London East End 1980s transformation shown in vintage photos

Newly released pictures capture changing face of capital in 1980s

A newly released photobook documents the East End of London at a time when the area witnessed rapid change that swept Britain in the 1980s.

London Underground driver Tim Brown spent countless early mornings capturing pictures around the new development in Canary Wharf, which promised to “feel like Venice and work like New York”, as a marketing slogan from the time put it.

He also liked to shoot around the old City of London. At the time the City was home to only one skyscraper – the Natwest tower – and many of the sites damaged in the Blitz were yet to be redeveloped.

The Docklands Light Railway features prominently, too. When it first launched, Brown said “I don’t think anyone was sure it was going to be used".

The network started out as a short line servicing a run-down area of east London but it was extended as Canary Wharf brought new fortunes to the docklands.

East End in Colour 1980-90 is available now from Hoxton Mini Press.