In the immediate aftermath of World War II, the priority for Bethnal Green Borough Council was to re-house local people who had been made homeless by the Blitz and to repair damaged properties that could be salvaged from the ruins.
As time went on however, the council turned its attention towards creating new, substantial housing estates – sometimes independently and at other times in conjunction with London County Council.
In 1956, Newling Street and many houses nearby, were subject to a compulsory purchase order by the London County Council. This East London Advertiser news clipping (6th April 1956) discovered at Tower Hamlets Archives gives the listing of all of the properties acquired.
In the same clippings box there was another East London Advertiser article (30th July 1954) showing a photograph of Newling Street a couple of years earlier.
As the caption states, “It is a view which soon may radically change as the street is the centre of the Newling Street area which is to be redeveloped by the London County Council.”
And so it came to pass… I went out with my camera to explore what was built in its place. Here’s a view taken from approximately the same position as the 1954 newspaper photo.
If you look at a modern-day map you won’t find Newling Street; not only were the houses demolished, but Newling Street and several of the other local street names disappeared too. Today, Chambord Street – shaped like a wide ‘U’ – runs through much of the area that was redeveloped.
Several six-storey 1960s blocks of flats – Briggs House, Gowan House, Chambord House, Kirton Gardens – are surrounded by lower rise housing in Tomlinson Close and Chambord Street (some of which was added in 1972).
There’s a feeling of space and light, with the layout incorporating courtyards and open spaces, planted with trees and shrubs. And as I wandered around I had a chat with a few local residents, including Pam and Mariam in Tomlinson Close and Bob living in Chambord Street. Thank you for brightening up my morning walk.
Terraces, Tenements and Tower Blocks 