The Early History of the Isle of Dogs (1983 documentary)

This video programme written and researched by members of the Island History Project on the Isle of Dogs looks at the development of the island from the time of the Romans up until the development of the docks, including the origins of its name, its early transport connections, and the growth of flour milling and cattle farming on the island. Using contemporary and archival photographs, illustrations and maps under a new voiceover it looks back on the past from a place of uncertainty as the formation of the London Docklands Development Corporation and a new enterprise zone foretell enormous change.
Credits: Written by Eve Hostettler; written by Bernard Canavan; researcher, Eve Hostettler; researcher, Bernard Canavan; narrator, Joy Perez; narrator, Bernard Thomas; picture research, Hetty Startup; producer, Mike Archer; sponsor, Inner London Education Authority.
Copyright: Island History Trust, 1983.
Tower Hamlets Local History and Archives reference number: LC15062.

[@emmajane2099]

Very interesting, I was born on the Island.

[@lisarumble3518]

So much change, so fascinating lives once lived, wish we could go back to pre industrial times, i lived on island for few years, grandad from Millwall, windmills

[@kieronbowker9983]

Nice to see this time capsule. Many thanks to the IHP all those years ago. I remember some of the individuals involved in it's making. Thank you.

[@colingreen6950]

I worked at LENANTONS in the 1970s/80s lovely people and lovely times on the IOD

[@lawrieflowers8314]

Fascinating details on the Isle of Dogs.
A very different place, these days...

[@koysdo]

I loved to be able to watch this for free at home. Very informative London history

[@betty-boo9821]

Excellent

[@TurquoiseTerrorizer]

Thanks for this and the other vids. Hope to see more :)

[@sf2explus184]

i was born in 1983. I lived near west india dock road for 15 years best years of my life as a kid i saw the development of canary wharf. i think they finnished the building around 1990 the early part of development and still carries on today.

[@peggymcdonald8617]

The island was a great place to grow up in 60s 70s .RIP one more place in London to lose its history

[@theblindfoldep]

I'm sure its a great place for those growing up there now, just different. London has always been a place of rapid change and adaptation to the modern world otherwise it will fail. Its not going to stand still for sentimental people who think their particular "era" should be preserved forever in aspic.

[@stanleyharrison7031]

Feeling nostalgic over the passing of your era is not the same as wanting it to stay the same forever. I think what he’s trying to say is that progress doesn’t necessarily have to erode the character/history of a place, London is a brilliant example of a thrusting modern city where perhaps a third of a foot is kept firmly in the past. There can be such thing as considerate development that doesn’t pull communities apart and change what was good about somewhere in the first place. De-industrializing England did unfathomable damage to countless places across the nation and it really didn’t have to be done that way. Though the isle of dogs is improving I still wouldn’t want to live there - and I’m from Tottenham!

[@serenas8144]

I love the movie, "THE ISLE OF DOGS".

[@johnnycreighton29]

"Many people are out of work..." I know that experience.

[@eastlondona.m.w2886]

I come from poplar but lived in stewart Street in the 80s for year's there's no communities there long gone most people that live on the I.O.D don't even come from East London.

[@grahamjonathan762]

Neither did most of the others that grew up there previously

[@eastlondona.m.w2886]

Lol Whatever mate

[@robmorris1365]

There will always be new people in any area, but l feel l understand what our friend is trying to say. My Grandfather's people came from Devon to help build ships that required rivets, a skill that wasn't available in the area. They fell in love with the island and stayed. My Grandmother's Father was from Norway. He stayed for a similar reason. My Grandfather did not see himself as anything other than an islander, but his lineage did not really go back far at all. My Grandmother was exactly of the same mindset, but again she was only, at best, 2nd generation.

[@NewMinority]

VOTE REFORM ✝️💪🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🗳️🇬🇧🗳️🗳️🗳️🗳️🗳️🗳️🗳️🗳️🗳️🗳️🗳️🗳️🗳️🗳️

[@chrisferns5352]

Just London called progress a dock yard working class moved on

[@leemason8953]

the sound effects

[@sahelanoor1981]

Now how it looks it’s much bettee

[@Baldieman1]

no,it is soulless and characterless,and only for the poshos

[@importantjohn]

These people ended up seeing their property prices, employment levels and wages multiple many times overs. LDC worked! Thatchers forgotten legacy.

[@Baldieman1]

in actual fact,the true working class that built the prosperity for that old witches cronies were completely abandoned by the council,LDC and government,so that is a ridiculous comment to make I am afraid.