50 Years Of The London Boroughs: Housing

By Londonist Staff Last edited 104 months ago
50 Years Of The London Boroughs: Housing
LB Brent, pre-fabricated houses, 1965 (photo Brent  Museum and Archives)
LB Brent, pre-fabricated houses, 1965 (photo Brent Museum and Archives)
LB Bexley, maisonettes being built at Thamesmead, 1968 (photo LB Bexley Local Studies and Archive Centre)
LB Bexley, maisonettes being built at Thamesmead, 1968 (photo LB Bexley Local Studies and Archive Centre)
LB Brent, Chalkhill Estate, 1970 (photo Brent Museum and Archives)
LB Brent, Chalkhill Estate, 1970 (photo Brent Museum and Archives)
LB Hackney, Dorothy Turtle Garden, an extension of Shoreditch Park, with pre-fab housing in the distance, 1973 (photo Courtesy of Hackney Archives. Photograph by Arthur Wright)
LB Hackney, Dorothy Turtle Garden, an extension of Shoreditch Park, with pre-fab housing in the distance, 1973 (photo Courtesy of Hackney Archives. Photograph by Arthur Wright)
LB Islington, inspecting the build at Ujima Housing Association, 1989 (photo  Islington Local History Centre)
LB Islington, inspecting the build at Ujima Housing Association, 1989 (photo Islington Local History Centre)
LB Sutton, the UK’s largest mixed use, carbon-neutral development in Hackbridge, c.2012 (photo Sutton Council courtesy of Marcus Lyon and Bioregional)
LB Sutton, the UK’s largest mixed use, carbon-neutral development in Hackbridge, c.2012 (photo Sutton Council courtesy of Marcus Lyon and Bioregional)

Housing has been — and still is — one of the most pressing issues for London. As part of the ongoing activities marking the London Boroughs' 50th anniversary, London Councils has gathered together a unique library of archive images from 1965 to 2015, illustrating the diverse responsibilities and achievements, challenges and celebrations of the boroughs across London over 50 years.

Find out more about the role the boroughs played in post-war reconstruction, the trend and trouble with tower blocks, right to buy, homelessness and an expanding population at London Councils' website, where you can also see many more vintage photographs.

With thanks to Brent Museum and Archives, LB Bexley Local Studies and Archive Centre, Hackney Archives, Islington Local History Centre and Sutton Council.

Last Updated 06 July 2015