Before the deindustrialization, Stratford was a district for light industry and depots. In the 19th century, industry in Stratford took off as the area became a hub for the toxic and noxious industries that were banned from London in the 1844 Metropolitan Building Act. (rgsweb) There were polluting activities such as carcass rendering, chemical plants and printers relocated over the border to Stratford. (rgsweb)Apart from polluting activities, there was also extensive railway works at that time. There was a 78-acre site which employed 6,000 people to build locomotives and carriages. (rgsweb)Nonetheless, starting from 19th century, the living conditions of the local people were poor. There was poverty, high crime rates, overcrowding living environment
