How We Used To Work : All Our Stories

Industry has played a significant role in the development of East London , defining the buildings and areas in which we live. In more recent times many industries have moved or closed, creating change in the fabric of our communities and how we work today. Remembering the forgotten trades of E2 is a unique project funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund that builds upon Hackney City Farm’s commitment to the community and it’s environment. We have recorded first hand, memories of people’s working lives. We have produced a film record of this process. To add your work experience of E2’s forgotten trades, Email [email protected]

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Tony when he was younger and working at various wood workshops in the E2 area

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Married couple Tony and Sylvia talk about the trades they were in solved in the E2 area. Tony worked for a number of wood workshops.

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John and working in the printing trade

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Working the Cobden Chadwick printing machine was a skilled job and John relates the poor work conditions he experienced. “Bangs- there could be 400 a minute – I should be deaf- there were no ear defenders then”

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Vi interview - factory and bank work

Women often did a range of jobs, usually marked by child rearing and home duties. Vi experienced many workplaces including  factories -button making & seat belt manufacture, as well as the rag trade and banking.

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Eileen discussing working life with us at Hackney City Farm (with Michelle, who was once an occupational nurse at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hackney Road)

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Eileen talks about living and working in London, then her many years of work at Globe Primary School, E2

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Dorothy talks about helping her mother with artificial flower making in Hackney. This was a common trade locally.

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Michelle here talks about being a nurse, her training and work ethic. Finally she shares about work at the Queen Elizabeth Children's Hospital on Hackney Road as an occupational nurse.

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Children from a local school joined the project to find out about what the industries of the area had been. Two meetings took place.

Learning was then celebrated between younger and older of the work heritage through  role plays presented by the children- a nurse, a seamstress and a brewery delivery. A group poem, and a rap were also preformed about the local trades. The older experts had shared their experiences, and the children reflected glimpses of what the working life of the past was like. 

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Dolly (pictured below) talks about her work as a seamstress and cigarette maker in the area.

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Jack (pictured with accordion) talks about playing his piano accordion in the pubs - he also worked in the pubs of East London.

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Jack performing on his accordion for the How We Used To Work final event at the Hackney Museum

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Meeting possible participants and volunteers at The Sundial Centre and St.Hilda's Community Centre (May, 2013)

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In June 2013 we interviewed Dolly. Amongst an array of jobs in the E2 area, she had worked as a seamstress and a cigarette maker. Her interview features on the DVD which was viewed at Hackney Museum as part of How We Used to Work in September.

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Recording at Hackney City Farm with locals Eileen and Michelle. Eileen worked for a great number of years as a cleaner at Globe Primary School and Michelle (born in France) worked as an occupational health nurse at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital which has been shut for a number of years and is due to be demolished in the near future.