Tower Hamlets Collection

View of the west side of Tower Bridge, London, c1950
View of the west side of Tower Bridge, Stepney, London, c1950, from the beach at Tower Wharf, showing children playing. Barges pass along the river in the background

Agas Map of London, c1561. Sheet 10, showing part of Southwark, London Bridge, ships on the River Thames, part of the City of London and the Tower of London with its moat

Old pub on the River Thames, London, 1926-1927. An old tavern on the riverside at Limehouse. Illustration from Wonderful London, edited by Arthur St John Adcock, Volume I

Entrance to Regents Canal Dock, Limehouse, London, 1828. Artist: Frederick James Havell
Entrance to Regents Canal Dock, Limehouse, London, 1828. View with boats and crew on Regents Canal and figures on the dockside

The Harbour Masters office at 74 Narrow Street, Limehouse, London, c1905. Artist
The Harbour Masters office at 74 Narrow Street, Limehouse, London, c1905

Christ Church, Spitalfields, London, 1815. View with figures and carts in the street. Built between 1714 and 1729, the church was designed by Nicholas Hawksmoor

Victorian London - A shady place
Vintage engraving showing a scene from 19th Century London England. A dark alley in Whitechapel circa 1870

A Chinese shop, Limehouse, London, c1900 (1901). From Living London, Vol. 1, edited by George R. Sims. [Cassell and Company, Limited, London, Paris, New York & Melbourne, 1901]

View near Limehouse Bridge, London, looking down the River Thames, 1751

Crowd outside the closed East India Dock Gates, Poplar, London, 1897. Men wait, locked out of the East India Docks, probably during a strike in which the dock workers demanded fair pay

View of the (proposed) western archway of the Thames Tunnel, London, c1831. The Thames Tunnel, connecting Wapping and Rotherhithe, was the first underwater tunnel in the world

Tower Hamlets E2 0 Map
Postcode Sector Map of Tower Hamlets E2 0

Boundary Estate: Arnold Circus, 1907 (b / w photo)
1812535 Boundary Estate: Arnold Circus, 1907 (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); London Metropolitan Archives

Boundary Estate: Arnold Circus, view of public gardens and flats, London
1812532 Boundary Estate: Arnold Circus, view of public gardens and flats, London, 1903 (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); London Metropolitan Archives

Boundary Estate: Arnold Circus, London, 1907 (b / w photo)
1812539 Boundary Estate: Arnold Circus, London, 1907 (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); London Metropolitan Archives, City of London; (add.info.: Bethnal Green)

Tower Hamlets E2 7 Map
Postcode Sector Map of Tower Hamlets E2 7

Palestine Place, Bethnal Green, London, c1840. Artist: F Jones
Palestine Place, Bethnal Green, London, c1840. Palestine Place was the centre of missionary operations of the London Society for promoting Christianity amongst the Jews

Miseries of London, 1812. A woman walking down Wapping Old Stairs being assailed by a group of watermen plying for trade. Two figures watch from a balcony

Limehouse Dock, 1872. Creator: Gustave Doré
Limehouse Dock, 1872. Limehouse Dock in Tower Hamlets used by seagoing vessels to offload cargo to canal barges, for onward transport along the Regents Canal. From, " LONDON

Church of St Anne, Limehouse, London, 1811. Artist: John Coney
Church of St Anne, Limehouse, London, 1811. View looking across the churchyard. Designed by Nicholas Hawksmoor, St Anne s, Limehouse was built between 1714 and 1725

Wharves at Limehouse, London, c1850. Artist: Frederick J Goff
Wharves at Limehouse, London, c1850. View with barges in the foreground

South view of the Tower of London with boats on the River Thames, 1776

East India Docks, Poplar, London, 1808. Artist: William Daniell
View of the East India Docks, Poplar, London, looking south towards Isle of Dogs with the River Lea on the left, 1808

Brunswick Dock, and East India Dock, Poplar, London, 1803. Artist: William Daniell
Brunswick Dock, and East India Dock, Poplar, London, 1803. Brunswick and East India Docks looking east with the River Lea in the middle distance and Perrys Masthouse on the right

A view of Pennyfields, Chinatown, London, 20th century. A Chinese community began to become established in Limehouse on the banks of the Thames in East London in the late 18th century

Middlesex Street (Late Petticoat Lane) on a Sunday Morning, 1891. Artist: William Luker
Middlesex Street (Late Petticoat Lane) on a Sunday Morning, 1891. Petticoat Lane Market, a fashion and clothing market in the East End of London, consists of two adjacent street markets

Great Eastern on the stocks at Millwall on the Thames, 1857. View from the stern, showing the vessel in John Scott Russells (1808-1882) yard

Flood waters in the moat at the Tower of London, 1928, (1935). Creator: Unknown
Flood waters in the moat at the Tower of London, 1928, (1935). The worst Thames flood within living memory...the Tower moat - ordinarily used as a football ground - filled with water

