Genealogy Chat

My 6xg grandfather was noted as being born in St Mary Le Bow, London in 1752, I've googled and got a lot of info on the church, but was there an actual district or area? I can't find anywhere called St Mary Le Bow. Any info would be grateful. Kirsten

could it be the east end of london ie;bow (bow bells)

Well that's what I thought, but when I googled the name it just kept coming up with the church. Bow is the East End and the church is in the City, near St Paul's. You can't have been raised in a church!

I'm pretty sure that St Mary le Bow is 'the' Bow church. Not to be confused with the area known as Bow, in what's now Tower Hamlets LB.

No (oops, refering to Kirsten, not Andrew!!), but you could have been raised in the Parish of St Mary Le Bow in the City of London! (they had to have SOME parishioners!!) I think (BTW) the Bow Bells sound refers to the same church, not the area in the East End. So your rellie was a true Cockney! Merry

By the way, the 'East End' has slowly crept eastwards. It was originally the area immediately to the east of the City, whereas now it could be considered to encompass an area that stretches out as far as Manor Park.

We have family from Whitechapel on my father's side and my mother was quite happy because she takes pride in her northern roots, but now she's found out she's alittle disturbed!

The East End Church is St Mary, Stratford at Bow in Poplar, East London an ancient Church with first records dating from1539. Jean x.

Stratford is not in Poplar!!

With regard to the City of London parish, Kirsten......don't forget the population was high in the city then.....each church only needed to serve a few streets .......If your rellie was born there it would be a tiny area on a map! Merry

No, the church in the island on the Broadway is St John's.

Thanks Merry, I had that thought in mind. I'm trying to find a map that could give a rough estimate of what the area was known as.

Found one! http://www.stmarylebow(.)co.uk/?Our_Parish (remove brackets) Merry

Thank Merry! I'll have a closer look at that. Seems like it's located on Bow Street. Thank you.

St Mary le Bow is on the south side of Cheapside - the road that leads from Bank to St Paul's Cathedral. Christine

Excuse me Andrew but the Church in Poplar is called St Mary, Stratford at Bow. Sorry if this does not match up with your idea of Stratford and Poplar. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~waves to Karen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thank you Christine, I was getting confused with Cheapside. I'd never heard of it and thought it was an area!

Cheapside's both a street and the area around it.

Oh I see. Thank you Andrew, feel alittle bit more connected to the area now.

Jean: Sorry, I hadn't realised that was the name of the church; however, it's in Bow, not Poplar.