Discover the pioneering
public sector
architecture of Poplar
Photo by Merlin Fulcher
Join Open City for a walking tour exploring Poplar — a working class area of London’s East End transformed by pioneering mid-20th century architecture focused on a range of public benefits
Poplar is an area of massive and ongoing transformation where slum housing was replaced with futuristic visions of a built environment dedicated to delivering a better world for all.
Profoundly shaped by optimistic experiments in serving the ‘public good’, this deeply historic post-industrial district remains at the forefront of contemporary urban reinvention to this day.
Recently, Poplar has achieved fame through the popular book and television series, ‘Call the Midwife’, which tells some of Poplar’s working-class history.
Historically, Poplar’s fortunes were tied to the wealth and employment from London’s docks and that history echoes through to buildings in Poplar such as the Queen Victoria Seamen’s Rest home and the George Green building.
The tour starts at the busy Chrisp Street Market, remodelled after the Second World War as part of the Lansbury neighbourhood, with its famous clock tower designed by Frederick Gibberd.
Using an original site map, we will trace the estate’s original buildings and layout of as part of the 1951 Festival of Britain exhibition and see a unique home that housed some of its first residents.
Along the way, this walk will explore the various debates prompted by Poplar’s history including the roles of local government, planning, housing and gentrification. The tour will include Ernő Goldfinger’s Balfron Tower which was recently the focus of a major redevelopment.
Key information
Meet: Chrisp Street Market Clock Tower E14 6AQ. The 2nd stop on the tour is Lansbury Lawrence Primary School
Meeting point what3words location: drip.lame.double
Duration: 2 hours approx
End: Chrisp Street Market Clock Tower
Distance: 2 miles approx
Cost: £29.50 / £19.50 / £13.50 / £9.50
Tickets are non refundable and our tours go ahead rain or shine…
We aim to be inclusive and accessible where possible, please contact Adrianna at tours@open-city.org.uk to discuss your needs, reduced ticket prices and if you require a free carer ticket or have any additional queries.
Meet the tour guide…
Rosamund Lily West is an architectural historian lecturing in Contextual Studies at KLC School of Design, West Dean and in design history and theory at Chelsea College of Arts. Prior to this, she worked as a Lecturer in Architectural Studies at the University of Manchester and as Research Fellow at the Survey of London based at the Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL, having previously worked in museums for fifteen years. She is interested in public and community engagement with heritage, public art and the built environment and has led architectural tours for the V&A, London Festival of Architecture and the Architecture Foundation. Rosamund recently completed her PhD, 'Concrete citizens' sculptures and the London County Council's housing schemes, 1949 to 1965' at Kingston University.
Rosamund joined the Open City tours team in November 2021.
Open City's year-round tours programme is supported by Bloomberg Connects, the free arts and culture app.