King Edward Street is an old East End street.
The development of the area began in the 1680s.
In a six-acre region immediately east of Brick Lane known as Bradshaw’s Close, several streets were constructed. Pelham Street, now Woodseer Street between Brick Lane and Spital Street, Montague Street (referred to as the eastern section of Brown’s Lane on Rocque’s map), now Hanbury Street between Brick Lane and Spital Street, and Booth Street, now Princelet Street between Brick Lane and Spelman Street, were all laid out.
Further east, Montague Street continued as Well Street, now Hanbury Street between Spital Street and Greatorex Street, and Church Street, now Hanbury Street from Greatorex Street to Vallance Road. Pelham Street was intended to extend even further east, as indicated by Gascoine’s map of 1703, which shows its expansion across the northern part of the open meadow called Coverley’s Fields.
Three short streets ran north to south: the southern portion of Spital Street, Silver Street (also known as White Cross Street, now the northern end of Spelman Street), and Lombard Street (now Daplyn Street). To the south of Church Street was the High Street, now part of Greatorex Street, which served as the main thoroughfare leading to Whitechapel. At its lower end, the High Street was closed off by a barrier, which was later authorized for removal by an Act in 1780.
Further east, King Edward Street (now Kingward Street) existed, and Duke Street (now Dunk Street) was planned as a third north-south road between the High Street and King Edward Street. South of Booth Street (now part of Princelet Street) and west of the High Street, there was an area of garden grounds occupied by Martin Girle.
