POPLAR, an eastern metropolitan borough of London, Eng land, bounded north by Hackney, south by the river Thames and west by Stepney and Bethnal Green, and extending east to the boundary of the county of London. Pop. (1921) 162,578. The river Lea is believed to have been crossed towards the north of the modern borough by a Roman road, the existence of which is recalled by the district-name of Old Ford; while Bow (formerly Stratford-le-Bow or Stratford-atte-Bowe) was so named from the "bow" or arched bridge which took the place of the ford in the time of Henry II. South of these districts lies Bromley; in the south-east the borough includes Blackwall ; and a deep southward bend of the Thames here embraces the Isle of Dogs. Poplar falls within the great area named "East End." In the north a part of Victoria park is included. In Blackwall and the Isle of Dogs streets give place to the extensive East and West India docks (opened in 1806) and Millwall dock, with shipbuilding, engineer ing, chemical and other works along the river. Blackwall has been a shipping centre from early times. The West India docks, situated on the northern part of the Isle of Dogs, cover an area of 241 ac., of which 92/ ac. is water. They have large warehouses where the goods are stored, being mainly hardwoods (mahogany, walnut, teak, etc.), grain, sugar, rum and dates. The West India docks include export and import docks covering a water area of 231- ac. and 263 ac. respectively, and a quayage length of 1,876 yd. and 1,983 yd., and a maximum depth of 26 ft. The north quays of these have been widened, and large transit sheds have been built there. In addition, West India docks include Black wall basin with an area of 71 ac. and a depth of 26 ft.; Junction
dock, area 14 ac. and depth of 25 ft.; South dock with an area of 27 ac., maximum depth of 29 ft. and quayage of 1,967 yd.; and South dock basin area 51 ac. and a depth of 29 ft. New cuttings connecting West India docks with Millwall docks south of them were nearly completed at the end of 1928.
Another much appreciated improvement scheme included a new entrance lock, 590 ft. long, 8o ft. wide, with a depth of 35 ft.
on the sill, which would render the docks able to deal with ships up to 600 ft. in length. The East India docks to the east consist of Import and Export dockl and a basin with total water area of 31/ ac. and 2,517 yd. of quay, the depths in the Export and Import docks being 28 ft., and in the basin 32 ft. An im pounding station has been built which raises the water in the docks 2 ft. above the tidal high water level. A quarantine sta tion has been built at the East India docks. Millwall docks, situated on the southern portion of the Isle of Dogs, cover an area of 35 ac. and have a maximum depth of 28 ft. Near the East India docks is the settlement of St. Frideswide, supported by , Christ Church, Oxford. In Canning Town, which continues this district of poverty across the Lea, and so outside the county of London, are Mansfield house, founded from Mansfield college, Oxford; and a women's settlement, notable for its medical work. The metropolitan borough of Poplar includes the Bow and Bromley and the South Poplar divisions of the parliamentary borough, each returning one member. For "Poplarism" see POOR LAW.