Comments on: Remembering Stratford’s Lost Industries

By: Robert Land

Robert Land — Fri, 29 Jun 2018 15:36:15 +0000

An interesting post. Stratford was full of small firms, most of which are now gone and largely forgotten. Spittles Engineering, The International Refining Co and Macleans Printed Packaging are three that I worked for.

By: peter mcmanus

peter mcmanus — Sat, 07 Oct 2017 11:34:34 +0000

the first picture of worker at dowding and mills working on a stator is me not joe mehari joe worked in laythe shop next door. in 2010 dowding and mills became sulzer but shut down in june 2015

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Fri, 29 Sep 2017 16:55:26 +0000

The reality of the London Olympics is more complex than . Forman’s owner has been outspoken in his criticism of the Olympics but had suffered greatly before the Games arrived with flooding from the River Lea and a fire – neither of which were due to the Olympics – and used the opportunity to get a better location, overlooking the Olympic Stadium. The regeneration of the area has also enticed in several new independent businesses, benefiting from upgraded infrastructure as a result of the Olympic investment. These include both small scale manufacturers, such as a microbrewery and food companies, and tech start-ups, employing skilled workers. It has also attracted a life to the area with new restaurants and bars.

By: Marcia Howard

Marcia Howard — Tue, 26 Sep 2017 21:40:18 +0000

What a fascinating insight into all the independent traders, craftsmen, and industries in the area. Very sad though to hear of the casualties caused by the 2012 Olympics, and yes, I think the majority who didn’t live in the area were certainly misled by what we were being told about the area being a ‘wasteland’. I just hope those with workshops etc. were given a lucrative reward, although concerned about the related number of employees who would have also lost their jobs. Thank you for sharing the story, and showing such wonderful images.

By: Margaret

Margaret — Tue, 26 Sep 2017 16:45:05 +0000

I thought the Olympics were supposed to help businesses not force them to close because of the higher rents demanded of their workshops and shops. How sad.

By: Peter

Peter — Tue, 26 Sep 2017 12:44:24 +0000

Back in 2005 I took 100 pictures of Hackney Wick (the old bit now the Park) the Saturday before it closed. Never done anything with them. To be fair they aren’t the greatest but then they are worth preserving I feel. Any ideas out there?

By: Helen Breen

Helen Breen — Tue, 26 Sep 2017 11:41:53 +0000

Greetings from Boston,

GA, what a sad story – to lose such a variety of enterprises for such a short term event. Does any city throughout the world ever profit by these Olympics extravaganzas?

After a great deal of contention in Boston in 2014, the city withdrew its bid for the 2024 Summer Olympics. Nobody that I know regrets the decision…

By: Dean Armond

Dean Armond — Tue, 26 Sep 2017 07:48:33 +0000

Wonderful memories of all the small businesses that provided jobs and opportunity only to be swept away and replaced by corporates and chain stores, thank you for keeping their memory alive!

By: John Barrett

John Barrett — Tue, 26 Sep 2017 07:36:43 +0000

So many London entrepreneurial enterprises have closed down along with their expertise as shown here, a natural progression for many however others will rise up, technology and comps will help a new breed of start up people I am sure. Poet John

By: Valerie-Jael

Valerie-Jael — Tue, 26 Sep 2017 06:05:48 +0000

Sorry that so many lost their livelihoods, and that the powers that be sacrificed so much and so many in the name of greed and prestige, disguised with sport.
Valerie