A patchwork of industrial derelict buildings, high-rise social housing with a smattering of hipster eateries and contemporary warehouse conversions, this area is a fascinating social puzzle. Sitting in the gap between Victoria Park and the new Olympic Park, It is a place that goes by several names, including Bow, Old Ford, and Fish Island. Surprisingly well-connected, the area is serviced by nearby tube and DLR stations as well as the A12 and A11. After the redevelopment which came before the 2012 Olympics the area has now started to attract creative young industries.

The neighbourhood’s rich industrial history goes back for at least 900 years. Industrialisation and the area’s water supply together made this a hub for mill grinding and trading. Interestingly enough, up until the 1990s, one of the neighbourhood’s largest employers was Dalton’s Peanut Company. After the destruction caused by the Second World War, much of the industry dried up and was replaced with high-rise social housing. That being said, Fish Island later became a key location for smoke houses in the 1960s.

The area is infamous for being the site of London’s final outbreak of cholera in 1866. Occurring as a result of the bad job done at Old Ford’s waterworks, more than 4,000 people died.

While the area has changed for the better since then, there are still some key issues within the neighbourhood. The area struggles with flooding. Since much of the neighbourhood is in close proximity to the canal, there’s a constant risk of damage to key buildings and people’s homes.

Much like the rest of the East End, there seems to be no end to the flow of luxury development in the area. Fish Island’s Old Smokehouse is a symbolic example of this and was recently redeveloped, providing 45 homes and 7000sqft of commercial space for creative industries. Work is also completing on Fish Island Village, a mixed-use scheme on the canal which will provide around 600 new homes.