'Then & Now' books

[v i c k y]

Just wondering if anyone knows of any good books showing old views of the Bermondsey/Rotherhithe/St Olaves area alongside pictures of how those parts of the East End look today. Would love to get one for my Mum who is from these parts.

Cheers,
Vicky

[Biker]

Hi Vicky

The areas you mention are not actually the East End which is north of the river.  However, I would suggest contacting the Southwark Local History Library who should be able to give the best recommendations.  Here's a link with contacts: http://www.southwark.gov.uk/DiscoverSouthwark/LocalStudiesLibrary/

Best of luck
Jonathan

[v i c k y]

Thanks for the link, Jonathan, and sorry for the misunderstanding.
Geography was never my best subject at school!

[BigguyCalgary]

I hope you folks don't mind me putting my request in here.  I've been wondering the same thing but for the area I've been searching for my roots.  My father was born and raised in Mile End Old Town.  My Grandfather owned and operated a pub (The Devonshire Arms) at 49 Devonshire Street.  I know this street became a part of Bancroft Road in the late 1930's.  Does anyone know of a 'Then and Now' book of the Mile End area?

[Biker]

Hello,

There are a lot of options for the East End as it has been well-researched and written about.  Here is one useful link http://www.eolfhs.org.uk/eolintro.htm but there are many others.  There are quite a few books on www.amazon.com as well on the social history of the East End.

You'll also find some information in the London Resources board such as photographs, maps and links to FHSs.

I live in the East End so if there is something specific you can't find let me know and I might be able to help.

Regards
Jonathan

[BigguyCalgary]

Thanks Jonathan.  I'll do some searching through those links.  I was luck last year.  I got in touch with the Tower Hamlet's Archivist and he was able to provide me with a picture of my Grandfather's pub.  Well, it was a picture shot looking up the street and the photographer was standing in front of the pub.  So, on the very left of the picture, you can see part of the window and a sign over the door. The rest is the street and houses up the street.  Of course the building doesn't exist anymore.  Sorry, I'm rambling now.  Cheers!!!

[Biker]

Hello again

Yes the Archivist at the Tower Hamlets Archives is very helpful 
I forgot to mention that to get a flavour of Devonshire Street at the turn of the century the Charles Booth site is quite interesting http://booth.lse.ac.uk/

Happy hunting

Regards
Jonathan

[julianb]

I've looked out "then and now" type books in a number of ways.

The first option, already mentioned, is to contact local family history societies, or local councils.  That must be teh nest bet.

But if there's limited ways in to all this down that avenue, there's a load of these types of books published by:

Sutton publishing:  http://www.suttonpublishing.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StoreCatalogDisplay?storeId=10051&catalogId=10051

and by

Tempus publishing: http://www.tempus-publishing.com/

I've also searched on e-bay for them, and on abebooks http://www.abebooks.co.uk/ - especially as many of these books appear to be on a short print run, and can only be bought second-hand.

I've picked up quite a few books and older maps this way.  Pre-WW2 maps for industrialised areas are interesting, because many of the cities suffered significant bomb damage in WW2.  If you want to go further back, Alan Godfrey maps publish old Ordnance Survey maps http://www.alangodfreymaps.co.uk/.

Hope this is helpful

JULIAN

[v i c k y]

Very helpful. Thanks very much.

I'm going to see if I can get a copy of this for Mum - http://www.tempus-publishing.com/bookdetails.php?isbn=0752433164

Thanks again,
Vicky