This gallery draws together a sample of prints and photographs of the East End of London from our collections including public buildings, shops, markets and public houses.
Commonly considered as part of the East End were the following areas: Whitechapel, Bethnal Green, Stepney, Spitalfields, Shadwell, Mile End, Bow, Limehouse, Poplar.
During the medieval period the area that we now think of as the East End remained largely rural, with small hamlets and farmland. The Industrial Revolution transformed the East End into a densely populated, working-class area with industries including shipbuilding, textiles, brewing and the rapid growth of docklands in Wapping and Limehouse.
This area was heavily bombed during the Second World War, particularly the docks. Jewish, Bangladeshi, and Caribbean communities amongst others have shaped its multicultural identity.
During the late 1960s the East End saw an economic decline as the docks closed, and many industries moved out. Following this, in the 1980s the London Docklands Development Corporation (LDDC) began regenerating the area and Canary Wharf became a major financial district.
Highlights of the gallery include the Victoria Park fountain, Captain Cook’s house in Mile End Road and the markets at Petticoat Lane and Brick Lane.