My first job was at Towler and Son, Sugar House Lane in 1960. It was a large boilermakers and took up the whole end of Sugar House Lane. I was only 15 and I worked in the wages office. I still remember the narrow cobble stone road and the even narrower sidewalks. Even then it was a step back in time, like a page out of a Dicken's novel.
I had a job as a delivery driver for over twenty years and Stratford was one of the areas that I covered, this was in the 80s and 90s before any Olympic building works had started but the strange thing is that now most of the street layouts and landmarks are completely erased and its almost impossible to work out where they used to be !
On the corner of Marshgate Lane opposite the closed down pub was MFI Furniture Centre from 1978 until it relocated to Canning Town in 1987. Next to the pub was a greasy-spoon "The Three Mills Cafe". On the left towards Stratford is a building with a tiled picture of a girl with flowers taking up the whole side of the building. This was the old Yardley cosmetics factory that relocated to Essex near Basildon in the early 1960`s. There were lots of small businesses off Marshgate Lane one in particular was W.G.Curley fat & bone merchants who collected waste from butchers and rendered it down for soap. At certain times the Pong! from the place was beyond description,and all doors and windows had to be kept shut. In those days the entrance to Stratford Station was down a narrow road bordered each side by bombed out shops unchanged since the war. I lived most of my life around East London,so if you want any info`about the "good"? old days feel free to contact me. Only just discovered your video`s and I`m very impressed.I lived in Beckton before moving to Devon in 2000 and used to cycle with the kid`s along The Greenway from Beckton Alps to Stratford then along the Lea past The Big Breakfast studio at Old Ford and up to Islington.Think this would make an interesting walk?
thanks for that brilliant info Anthony - "fat and bone" merchants seem to have gone. It's strange the way that any idea of this past is being erased so people such as yourself are doing a valuable service in keeping the memory alive
my nan lived on sugar house lane from 1901.... she would ask the dock workers for some of their lunch. and was even given an old pair of boots by one of the workers,, tough times in london in those years
Very interesting film ( as usual) John. "Ikea Town". The first time I visited the new flagship Foyles on Charing Cross Road, my first thought was " My God. Have I walked into a new branch of Ikea" ( but with lots of books instead of meatballs).
Thanks John. I know, I thought it was a joke at first but turns out IKEA have set up a property development company and this is one of their first schemes - another year zero approach, wipe it clean and rebuild
Well done John. Funny how what used to be demonized as part of the Victorian Industrial wasteland is now the last remaining bit of character and identity in this part of London. Glad that the mills are getting used as a TV studio. Good use of architectural reuse.
Thanks Renfro - I know it's ironic in a way but you really appreciate the quality of the buildings in those old industrial estates when you see what is taking their place. Yes, 3 Mills will always be there which is great
Thank you so much for making this video, I actually just moved to sugar house island and become fascinated with the industrial history of the area, and while of course this video is from mid development, it’s still so interesting to see the area like that! You should definitely come back and have a walk around the development if you haven’t already!
The development has since been rebranded Sugar House Island and I believe it is now reaching its final stages. The developer is Vastint, which split from the Ikea Group in 2016 but shares the same parent company. There's an article on Business Insider about the history of it.
Another great fil m John. Used to live in Central House, bottom of Pudding Mill lane 16 years ago before any of it happened. Grew up around Newham and really miss exploring the back rivers, where we could cycle/walk for hours barely meeting a soul
Thanks Daniel and thanks for sharing those memories. Have you seen the film by Paul Kelly 'What Have You Done Today Mervyn Day'? based around a lad riding his bike around the area - lovely film
i was trying to remember this saint ettiene film ! also check out finisterre another great London film made by the saint ettiene guys , alot of the ambient music you use is similar to finisstere is very similar John ! love it
John this really reminds me of the TV series called Prospects. Did you ever see it? 2 wide boys trying to scratch a living during the docklands redevelopment era. If you haven't seen it I can't recommend it highly enough! Brian Bovell and Gary Olsen lead. Brilliant snapshot of a lost time
Another great video, I have just caught up watching all of your videos. I was searching for videos about the London Loop when a came across yours. So i then started with the first and have slowly worked my way through them. Being from Leyton (1948 to 1989) I have been interested in seeing the change’s.
