The vill was under the direct jurisdiction of the Bishops of London, and was centred on a church that eventually was dedicated to St Dunstan.

The area witnessed a very large increase in population from the beginning of the 17th century due both to the development of the docks and the suburban expansion of London.

It was replaced with a select vestry of 32 members, eight from each of Ratcliffe, Limehouse, Poplar, and Mile End with Bethnal Green.

The vestries of these parishes were entrusted with a number of purely local government or "civil" functions such as highway maintenance and relief of the poor.

[8] The name was revived for local government in 1900 when the Metropolitan Borough of Stepney was formed covering part of the ancient parish.