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WorkPhotography

Newly uncovered photographs show London's disappearing working class housing

An east London arts project has uncovered a wealth of historic images that show life in what is widely thought of as the country’s most successful privately-built-and-owned ‘social housing’.

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Woman relaxing in a deckchair in a sunny garden in front of a red-brick Warner home with flowering plants and white-framed windows

WE: The Ex-Warner Estate in Waltham Forest looks at a disappearing community and the distinctive Warner homes in Walthamstow and Leyton from the start of the 20th century, using a combination of photographs from residents, new photography, archive images and oral histories.

These evocative unseen photographs and archive materials will be on show in an exhibition at London’s Vestry House Museum from 29 October 2016 –19 February 2017, illustrating how radically working class family life has changed in London.

The Warner homes saw generations of families renting and living close to each other. But the newest generations of these families have been forced out of the area or of London altogether, as homes are sold off and London gentrifies. A two-bedroom Warner flat currently sells for around £450,000.

Artists Lucy Harrison and photographer Katherine Green have collected hundreds of images from as far afield as America and Australia, as well as oral histories from those who have lived in these distinctive properties for 20 years or more, to create an exhibition that shows how resident lived in the properties throughout the 20th century and into the 21st.

“At a time when east London is becoming rapidly gentrified and a lack of affordable housing is a huge issue for many, the project looks at one example of how a private company developed large amounts of good quality housing stock and its legacy for the area today,” says Harrison. “These outstanding photographs show an era where working class families could live comfortably in stable accommodation, enjoying their homes and community life. The images provide a stark contrast with the conditions in the rented sector for families like this today.”

A Heritage Lottery Fund grant will mean that a smartphone app and new book will map the findings and images for those unfamiliar with the area. Find out more at www.exwarnerproject.co.uk.

Via Creative Boom submission | All images courtesy of WE: The Ex-Warner Estate in Waltham Forest arts project

Children in fancy dress at a street party in the Warner Estate, Walthamstow, circa 1970s
Large group of residents posed outside a brick building, likely from a Warner Estate community gathering in mid-20th century Walthamstow or Leyton
A baby sits in a pram on a residential street, facing a row of brick terraced houses with a distinctive central turret, typical of Warner Estate architecture
Victorian corner shop with large windows on a residential street, part of the early 20th-century Warner Estate in east London
Large flat dressing room at Markhouse Road showing patterned wallpaper, fireplace with mirror, framed pictures, piano and period furniture
A monochrome photograph of a large kitchen interior with stacked decorative plates displayed on shelves, a fireplace with mantelpiece, and period furnishings typical of early 20th century working class housing
Two people stand outside a bright green door of a brick terraced house with the number 31, on a tiled pathway
A woman holds a pram outside a brick Warner estate building with distinctive arched doorways, with a vintage van parked nearby
Man and woman raising glasses beside a decorated Christmas tree in a vintage domestic interior with patterned wallpaper and striped curtains
Bride in white lace wedding dress and veil holding a yellow bouquet, standing in a hallway with red-painted walls
Black and white photograph of a woman in a light dress and dark handbag walking on a sunny street past a grand historic building, circa mid-20th century
A woman and man riding bicycles on a residential street lined with Victorian terraced houses, circa early-to-mid 20th century
A vintage racing car drives down a quiet residential street lined with terraced houses and bare trees in early 20th-century east London.
Young woman standing in a doorway wearing a dark coat and hat, holding a bag, outside a brick building with a window behind her
A couple stand in the entrance of a brick Warner home decorated with Union Jack bunting and patriotic displays in the windows
Group of residents gathered outside a brick Warner home decorated with Union Jack flags
Residents gather around a table for a street party on a residential road lined with brick terraced houses and bunting, circa 1970s.
Woman in red skirt leaning against a white Fiat car on a tree-lined residential street lined with brick Warner Estate homes
Woman in a yellow checked dress holding a camera in a 1970s kitchen with orange and cream cupboards
Black and white archival photograph of a man and woman sitting at a table in a Warner home interior, circa early-to-mid 20th century
Six people in formal winter coats stand outside a brick building with arched doorways, a historic photograph from the Warner Estate in east London
Black and white photograph of a woman in dark clothing feeding a baby wrapped in white blankets in a Warner home, circa mid-20th century
Two women sit in deckchairs in a small backyard of a brick Warner home, with a dog between them and washing lines visible overhead
Black and white photograph of a street party with long tables laden with bottles and flowers, crowds of people standing behind, and residential buildings visible in the background
Woman in a patterned dress stands outside a brick terraced house with two windows, a photograph from the Warner Estate archive
A group of eight people posing together in a garden courtyard between brick terraced houses, some standing and others seated, dressed in vintage 1950s clothing
A family of six poses in a garden beside a brick house, smiling at the camera on a sunny day in what appears to be the 1960s
A black car parked on a residential street beside a brick terraced house with multiple chimneys, typical of Warner estate housing in east London
Black and white photograph of a woman in a Warner flat kitchen from the early 20th century, standing at a stove with cooking equipment visible
Man in suit and woman holding a baby stand with a young child outside a lime green Warner home, circa mid-20th century
Black and white photograph of a child and adult gardening in a raised bed at a Warner Estate home, with fenced gardens and residential buildings visible in the background
Two women and a child with tricycle stand on a tree-lined residential street beside a brick Warner home in mid-20th century Walthamstow or Leyton
Man in shirt reading a newspaper indoors, a black and white photograph from the Warner Estate archive
Young girl sitting on a lattice gate outside a brick building, part of the Warner Estate housing in east London
A couple sit together on a sofa beside a tiled fireplace with decorative objects on the mantelpiece in a mid-20th century living room
Two young children sit on a homemade wooden cart on a residential street lined with hedges and brick buildings, circa mid-20th century
Black and white photograph of a family of four gathered outside a brick building with windows, standing among overgrown plants or grass
A baby in a pram sits on the pavement outside a brick Warner Estate building with lace curtains in the windows
Two adults and a child stand beneath an arched gateway outside a brick terraced house, circa early 20th century
A large communal dining hall filled with dozens of residents seated at long tables, with high windows and decorative bunting visible in this black and white archival photograph
Man in glasses and cardigan bending down to dig in a small garden plot whilst a young child stands beside him on the Warner Estate
Black and white photograph of a group of people gathered indoors at what appears to be a social gathering, with a decorated Christmas tree visible behind them
Searchlights beam across a night sky above terraced houses and washing lines strung between wooden poles in early 20th century east London
Group of residents seated at an outdoor table for a meal outside a brick building on the Warner Estate, circa mid-20th century
Five people standing in a colourful garden outside a brick Warner Estate terraced house in Walthamstow, circa 1950s
Child sitting on a large white sphere in a 1970s living room with vintage television, radio and furnishings
Black and white photograph of a man holding a baby on a sofa, with floral wallpaper and lace curtains visible behind them
A large group of people pose together outside a brick house decorated with red, white and blue bunting, circa 1980s
Large crowd of people seated at long outdoor tables for a communal meal on a street lined with brick buildings, circa early 20th century
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