School Neighbourhood

The History of Grochow

First settlements and villages, among which we can enumerate Kamion (Today’s  Kamionek, Grochów, Gocław i Kawęczyn) started to appear from 11th – 14th centuries. Grochow used to be a church village belonging to Płock Chapter House on the area of 280ha.

The war with Sweden in the middle of 17th century, ceased the development of the village. There were only 9 houses lefi in Grochow in 1661. In 1780 kamionkowskie properties: Grochow, Kamionek I Skaryszew were bought by king Stanisław Poniatowski, who resold them to his nephew. It was divided into 8 parcels and leased to new owners. It was the beginning of new divisions and development of settlement in 19th century. There were 105 people in 22 houses in 1827.

In 1820 – 1823 a new cobbed road connecting Praga and Terespol was built and it made Grochów more attractive for new industrial investments. In the 20’s of 19 century textile manufacture and small tabacco and knitting factories appeared.

After the war activities in February and March 1831 the population significantly diminished, however in the second half of the 19th century Grochow became important industrial district with a few candle, soap, matches factories, breweries, champaigne brewery, dyeing factory and steam fabric launderette.

In the second half of 19th century Kamionek started to develop mainly along Grochowska Street. In 1889 it is joined to Warsaw. Because of the proximity of main railway station and development of railway lines, numerous industrial businesses are started (Perun, Bracia Borkowscy, fabryka Kemnitza). In the meantime throughout the whole 19th and early 20th centuries Saska Kępa became summer and holiday destination for inhabitants of Warsaw. The transport over the Vistula River was more convenient due to opening a new bridge (today’s Poniatowski Bridge) in 1914.

In April 1916 Grochów, Saska Kępa, Gocław and Gocławek was annexed to Warsaw. Between the wars Grochów, Kamionek and especially Saska Kępa transform into modern urban districts. Water land improvement, building new roads (Washington Ave.), modernization the old (Grochowska Street), electric and gas junctions are the new investment that change the layout of particular estates. Saska Kępa became a big housing estate with villa buildings. New housing estates quickly appear in Grochow f.e Towarzystwa Osiedli Robotniczych at Podskarbińska St

During She Second World War Grochów, Kamionek, Saska Kępa and the neighbouring areas were not seriously affected. After the war big housing estates f.e Międzynarodowa, Kinowa, Igańska, Majdańska or Ostrobramska and in the 80’s the biggest housing complex Gocław – Lotnisko were built. Transpotr investments such as Trasa Łazienkowska in 1974 or Trasa Siekierkowska had tremendous influence on the development of the above mentioned areas.