The name, which dates much further back than the creation of the civil parish, refers to a small settlement in the eastern area of Ludlow.

[2] Due to the eastwards growth of Ludlow's urban area, East Hamlet had parts ceded to Ludlow's civil parish in 1901 and again in 1934.

On 1 April 1987 the remainder (a small rump of what was originally a small parish) was largely transferred to Ludford civil parish (the part to the east of the A49 by-pass) and small parts to both Ludlow (the part within the by-pass), Bromfield (Wigley and Fishmore) and Bitterley.

This abolished East Hamlet, with Ludford named as its successor parish.

[5] Otherwise, the name is rarely used or seen in the present day, and none of the current wards or electoral divisions in the area use the name (it was last used as a South Shropshire district ward circa 2000).