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Shoreditch Estate Agent

Shoreditch

Well, we all like a bit of gossip. Apparently, Jane Shore was the mistress of Edward IV and legend has it that when she died as a poverty-stricken harlot, she was buried in a ditch somewhere in the area – and that’s how Shoreditch got its tag! Except, it’s doubtful since the name pre-dates her and the torrid affair. It’s more probable that it was originally known as Soersditch, or Sewer’s Ditch after a local, erm, ditch.

Nowadays, there’s never a dull moment with its array of eclectic and often eccentric attractions. It’s well known as London’s creative hub, from galleries to fashion, cool places and quirky pop-ups. From the historic markets to the ever-changing visuals by talented street artists, Shoreditch is the diverse heart of London and the demographic epicentre of millennial culture.

It’s very much a 24/7 affair here on our doorstep and the area still draws crowds of visitors who come to indulge in its array of unique experiences. Just wandering around the area you can really appreciate not only the cultural diversity but also the varied architectural styles, such as Renaissance, Classical, Palladian, Georgian and Victorian which still nestle in between the new and ultra-modern landscape.

Shoreditch has something for everyone and it’s truly unique, fascinating and ever-evolving!

Arnold Circus Estate Agent

Arnold Circus and the Boundary Estate

Boundary Street got its name because it marked the boundary where the police stopped their beat at the edge of the city. Beyond this street was the Old Nichol slum.

The slum was notorious for its gangs, crime and dreadful living conditions. 5,700 people lived here – with up to five people sharing a room. And poor sanitation resulted in disease, with one in four children dying before their first birthday.

But the area was transformed with the building of Britain’s first social housing. In the 1890s, 730 homes were demolished to make way for the new Boundary Estate. Designed in the shape of a wheel, the streets around Arnold Circus were named after Thames beauty spots, and the rubble from the razed slum was used to make the bandstand.

These days many flats around Arnold Circus are privately owned, but a strong sense of community remains in this small corner of east London.

Brick Lane Estate Agent

Brick Lane

Generations of immigrants have made Brick Lane their home, enriching the area with trades, religions, languages and cultures. Its name comes from the brick kilns used by early Flemish settlers and made from the brick earth found here.

In the 17th century, Protestant Huguenot refugees came here escaping religious persecution in France. Their skills made Spitalfields the centre of London silk weaving. Later came a growing Jewish community, bringing the tailoring industries.

But as people became prosperous they left, a move hastened by the Blitz in World War One. The Second World War brought more changes and Bengalis came to London – some having served in the merchant navy during the war – where they found work with the Jewish tailoring businesses. And many set up new businesses – the curry houses for which the street is now famous.

Today, Brick Lane and its surrounding streets are protected by Conservation Area status, ensuring that the cultural heritage of the area will remain for years to come

Columbia Road Estate Agent

Columbia Road

Columbia Road began as a rural pathway that was used to drive sheep to the slaughterhouses at nearby Smithfield.

In the 17th century, the area was known for its market gardeners and it’s thought that the outdoor market emerged as a way for them to trade. In the 1800s, Columbia Road’s Victorian shops were built to service the nearby Jesus Hospital Estate. Many of the road’s shops offered furniture and upholstery due to the woodturning and milling factories that thrived here until the late 20th century.

The now-famous flower market began as a Saturday market, but the Sunday Market was established to accommodate the growing Jewish population. The whole area went into decline in the 1970s and was earmarked for demolition, but the local community fought to save it.

These days, instead of driving sheep along Columbia Road, you’ll find people driving bargains at the Sunday flower market.

Hackney Estate Agent

Hackney

The first real records of a settlement in Hackney date back to Saxon times. Before this most of the borough was farmland, providing food for the Roman city of Londinium, whose defensive walls rose up just south of Shoreditch.

All that remains of ancient Hackney is the early 16th-century parish church of Hackney of St Augustine, which replaced the 13th-century medieval church founded by the Knights of St John, and it still stands in St John’s church gardens to this day.

Hackney is the 5th smallest London borough, and is bounded by Islington to the west, Haringey to the north, Waltham Forest to the north-east, Newham to the east, Tower Hamlets to the south-east and the City of London to the south-west.

Much of Hackney retains an inner-city character. In many places throughout the borough, large council estates have been joined by newer gated developments and modern conversions amongst terraced Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian housing which proudly survive. There are over 1,300 listed buildings and the borough contains 25 conservation areas but also protects large areas of period housing and areas of industrial heritage.

Being a global destination for 21st-century arts, culture and nightlife it’s an eclectic mix of race, religion, styles and lifestyles which combine old and new. In 2009 Italian Vogue Magazine named Dalston as one of the ‘coolest places on earth’ and equally impressive is that Hackney marshes have the largest concentration of amateur football pitches in Europe.

Hackney is truly a culturally vibrant part of inner London, with both the benefits and challenges that this brings.

