Bow Dog Walking | Bow Pet Sitting | Bow Cat Sitting

Hi there. My name is Will Howe and I would like to welcome you to our section of 1st 4 London pet sitting. I live in Bow and cover the local and surrounding areas. Traveling is no problem, just let me know where you are and I'm sure I can accommodate you.

For more information, please contact Will at Bow@london-pet-sitting.com

East London is a great area for exercising your pets. It is up and coming with huge investments being made, especially with the Olympic site on our doorstep. It also has plenty of huge green spaces. Victoria park to the north is notably the largest open space in the vicinity, but the great thing about London is the abundance of smaller parks and recreational areas you wouldn't think would be so close. To the east is the 'Greenway', a pathway which stretches from Stratford all the way to West ham. To the south is Poplar, Limehouse, Canary Wharf etc, which has the magnificent North bank walks along the Thames. To the west we have Mile End, Bethnal Green, Stepney Green etc. Having the word 'green' included in a place name is usually a good indication of some nice parks and facilities. Bow may be a fairly small area but it still has a rich and exciting history

Bow is part of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets in East London. It is believed that to be a true Cockney you need to be born within the sound of Bow Bells and that these are the bells of Bow Church in the heart of Bow. However, the saying actually refers to St Mary-Le-Bow which is 3 miles west in Cheapside, in the City of London.

Bow derives its name from the middle ages. In 1110 Matilda, the wife of King Henry I, reputedly stumbled at a ford on her way to Barking Abbey. Subsequently she ordered a bow-shaped, three-arched bridge to be built over the River Lee. Such a bridge had not been seen or built before. For this reason the area became known under various Olde English names such as Stratford of the Bow, Stratford the Bow which over time has been shortened to Bow.

Back at the turn of the 20th century with the majority of the working classes living and working in the East End it was a logical location for demonstrations and strike action, as it would impact the heart of London's industry. Times have changed and demonstrations occur in Westminster to receive maximum publicity. This does not detract from the fact the Suffragette movement was probably the most significant turning point for women's rights and it happened on our doorstep. One of the movement's main figures was Emmeline Pankhurst. She began the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU), in 1903, with her daughters Christabel and Sylvia. Sylvia Pankhurst emulated her mother, but became disillusioned with the suffragette movement's inability to empathise with working class women, like the match girls. In response she formed her own breakaway movement, the East London Federation of Suffragettes which was based at 198 Bow Road, by the church, in a Baker's shop. This was emblazoned with "Votes for Women" in large gold letters, and opened in October 1912. Another famous figure in Bow's history was the local Member of Parliament, George Lansbury. His name can be seen adorning buildings up and down modern Bow road. At the time he resigned his seat in Parliament to stand for election on a platform of women's enfranchisement. Sylvia supported him in this and Bow Road became the campaign office, culminating in a huge rally in nearby Victoria Park. Ultimately he was unsuccessful in his bid, but the message spread nonetheless. Most of us are, at some level or another, familiar with this history and its aims. If not for people such as these who fought against the odds, we would not enjoy the level of freedom we have today. The most notable aspect of Bows contribution to the history books lies in its ties to the suffragette movement and subsequent working condition reformations. In 1888, the infamous match girls strike occurred at the Bryant and May match factory in Fairfield Road. This event was a prelude to the suffragette movement's fight for women's rights and also the trade union movement. Match production in this particular factory ceased in 1979 and the building was converted into private apartments known as the Bow Quarter. I am quite fortunate to be one of its residents. It retains so much of its celebrated history as do most of East London's disused factories and warehouses.

East London is a fascinating melting pot of people, cultures and lifestyles. Traditionally the hub of London's working industry. The East End of any city has, historically, always been the location for any docks, warehouses and factories. The West End usually being reserved for the upper class suburbia. The reason for this is because prevailing westerly winds would blow any smoke and smog back over the East End therefore protecting the West End and its inhabitants. The unfortunate working classes had to live in areas blanketed in fog and smoke.

London's East End has developed into an ethnically diverse region steeped in History. It has seen an abundance of immigration throughout the centuries and this has helped shape its population into what it is today. The architecture is fascinating. The East End was heavily bombed during World War II and this gave way to a unique mix of old and new buildings. Most of the old industrial warehouses and factories have been renovated and turned into modern living spaces which breathed life into the area by offering high spec, affordable flats and houses. Canary Wharf and Shoreditch are home to London's financial districts which has attracted great investment and the announcement of the 2012 Olympic Games being hosted on the borders of Bow, Stratford and Hackney has secured the future for this amazing part of the city.

For more information, please contact Will at Bow@london-pet-sitting.com