Cockney rhyming slang history: the roots, the rhymes and the reasons
Ever fallen down the ‘apples and pears’? Have you had your ‘barnet’ chopped recently? Called a mate on the old
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Cultural heritage
From the Suffragettes to Wiley to Cockney Rhyming Slang, Roman Road has an uniquely East End heritage full of pioneers and radicals.
Uncovering the story of the ‘forgotten’ Suffragette Rosaline McCheyne
‘You need the people doing admin, running the day-to-day activities. They’re glue that holds together a movement,’ says McChrystal.
Mile End Park’s Eco Pavilion; from post-war prefabs to picturesque parkland
The lush greenery around Mile End park’s Ecology Pavilion, which we wander around today, was once a thriving neighbourhood made up of Lessada Street, Totty Street and Palm Street. Haven’t heard of these names? It’s because they no longer exist.
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Franz Müller: first murder on a British train and origin of ‘being Müllered’
Have you ever heard the phrase ‘Aboslutely Müllered’? Guest writer Rich Ware uncovers the story of the first murder on a British train that was so explosive it knocked the American Civil War out of the headlines.
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Mile End Pogrom: the violent aftermath of the Battle of Cable Street
The Battle of Cable Street is remembered still to this day as a striking mobilisation against the rise of fascism in the years leading up to World War II; a turbulent day in which barricades were raised, bottles and bricks were thrown, and the fascists were defeated.
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The real history of ‘Knees up Mother Brown’
The exact origin of ‘Knees up Mother Brown’ is unknown, but by the 1800s it had become a popular song in East End pubs and bars.
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Malin’s in Bow: the first fish and chip shop in the UK
Operating from 1860 to the early 1970s, Malin’s fish and chip shop on Old Ford Road in Bow was the first fried fish and chippie in the UK. We took a look at the dish’s fascinating story.
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The real history of the Pearly Kings and Queens
The Pearly Kings and Queens are a famous symbol of cockney culture and the second oldest charity in London, but what’s the real story behind the Pearl monarchy? How are they still spreading the original Pearly message? And how much do the suits really weigh?
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Book review: ‘Canal Tales’ is a rich patchwork of lived histories
Canal Tales are ‘East End Tales’ told by East Enders themselves. It is these stories of the everyday people who lived and worked along the water that brings the 200-year old tale of the canals to life.
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The history of Bow Station, the ‘St Pancras’ of Bow
Have you heard of the grand Bow Station before? Considered to be the ‘St Pancras’ of its time, this fascinating building was far more than just a transport hub.
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Where do we live? A guide to neighbourhood boundaries and nomenclature
The labels of our local neighbourhoods evolved from an amalgamation of ancient geographic features, thousand-year old parishes, and newer council administrations, meaning that the boundaries and nomenclatures of these areas have continuously shifted over time.
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The history of Bow Road’s lesser-known railway station
Have you heard of Bow Road’s disused railway station before? Serving passengers from 1876 till 1949, we dive into the lesser-known history of this fascinating little station, which is now occupied by William Hill on Bow Road.
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