Hoxton Square Estate Agent

Hoxton Square

Originally designed to be a fashionable residential square when it was completed in 1720, Hoxton Square’s genteel status was short-lived, and by the 1800s it had become the heart of the Shoreditch furniture trade, with front gardens being converted into workshops.

After the Second World War, the mass production of goods moved to the Lea Valley and cheap competition led to the collapse of many small businesses, leaving the properties around the square empty.

But the area became popular again in the 1980s when a new generation of young artists, looking for cheap workspace, moved in. Pubs and clubs opened around the Square to cater for the creative crowd, bringing new money, regeneration and a vibrant arts community.

Today, Hoxton Square has regained its fashionable status while still keeping its sense of history and close-knit community.

Spitalfields Estate Agent

Spitalfields Market

Looking around Spitalfields today it’s hard to imagine that this was once a rural area. In the mid-1600s traders began to sell farm produce here and in 1682 King Charles II granted a Royal Charter allowing a market to be held on Thursdays and Saturdays.

The success of the market brought new people, including the Huguenot silk weavers in the 1600s, Irish labourers escaping the potato famine in the 1700s and, later, East European Jews escaping Russia. And since the 1970s the area has been home to a flourishing Bangladeshi community.

By the 1990s the market was too crowded, so it was moved to Leyton, becoming New Spitalfields Market. But the old market continues to thrive and, today, instead of fruit, vegetables and flowers, shoppers will find antiques, jewellery, artworks, vintage clothes, artisan products, cafes and restaurants.

Stepney, Bow, Mile End Estate Agent

Stepney, Bow & Mile End

First recorded 11th-century historical documents these areas are now culturally vibrant parts of inner London, with a contrasting mix of striking 18th-century terraces and post-war housing estates.

Captain James Cook once lived at 88 Mile End Road before famously setting sail on his ill-fated last journey in July of 1776.

Bow was also home to a fair bit of suffragette activity during the Victorian era. Sylvia Pankhurst women's group in Bow Road did a lot of work to improve conditions for the local residents generally, such as activists in the 1880s, Bryant and May ‘match girls’ strike. Women were working in this match factory had to put up dire conditions, working dangerously for 14 hours a day for paltry pay. Many women tragically died from phosphorous poisoning from the production of the matches.

In more modern times, In the 1950s, Bow, like much of the East End, fell under the influence of the Kray Twins. Their ‘Double R’ club was located in a former shop on Bow Road and became well known and attracted a lot of famous celebrity guests.

With its abundance of Cockney charm, E3 is a more affordable and alternative postcode to Shoreditch, Bethnal Green & Hackney. There’s still plenty going on, with street markets, museums and fancy eateries, but it’s also blessed with lots of tranquil green spaces, bordering Victoria Park with over 200 acres of open space to roam free.

Whitechapel Estate Agent

Whitechapel

Whitechapel has a fascinating, albeit dark, history. From the 1500s the area was home to the working classes with tanneries, butchers and breweries among the trades found here. But, poverty, overcrowding and disease meant that by the 1800s it had become the second-worst slum in the world.

Life had little value and crime was so high that the murder of Mary Ann Nicholls, a local prostitute, in 1888 didn’t arouse much attention. But, as more women were brutally murdered, the notorious Jack The Ripper was on everyone’s minds, as he began to make the headlines.

It’s believed that he killed five women but ‘Ripperologists suggest that he could have been responsible for up to 18 deaths. By 1891 the murders had stopped, but Jack The Ripper’s identity was never discovered and is one of London’s enduring mysteries.

These days, Whitechapel is a much happier place and enjoys a thriving arts scene, with the Whitechapel Gallery and Wilton’s Music Hall at its centre. And, thanks to its conservation status and regeneration plans, there are new opportunities for homes and businesses.

Victoria Park Estate Agent

Victoria Park

In the early 19th century there were no open spaces in east London and due to overcrowded housing, poor sanitation and air pollution life expectancy was low. There was a strong need for a clean outdoor space.

A petition for a Royal Park was signed by 30,000 people and presented to Queen Victoria in 1840. And in 1841 Victoria Park became the first public park in the country, with James Pennethorne, architect to the Commissioners of Woods and Forests, designing a park that included a grand entrance, elegant drive and parkland of trees and grass. The design underwent several changes to include a boating lake and, later, a pagoda.

Even while under construction, Victoria Park was an instant success with 25,000 people visiting on Good Friday 1846. Over the years it’s undergone many changes: it was used as an anti-aircraft base during the Second World War and much of it was damaged in the bombings, including the original pagoda. A major refurbishment in 2011 brought a new pagoda, an adventure playground and a café – bringing new life to the park.

These days it’s dubbed ‘The People’s Park’ and is used for sports, play, relaxation, performances, festivals and events; and remains an essential open space for people in east London to enjoy.

The Sunday food market, which starts at Bonner Gate, isn’t to be missed with vendors selling a huge selection of quality produce, fancy coffee and unique ready-made grub!

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Owners & Tenants

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Kev Kremers

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Clémence Sennavoine

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