another 50 years. They are commemorated in the names of the Samuda Estate on Manchester Road, and Yarrow House on Stewart Street.

[[File:SS Great Eastern launch ramp.JPG|thumb|left|200px|Some of the concrete and timber sub-structure of ''Great Eastern's'' launch ramp.]]
In the 1860s the large [[Millwall Dock]] was built, extending from the Thames at Millwall into the centre of the Isle of Dogs. The spoil from the dock was left as the [[Mudchute]].

During the 19th century, the area now called ''[[Island Gardens]]'' was referred to as ''[[North Greenwich, Isle of Dogs|North Greenwich]]'', for the [[North Greenwich railway station]] that was opened in 1872 to connect with the ferry that was the forerunner of the [[Greenwich foot tunnel]]. The [[Greenwich peninsula]], previously East Greenwich, is now also known by this epithet for the [[North Greenwich tube station]].<ref>[http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=46507 ''The Isle of Dogs: Introduction'', Survey of London: volumes 43 and 44: Poplar, Blackwall and Isle of Dogs (1994), pp. 375-87] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927234727/http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=46507 |date=27 September 2007 }} accessed: 13 July 2007</ref>

Like other parts of the [[Isle of Dogs]], substantial redevelopment has been more or less ongoing since the 1980s, resulting in modern industrial and commercial buildings and hastily constructed contemporary housing beginning to predominate over the remaining early 20th century "two up, two down" semi-detached and terraced homes that housed the dock workers, often overcrowded with occupants. The loss of the docks, the [[The Blitz|German campaign of bombings]] in the area, and the gradual disappearance of the manufacturing and distribution industries led to a fall in population during the mid-20th century and ongoing problems for local workers who relied on shipping and manufacturing for employment.

The post-World War II period saw the area become a focus of regeneration programmes on the former industrial land in Millwall. Initially led by [[Metropolitan Borough of Poplar|Poplar Borough Council]] (eventually absorbed into [[London Borough of Tower Hamlets|Tower Hamlets]]) and [[London County Council]], regeneration efforts focused on council house building until the 1980s when the [[London Docklands Development Corporation]] was created and development shifted to private, even luxury, office and residential buildings. During this period the area's population increased significantly following the above-mentioned mid-century drop.

The area is home to a number of [[Public housing in the United Kingdom|council estates]] including West Ferry Estate, Millwall Estate, Masthouse Terrace, Herperus Crescent Estate and Chapel House Street Estate.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-london/vols43-4/pp489-494 |title=Southern Millwall: Public Housing in Southern Millwall {{!}} British History Online |website=British-history.ac.uk |access-date=2019-12-11 |archive-date=11 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211083318/https://www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-london/vols43-4/pp489-494 |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Barkantine Estate]], commissioned by the [[London County Council]] with the first section opened in 1968, dominates a swathe of the northern section of Millwall.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-london/vols43-4/pp446-451 |title=Northern Millwall: Public housing in Northern Millwall {{!}} British History Online |website=British-history.ac.uk |access-date=2019-12-11 |archive-date=18 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190518070209/https://www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-london/vols43-4/pp446-451 |url-status=live }}</ref>