Five books bringing the past to life.

The histories of Shoreditch, Lower Clapton, the East End Canal, Old Ford, Bow, and Hackney’s shops and trades are brought to life through the stories told by local people, woven together with historic documents, dozens of photos and maps to create unique insights into what it was really like in Shoreditch, Lower Clapton, Old Ford, Bow and along the Cut in the 19th and 20th centuries. Tales of Central Hackney Shops and Trades 1670-1970 tells the stories of the evolution of shops, trades, and shopping in Central Hackney over 300 years. 

Five books, a wealth of memories and pictures, a treasure trove of stories.