Thanks bighorse - glad you're enjoying the videos and hope you found the bits of the London Loop across various videos. I think the big changes in Leyton will come over the next 5-10 years
there another tidal water mill in Pembrokeshire absolutely beautiful only not completely restored as no one sadly when I visited had the skills to restore it fully the only known man had gone to America
sugar house lane and the gold factory nearby in stratford were used quite alot for warehouse parties in 2000s - some friends of friends lived there and they had regular parties, amazing times , apaarently there were some porno films made in that building ! on the end of the sugar lane with the faded sign !
You only have to view one of these uploads to see how developers exemplify the insanity and dysfunction of most of the populace. Fills me with absolute dread. What on earth are my grandkids inheriting .
+mayhorse66 I'm not entirely sure although that area has changed a lot in the last 10 years but old pockets still exist, it was also prettily heavily bombed during the war
I live in Greenwich. This is kinda happening in North Greenwich (near the O2). Personally, I like it, I like the new buildings, the old ones do have a nice history but I don't like the way they look.
Hi John, always look forward to a new film of yours. Given that this film covers the ground I spent re-visiting at the end of 2016, you may be interested in this th-cam.com/video/S92wSbeDwDQ/w-d-xo.html
Book case ! Get you Mr. Intellectual. (Get the legal team onto some plausible deniability clauses and use the extra bits to make an arts centre or a bike shed or something.)
I mean I haven't actually read any of the books on the book case. I think you've just articulated Newham's approach to getting something for the community out of this scheme - some bits of broken doweling and some spare screws
I have a similar bookcase. My excuse for not reading is is failing eyesight and attention span buggered by the internet syndrome. Don't forget the allen keys. PS : I loved The Geoffrey Taylor video.
It's from one of the books by Robert Rankin. They are totally weird and delightful. I suppose you know them already ... if you don't know them you should take a look, They will enrich your city-interpretation vocabulary. Just see those titles: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Rankin
My first job was at Towler and Son, Sugar House Lane in 1960. It was a large boilermakers and took up the whole end of Sugar House Lane. I was only 15 and I worked in the wages office. I still remember the narrow cobble stone road and the even narrower sidewalks. Even then it was a step back in time, like a page out of a Dicken's novel.
I had a job as a delivery driver for over twenty years and Stratford was one of the areas that I covered, this was in the 80s and 90s before any Olympic building works had started but the strange thing is that now most of the street layouts and landmarks are completely erased and its almost impossible to work out where they used to be !
On the corner of Marshgate Lane opposite the closed down pub was MFI Furniture Centre from 1978 until it relocated to Canning Town in 1987. Next to the pub was a greasy-spoon "The Three Mills Cafe". On the left towards Stratford is a building with a tiled picture of a girl with flowers taking up the whole side of the building. This was the old Yardley cosmetics factory that relocated to Essex near Basildon in the early 1960`s. There were lots of small businesses off Marshgate Lane one in particular was W.G.Curley fat & bone merchants who collected waste from butchers and rendered it down for soap. At certain times the Pong! from the place was beyond description,and all doors and windows had to be kept shut. In those days the entrance to Stratford Station was down a narrow road bordered each side by bombed out shops unchanged since the war.
I lived most of my life around East London,so if you want any info`about the "good"? old days feel free to contact me.
