west ham is an area of east london, located east of charing cross. the place name can apply to a large district forming the western part of the modern london borough of newham, or simply to the central locality of that district. neither the wider nor the central district are current administrative units but there is a west ham electoral ward covering part of the central area. west ham lies within the traditional boundaries of the county of essex. it became part of the london borough of newham in 1965.