A Short History of London's East End (1880s-1970s)
This course will take place online, for a reduced rate of Full £65 / Conc. £48
Explore themes of immigration, social life, and political protest in this look back at London's history from 1880s-1970s. You’ll also “get to know” a range of East End characters, including community workers, gangsters, politicians, anarchists, police detectives, and pacifists.
Who is this course for?
- People new to the East End and keen to discover the area’s rich history
- Anyone with an East End heritage, curious to learn more about their family’s past
- Informal learners with a general interest in social history
- Anyone wishing to find out fresh or unusual stories from London’s history.
How will the course be taught?
You will learn through a mixture of tutor presentations and short research exercises. You will also use original sources from our special collections.
Will I need any equipment or materials?
This course will be held via Zoom. You need a computer/laptop or mobile phone to access the Zoom website, and a reliable internet connection. For further information on how to join a Zoom meeting, you can watch the joining video here.
A pen and paper, or computer, will be needed to take notes and participate in group activities.
Will I be assessed?
There is no formal assessment for courses at Bishopsgate Institute. However, to monitor your learning and progress, tutors will assess your participation in classroom activities.
You will learn
By the end of this course, you will have:
- An understanding of the key factors influencing the development and character of London’s East End from the 1880s to the 1970s
- An introduction to less well-known characters and incidents in the area across a 100-year period
- A greater awareness of the people and movements connecting this London region with political life and developments elsewhere
- Evocative insight into how men and women from different classes and backgrounds experienced daily life in the East End.
Meet the Tutor
Dr Michelle Johansen
Dr Michelle Johansen is a social historian specialising in the history of modern London, with a particular emphasis on social class and mobility, gender, professional lives, and regional identities. Her publications include articles in Teaching History, the London Journal, and Cultural and Social History. Michelle has more than ten years' experience of delivering learning sessions at Bishopsgate Institute for all types of learners, from primary school pupils to undergraduates to informal adult learners. Her teaching approach places the emphasis on hands-on access to original historical documents, which provides a uniquely dynamic and immersive classroom experience.
Course overview
Week 1
Introduction
Establishing the unique character and identity of the East End, and how and why the area has been mythologised by journalists, politicians, and historians.
Week 2
Immigration
Learning about successive “waves” of immigration to this London region since the late-nineteenth century, and the wider social and political impacts of East End immigration.
Week 3
Poverty
Examining the interconnected East End worlds of casual labour, unemployment, charity, and slum housing, and their meaning in social and human terms.
Week 4
Politics
Looking at radical incidents and characters, and making links between the East End and political developments on a wider European stage.
Week 5
Community
Discovering the everyday lives of “ordinary” Eastenders through such themes as shopping, leisure, food, and sports and social clubs.
Need to Know
Dates and Times
A Short History of London's East End (1880s-1970s)
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