Only just discovered your video`s and I`m very impressed.I lived in Beckton before moving to Devon in 2000 and used to cycle with the kid`s along The Greenway from Beckton Alps to Stratford then along the Lea past The Big Breakfast studio at Old Ford and up to Islington.Think this would make an interesting walk?
thanks for that brilliant info Anthony - "fat and bone" merchants seem to have gone. It's strange the way that any idea of this past is being erased so people such as yourself are doing a valuable service in keeping the memory alive
Interesting but also sad to see former bustling industrial areas waiting to be replaced by luxury apartments the locals can't afford.
You are right John - just making these films is a superb record of what is constantly being swept away. Thanks, another great video.
my nan lived on sugar house lane from 1901.... she would ask the dock workers for some of their lunch. and was even given an old pair of boots by one of the workers,, tough times in london in those years
Very interesting film ( as usual) John. "Ikea Town". The first time I visited the new flagship Foyles on Charing Cross Road, my first thought was " My God. Have I walked into a new branch of Ikea" ( but with lots of books instead of meatballs).
Thanks John. I know, I thought it was a joke at first but turns out IKEA have set up a property development company and this is one of their first schemes - another year zero approach, wipe it clean and rebuild
I hope those lovely mills have been preserved 😮
yes I believe they're listed
Well done John. Funny how what used to be demonized as part of the Victorian Industrial wasteland is now the last remaining bit of character and identity in this part of London. Glad that the mills are getting used as a TV studio. Good use of architectural reuse.
Thanks Renfro - I know it's ironic in a way but you really appreciate the quality of the buildings in those old industrial estates when you see what is taking their place. Yes, 3 Mills will always be there which is great
Great video John.
History preserved.
Interesting to watch this video 5+ years on, John. A great record of the constant changes around the Stratford/Olympic Park area.
Thank you so much for making this video, I actually just moved to sugar house island and become fascinated with the industrial history of the area, and while of course this video is from mid development, it’s still so interesting to see the area like that! You should definitely come back and have a walk around the development if you haven’t already!
Thanks John... I lived in Carpenters rd for approx 10 yrs up until 1998
The development has since been rebranded Sugar House Island and I believe it is now reaching its final stages. The developer is Vastint, which split from the Ikea Group in 2016 but shares the same parent company. There's an article on Business Insider about the history of it.
Thanks for the update. They actually contacted me to drop IKEA from the title of the video
Another beautiful film John.
Thanks Gideon
Another great fil m John. Used to live in Central House, bottom of Pudding Mill lane 16 years ago before any of it happened. Grew up around Newham and really miss exploring the back rivers, where we could cycle/walk for hours barely meeting a soul
Thanks Daniel and thanks for sharing those memories. Have you seen the film by Paul Kelly 'What Have You Done Today Mervyn Day'? based around a lad riding his bike around the area - lovely film
I've heard of that one John, must keep an eye out. Taking some explorers that way next week, maybe I''ll find some stills.
i was trying to remember this saint ettiene film ! also check out finisterre another great London film made by the saint ettiene guys , alot of the ambient music you use is similar to finisstere is very similar John ! love it
Great video :) the wicker sculpture is a replica of the Olympic torch.
Thanks
John this really reminds me of the TV series called Prospects. Did you ever see it? 2 wide boys trying to scratch a living during the docklands redevelopment era. If you haven't seen it I can't recommend it highly enough! Brian Bovell and Gary Olsen lead. Brilliant snapshot of a lost time
I'm sure I once had a nice pint at a bar where that wicca tower is. Not been Stratford for years, must take a visit.
Great video. Love that you document these moments in time. Have you been back the same route since?
often used Pudding Mill Lane for work at the stadium it's very busy with staff for the events
Another great video,
I have just caught up watching all of your videos. I was searching for videos about the London Loop when a came across yours.
So i then started with the first and have slowly worked my way through them.
Being from Leyton (1948 to 1989) I have been interested in seeing the change’s.
