An Afternoon in Upton Park

October 17, 2010

My travels took me to Upton Park today, the spot in the East End best known for its football club, West Ham United. Inaugurated in 1900, their most well-known contribution to English football is the fact that players from the team formed the core of the 1966 World Cup winning England team – the triumphalist statue on the corner of Green St and the Barking Road attests to the fact. In more recent years, however, their fortunes have been more mixed – they’ve only made a consistent return to top-flight football since 2005, after many years of yo-yoing between divisions. Another fact that might have escaped your attention is that they are currently front-runners to take over the Olympic Stadium after the 2012 London Olympics, which funnily enough will bring them closer to the centre of the area that gives them their name…

There’s another interesting institution just down the street that might interest you – the Boleyn Cinema. Built in 1910 as part of the Odeon chain, its had its ups and downs in the 60s and 70s, but its future was secured in 1995 when it became a fixture on the Bollywood cinema circuit, and it continues to serve the local community as a thriving cinema to this day. Although it lacks the beautiful frontage that graced it in its early years, it’s main screen uses the entirety of the old cinema’s balcony, so it can still seat nearly 800 people in the main auditorium.

Of course I can’t end this post without telling you about the area’s most distinctive feature. Turn left out of Upton Park station and you’ll find yourself at the centre point of Green St, looking north towards Forest Gate. Along this part of the road you’ll find what is probably the biggest concentration of stores dedicated to serving the needs of middle-eastern wedding parties anywhere in the UK. There must be 50 or more shops selling intricately beaded, embroidered and sequined bridal gowns and equally elaborate outfits for grooms in an incredibly vibrant range of colours, along with countless jewellery stores selling the traditional tiered golden necklaces, bangles and everything else besides. It’s an incredible sight, and I wish I’d brought along my polarising lens filter so that I could take some shots through the shop windows. Unfortunately I didn’t, but I promise you that this is one of the most exotic sights in the whole of London and well worth a look for yourself. Just remember to look down when you’re walking along St Stephen’s Parade…