BETHNAL GREEN, an east metropolitan borough, London, England, bounded north by Hackney, east by Poplar, south by Stepney and west by Shoreditch. Pop. (1931), 108,178. It is a district of poor houses in the "East End." The people make match-boxes, boots, furniture, textiles, metal objects, etc., but were formerly largely devoted to silk-weaving, which spread from Spitalfields (see STEPNEY). The Bethnal Green museum was opened in 1872. It contains exhibits of food and animal products, formerly at South Kensington, entomological collections, etc.; it stands in public gardens. There are other small open spaces; and some 7o out of the 217 acres of Victoria Park are within the borough. Among institutions are the missionary settlement of the Oxford House, founded in 1884, with its women's branch, St. Margaret's House; the North-Eastern hospital for children, the Craft school and the Leather Trade school. The parliamentary borough of Bethnal Green has two divisions, each returning one member. The borough council consists of a mayor, five aldermen and 3o councillors. Area, 76o acres.