Hackney’s garment industry, often called the ‘rag trade’, was one of the biggest employers in the borough from the early 1900s until the 1980s, when production moved from Britain to countries with lower costs. In this blog we share the story of Dalston based family business, Pandit Brothers Ltd. East London Fashion When Mr Devi … Read more
Eason & Co. photo studio captured a diverse, artistic and playful community in 1880s East London from portraits of large families and Salvation Army delegates from China and India to advertisements for music hall artists. This blog explores the story of the Dalston based family-run photo studio Eason & Co. John Eason: Draper to Photographer … Read more
Over the last 30 years, people with roots in East African countries such as Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya have made Hackney their home. This blog shares some of the stories of the groups, businesses and community spaces that celebrate eastern African heritage in Hackney, shaping the borough’s mixed cultural identity and forming places for communities … Read more
As part of our ongoing series ‘Roots, Rhythms and Records’ celebrating the impact of Hackney’s African and Caribbean communities on music in the borough and beyond, this post focuses on the history and impact of Pyramid Arts, Dalston in supporting the performing community to develop artists, experiment with music and find commercial success. Introduction Pyramid Arts originated … Read more
The German invasion of Belgium in 1914 resulted in the largest arrival of refugees in British history, as people fled the conflict and reports of violence against civilians. Around 3,000 refugees passed through the Metropolitan Borough of Hackney during the First World War (1914-18), with around 100 Belgians settling here for a longer period of … Read more