Waterloo Square

The village of Panmure was created to settle part of the British German Legion which arrived at East London in 1857.

There was a wetland in the middle of Panmure. When names were given to the various streets of Panmure in 1877, this wetland was given the name Waterloo Square in honour of the battle of Waterloo -- 1815 -- in which both British and German soldiers had participated.

It was believed therefore that this would be something which the English and German settlers at East London had in common.

Eventually the wetland was filled in with rubble and the site was chosen for the construction of the Town Hall in 1898. The new hall opened its doors in 1900.