Blackwall Buildings built in Whitechapel

Background. Whitechapel, part of the East End of London, was known for severe poverty and overcrowding. The construction of Blackwall Buildings was driven by parliamentary requirements to replace dwellings demolished during large-scale engineering works. The Great Eastern Railway, which leased the London and Blackwall Railway, carried out major construction work, creating the obligation to rehouse affected populations.

Construction. The buildings were started in 1890 in Thomas Street, Whitechapel. Although officially associated with the Great Eastern Railway, they were thought to have been actually built by Mark Gentry from Castle Hedingham, who had a depot in Stratford and constructed many similar philanthropic flats. The project aimed to provide housing for those displaced by railway construction.

Tenancy. The first tenants of Blackwall Buildings were rehoused from areas cleared during railway construction work. These residents paid a nominal rent, reflecting the philanthropic nature of the housing. The buildings were referenced in Charles Booth's survey of life and labour in London, highlighting their role in the social landscape of Whitechapel.