Must-See Exhibition Of The East End In Colour

The East End In Colour, Tower Hamlets Archive ★★★★★

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Must-See Exhibition Of The East End In Colour The East End In Colour, Tower Hamlets Archive 5

If you have any affinity for the East End whatsoever, then get down to Mile End now. Dozens of photos of the Cockney homeland have gone on show at the Tower Hamlets Local History Library & Archives. None have been on public show before.

The images, taken by David Granick, are mostly from the 1960s and 70s. The streets are still grubby and war-scarred. But change is coming round every corner, as new tower blocks arise and streets are swept away. The shots are taken 'in the warm hues of Kodachrome film', which literally shows the East End in a whole new light.

There's a lot to see. Perhaps a 100 photos are pegged up along the walls. As an added joy, space has been left for comments. If you have memories of any of the locations, you're invited to jot them down beneath the image, for everyone to see.

It's a pity there are no modern day photos, so that the viewer can compare how things have changed. That said, the streets are clearly labelled, so it's easy enough to look them up in streetview.

This is a low-key but spellbinding exhibition. You'll leave with an urge to explore the back streets of the East End, before they all change once again.

David Granick: The East End in colour, 1960-1980 is at Tower Hamlets Local History Library & Archives (277 Bancroft Road, London E1 4DQ) until 5 May 2018. Entrance is free. Selected photos from the collection are presented in a new book from Hoxton Mini Press.

Last Updated 11 April 2018