A view of houses in Shadwell Green courtyard, Stepney, shortly before demolition to facilitate the laying out of the King Edward Memorial Park. There are children outside one of the houses and washing hangs on a clothes line. Other houses along Shadwell Green can be seen to have boarded windows and doors. The King Edward Memorial Park (Shadwell Park to locals) was officially opened on 24 June 1922 by King George V and Queen Mary with the following dedication "In grateful memory of King Edward VII. This park is dedicated to the use and enjoyment of the people of East London for ever". The East London Observer gave a report of a committee meeting about the setting up of the 3.3 hectare park as early as December 1911. The completed park included a bandstand, waterfront benches, children's playing area, bowling green, all weather football pitch and tennis courts. As well as Shadwell Green the folllowing streets, and the properties on them, were also demolished to make way for the park: Market Hill, Popes Hill, Broad Bridge, Gould Hill, Bell Wharf Hill, Monmouth Street, Middle Shadwell, Garth Street, Leading Street, Lower Shadwell, New Road, and Labour In Vain Street. In addition to numerous terraced houses the park also replaced an oil works, Kent & Essex Wharf, Victoria Wharf, The Linde British Refrigeration Works, and Shadwell Fish Market. Located within the park is the Grade II listed Rotherhithe Tunnel Shaft number 3. The Rotherhithe Tunnel itself passes underneath the park. A plaque erected in 1922 by the LCC commemorates Sir Hugh Willoughby, who in May 1533 set off near here with three ships in search of the Northeast Passage to India. The Thames Path passes through the park. In 2014, after much local opposition, Thames Water received permission to use part of the park for construction of sewer works for the Tideway Construction Project.