Thanks bighorse - glad you're enjoying the videos and hope you found the bits of the London Loop across various videos. I think the big changes in Leyton will come over the next 5-10 years
great film John, really enjoyed it
Many thanks
there another tidal water mill in Pembrokeshire absolutely beautiful only not completely restored as no one sadly when I visited had the skills to restore it fully the only known man had gone to America
That's a shame, hope they manage to fix it up at some point
My great nan lived very close to Olympic stadium. She lived in Hackney around 1901.
Wow it's changed a lot since then
John Rogers your videos of east london r so cool.
sugar house lane and the gold factory nearby in stratford were used quite alot for warehouse parties in 2000s - some friends of friends lived there and they had regular parties, amazing times , apaarently there were some porno films made in that building ! on the end of the sugar lane with the faded sign !
Great bit of social history just there - thanks
I don't know if you know :D
Some kids suck nitrous oxide from balloons for a quick high then dump the empty gas canisters all over the place.
Alex Moody aha - and there was I thinking it was the remains of a desolate kids party
"desolate kids party"
A more apt description if ever there was one!
I thought it was the teddy bears' picnic.
You only have to view one of these uploads to see how developers exemplify the insanity and dysfunction of most of the populace. Fills me with absolute dread. What on earth are my grandkids inheriting .
I'll ask my pagan friend what happens at the confluence of three rivers....another great wee walk.
Thanks Jag - I'd be really curious to know - really special area although some of them are man-made even if in the time of Alfred the Great
think the wicker tower was a copy of the olympic torch
My Gt Grandparents had a shop on the corner of Old Ford Rd and Carpenters Road - I suppose that's gone now? Sad.
+mayhorse66 I'm not entirely sure although that area has changed a lot in the last 10 years but old pockets still exist, it was also prettily heavily bombed during the war
I live in Greenwich. This is kinda happening in North Greenwich (near the O2). Personally, I like it, I like the new buildings, the old ones do have a nice history but I don't like the way they look.
Ah yes I saw some of the other year - must go back for another look
Ah yes I saw some of the other year - must go back for another look
Hi John, always look forward to a new film of yours. Given that this film covers the ground I spent re-visiting at the end of 2016, you may be interested in this th-cam.com/video/S92wSbeDwDQ/w-d-xo.html
Thanks Geoffrey - really evocative film, you've captured the spirit of place brilliantly
Agreed.
Hi, is the Olympic Park still under construction?
IKEA Town - heh. Should be fun when they start building. Hope they can understand the instructions.
I can barely construct a book case let alone a tower block, what if there are bits left over after putting up a 32-storey block
Book case ! Get you Mr. Intellectual.
(Get the legal team onto some plausible deniability clauses and use the extra bits to make an arts centre or a bike shed or something.)
I mean I haven't actually read any of the books on the book case. I think you've just articulated Newham's approach to getting something for the community out of this scheme - some bits of broken doweling and some spare screws
I have a similar bookcase. My excuse for not reading is is failing eyesight and attention span buggered by the internet syndrome.
Don't forget the allen keys.
PS : I loved The Geoffrey Taylor video.
What are the silver thing at 3:36 I see them everywhere
Somebody said in the other comments, some sort of gas that people inhale apparently
John Rogers Thanks John and I'd researched and they are called cream chargers and they are used for inhaling its bad though
Development Hell Circa 21st Century
Always enjoy your walks BUT that was one depressing 13+ minutes. Can't win them all I suppose. :-)
You know that A-Z means "accessible zones". There is more of London, but normal humans can't get there.:-)
wonderful - that's how I'll look at it from now on
It's from one of the books by Robert Rankin. They are totally weird and delightful. I suppose you know them already ... if you don't know them you should take a look, They will enrich your city-interpretation vocabulary. Just see those titles: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Rankin
Ah thanks I'll take a look
spent a wonderful Halloween in a warehouse on marshgate lane.. th-cam.com/video/mc6rKvKkhWo/w-d-xo.html... good times
Thanks John... I lived in Carpenters rd for approx 10 yrs up until 1998..