Europe, England, London, Tower Bridge

Collingwood Estate: exterior of Bullen House, London, 1925 (b / w photo)
1812578 Collingwood Estate: exterior of Bullen House, London, 1925 (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); London Metropolitan Archives, City of London; (add.info.: Bethnal Green)

Londoners enjoy the early summer sun on the banks of the River Thames by the Tower of London. 2nd June 1955

awaiting their turn. Ladies queue to use the public telephone box close to the Tower of London. 2nd June 1955

Bromley by Bow coal merchant Charles Franklin horses and cart delivery wagon takes a break and a drink of water from the trough during his delivery round in Bow. 3rd March 1955

Shoe shine at work in Whitechapel High Street in the east end of London. 14th January 1955

Customers at the secondhand gramophone record stall at the flea market in Club Row, Bethnal Green, E1 London 1st March 1955

Tower Hamlets E3 4 Map
Postcode Sector Map of Tower Hamlets E3 4

Tower Hamlets E14 8 Map
Postcode Sector Map of Tower Hamlets E14 8

Tower Hamlets E3 2 Map
Postcode Sector Map of Tower Hamlets E3 2

Tower of London. General View from the South, c1920. Creator: Unknown
Tower of London. General View from the South, c1920. Londons famous historic palace, prison, fortress and armoury, dating from the 11th century. In the foreground is the River Thames. Postcard

The Grapes, Limehouse, London, 1936. Creator: Unknown
The Grapes, Limehouse, London, 1936. The Grapes, Grade II listed public house on the Thames. Current building dates from 1720s on site of a pub built 1583

Outside the Peoples Palace in the Mile End Road, c1935. Creator: Donald McLeish
Outside the Peoples Palace in the Mile End Road, c1935. The Peoples Palace was the brainchild of philanthropist John Thomas Barber Beaumont (1774-1841)

Map and table of Limehouse in the Parish of Stepney, London, 1703. With a title in the bottom left corner flanked by two sailing ships. Stepney is now in the London borough of Tower Hamlets

View of HMS London sailing beneath Tower Bridge, London, 1988
View of the warship HMS London sailing beneath Tower Bridge, Stepney, London, 1988. a fireboat sprays fountains of water into the air in the foreground

Front elevation of the Church of St George in the East, Stepney, London, 1800. Artist
Front elevation of the Church of St George in the East, Stepney, London, 1800. St George in the East Church was built 1714-1726 to the design of Nicholas Hawksmoor

The Sidney Street siege, Whitechapel, London, 1911, (1935). Winston Churchill, then Home Secretary, the left of the top-hatted figures

The Tower of London, 1859. Artist: James Tibbitts Willmore
The Tower of London, 1859. Historic castle located on the River Thames in central London, built by William the Conqueror in 1078. The castle was used as a prison from 1100 until 1952

The Free Russian Library and reading room, 15 Whitechapel Road, Stepney, London, c1901 (1901). The Free Russian Library was set up by Aleksei Teplov

All Professionally Made to Order for Quick Shipping

Tower Hamlets, a historic borough in London, is steeped in rich history and diverse culture. From the Agas Map of London dating back to 1561 to the bustling streets of Victorian London, this area has witnessed countless transformations over the centuries. In 1926-1927, an old pub on the River Thames stood as a testament to its riverside heritage. The pub was a hub of activity where locals gathered to unwind and enjoy scenic views of the iconic river. Limehouse, one of Tower Hamlets' neighborhoods, had its own unique charm. In c1900 (1901), a Chinese shop added an exotic touch to Limehouse's vibrant streetscape. Meanwhile, Frederick James Havell's artwork showcased the entrance to Regents Canal Dock in Limehouse during 1828 - a reminder of its maritime past. The Harbour Masters office at 74 Narrow Street captured the essence of early 20th-century Limehouse with its architectural beauty. This building served as a symbol of authority overlooking bustling docks and trade activities. Moving towards Spitalfields, Christ Church stood tall since 1815 as an architectural gem amidst urban development. Its presence offered solace and spirituality for residents seeking respite from city life. A glimpse into history takes us back even further down memory lane with William Marlow's painting depicting Limehouse Bridge in 1751. The view showcases ships sailing along the River Thames while capturing the essence of trade that shaped Tower Hamlets' identity. Boundary Estate's Arnold Circus provides insight into social housing developments during early twentieth century London. Black-and-white photographs from around 1907 depict public gardens and flats surrounding Arnold Circus – evidence that efforts were made to improve living conditions for working-class communities within Tower Hamlets. To navigate through this fascinating borough today, we can rely on modern resources like maps such as Tower Hamlets E2 7 Map which guide us through its vibrant neighborhoods filled with history, culture, and diversity.