The Bethnal Green end of Vallance Road was originally called White Street.
In 1788, much of the original Willetts Estate south of Bethnal Green Road had been divided into lots. Most of the lots were leased for 99 years to Surrey builder John May Evans and William Timmins, a brickmaker. They immediately built along Bethnal Green Road, including Shepherd’s Place (Shepherd’s Row) and streets running south from it, named after the estate owners: White Street, Thomas Street and Charles Streets.
The Vallance Road name originated in 1896 - W. Vallance was clerk to the Metropolitan Board of Guardians. It is now a long road in an area steeped in history.
Hughes Mansions, further south, was mostly destroyed by the final V2 rocket to fall on London. East End gangsters Ronald and Reginald Kray lived with their family at 178 Vallance Road from 1939.
