Andrew Scott’s East End, Then & Now
Yesterday, under a suitably occluded sky, I set out to visit Andrew Scott’s East End that he photographed in the early seventies and these pictures show the same locations as I found them now
Brushfield St, seventies
Brushfield St, today
Brushfield St, seventies
Brushfield St, today
Bethnal Green Rd, seventies
Bethnal Green Rd, today
Sclater St, seventies
Sclater St, today
Goulston St, seventies
Goulston St, today
Aldgate, seventies
Aldgate, today
Whitechapel High St, seventies
Whitechapel High St, today
Whitechapel Rd, seventies
Whitechapel Rd, today
The George, Commercial Rd, seventies
The George, Commercial Rd, today
Commercial Rd, seventies
Commercial Rd, today
Bromley St, Stepney, seventies
Bromley St, Stepney, today
Photographs copyright © Andrew Scott
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Andrew Scott’s East End Photography
It pains me to have to admit it but to me, quiet a few of the views hear actually look better now than they did when the original photos were taken, this is the second time I have had to reassess my opinion since these images first appeared and I am finding it a little bit disconcerting.
Apart from the high rise buildings on the bomb sites, not a lot has changed. Of course it looks a lot better in colour, but it’s still the East End. Shame about Tubby Isaacs stall, bit like losing Big Ben!!
Are there any old photos around of a truly East End area, namely old CHRISP STREET MARKET. I worked on the bomb sites there with my parents so many years ago.
One of my favourite kinds of post -the then and now photos. I agree with Robert, most of the current views look better than they did in the 1970s. But realise these are only a selection and vast swathes of the area have changed for the worse or are threatened with change. I knew Tubby Isaac’s van was closed but good to see another opened on his pitch. Thank you for posting GA and for choosing a suitably occluded sky to take your photos.
Love the Bromley Street images in particular and congratulations to the people that started the regeneration. Thank you again for a great post!
I grew up off Bromley Street (Chudleigh Street) in the 60s and 70s. What I remember is the punk graffiti on those houses in response to the silver jubilee of 1977. I also remember G.S. Fish’s next to Marion Richardson School. There were a row of prefabs behind it.
Had occasion to visit the Troxy (across the road from Bromley Street) last weekend and was remembering how in my youth it was the London Opera Centre and had a kind of seedy glamour about it.
Joan
Agreed about the improvements. It is only too easy to get stuck in the “leave it as it was when I was young” frame of mind. Best improvement? Trees. Most importantly, it shows that London is still thriving and not just in the City where progress is measured by building height.
Fascinating selection of photos, and so interesting to see the comparisons between then and now. I agree with the comments about it looking better now, and I was rather surprised by that. Even more surprising was the thought . . . where did that tree come from?
Greta work.
It looks much more attractive in black and white in my opinion.
it maybe a coincidence that some of the photos are of streets which have a history of murder, jack the ripper writing on wall in goulston st. siege of sydney st. near the george, kray bros. murder at the blind beggar whitechapel, fascinating non the less.
Interesting to see the contrast. Yes, many of the streets have been improved, and they certainly needed improvement. But something has been lost, which is the diversity of those who lived here. Money is now required – lots of money. But perhaps it was always so.
Absolutely brilliant, really enjoyed looking at these.
Fascinating, great work!
hi I am a student at The sir John Cass faculty of art and design in Aldgate East. I am currently doing a project on how the building of all these over sized glass towers, that are currently taking over the city that are built by big corporations and are threatening the history of the east end and its population particularly because one of these corporations wants to buy my university and the university has actually already sold our building in commercial road and now they want the other building on white chapel high street and move the campus that i am in to Holloway. I have been trying to find some imagery of what the city looked like before all the construction work started and of how it looks today. I was just wondering after reading your article if you would be able to point me in the right direction. i would be very appreciative of your assistance in this.