The first question most enquirers ask on the History of the Leopold Area is why Leopold. Why should this little corner on the Boundary of Poplar and Bow have such a name so unkeeping with its environment. It was previously thought that the name was in commeration of the King of the Belgains, but research has shown that this is not the case. The name actually comes from Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany, the youngest son of Queen Victoria. Although he suffered from ill health throughout his life, he did pay a genuine interest in poor communities and in particular the disabled, he attended the opening, in January 1883, of a new Dr Barnardo home for young boys. This home was named in his honour and was where Elmslie Point is now. Soon after the Opening the existing Edward Street was renamed Leopold Street to commerate the visit.
The future, though was not as rosy for Prince Leopold. His and his wife, Helene’s first child, Alice, was born the month after the opening of Leopold House in February 1883. Leopold, though, suffered from birth from Hemophilia and epilepsy and in February 1884, whilst on a trip to Cannes in France, he slipped on a tiled floor and injured his knee. What nobody realised was that blood vessels in his head had burst as well. He was taken to his bed, but died that night of a brain haemorrhage. He was just 31 years old.
