Bonfire Night 1984 (photo Chris Hirst )
Recently, I was chatting with photographer Mike Seaborne who is well known for the photographs he took of the Island in the 1980s. We both said there was for various reasons, very few photographs of the Island in this important period survived when the docks had closed and redevelopment had not really began. This is why, I was delighted when Chris Hirst got in touch with some memories of his time on the Island in the 1980s and produced a number of fascinating photographs. Both give plenty of insights into a place which was lamenting the loss of the docks and was looking forward to an uncertain future. Chris takes up the story which I will publish in two parts.
My wife and I moved to the Island in the summer of 1981. Tower Hamlets were offering “hard to let” council housing to students, and friends of ours had a 3-bedroom flat in Skeggs House on Glengall Grove and wanted someone to share it. Cheap rent was the only thing Skeggs House had going for it!
The first picture shows the front of Skeggs House in 1981. Note there were no trees on Glengall Grove at that time. The old red telephone boxes are still there but would soon be replaced. The two people are on the balcony of our flat (number 7).
Skeggs House ( photo Chris Hirst )
Conditions in the flat were fairly primitive. The only heat source was a gas fire in the living room. The bedrooms were extremely cold in the winter (single-digit temperatures during a cold spell). The leaky windows let in all the street noise. The water heater was unreliable and exploded twice (once taking weeks to be repaired). The lifts never worked of course, but it was only two flights of stairs.
The following picture was taken from the other side of Skeggs House. It all looks very much the same today!
Skeggs Rear 1981. ( photo Chris Hirst )
Public transport on the Island was pretty much limited to the 277 bus, but we bicycled almost everywhere and only used the bus occasionally. At the time the 277 route ended at the south side of the Blue Bridge and the bus turned around on that little loop of Manchester Road. So it didn’t affect the bus if the bridge was up, as it was in this 1982 picture.
Blue Bridge Open 1982. ( photo Chris Hirst )
The next three pictures were all taken from or close to the Blue Bridge in 1982. The view towards South Dock was pretty barren, and nothing like it is today. I assume the three cranes near the middle of the picture are the same ones that now sit on the opposite side of the dock entrance.
Dock from Blue Bridge 1982. ( photo Chris Hirst )
Leslie’s Cafe was demolished when Preston’s Road was straightened. We never went inside, but cycled past that spot daily.
Leslie’s Cafe 1982 ( photo Chris Hirst )
The dock entrance had to be dredged periodically, and that required the bridge to be raised. The next shot was probably taken on the same day as the one above showing the bridge open.
Dredging 1982, ( photo Chris Hirst )
This was before the Asda was built so we did a lot of our shopping off the Island, although Castalia Square was useful for many things (including the launderette). In the following 1982 picture note the old red telephone boxes, which are gone in Mike Seaborne’s 1984 pictures.
Castalia Square 1982 ( photo Chris Hirst )
The Glass Bridge was still standing when we first moved there, although I think it was already closed and soon afterwards it was demolished. This picture was taken from the balcony of 7 Skeggs House in 1982.
Glass Bridge 1982 ( photo Chris Hirst )
Roffey and Cubitt Houses were also still there, although no longer occupied by 1982.
Roffey House 1982 ( photo Chris Hirst )
Things started to improve on the Island with the Asda opening in 1983, the Enterprise Zone and the red brick road with the new D1 bus, and the announcement of the DLR in 1984.
On November 5th 1984 there was a spectacular bonfire between Skeggs and Thorne Houses. This picture was taken from the balcony at the rear of Skeggs House.
Bonfire Night 1984. ( photo Chris Hirst )
Many thanks to Chris for his contribution and the use of his photographs.
Isle of Dogs Life 
Fantastic photos, Chris. Is it OK if we post them here?
https://www.flickr.com/photos/islandhistory/collections
Yes, that’s OK. But you probably want the larger versions. I can send them if you didn’t already get them from Alan.
We would also love to record high resolution copies at Friends of Island History Trust if willing Chris, we would record them on our new database which can be visited by the community by arrangement and by visitors to our History Room at our Open Days on the Island. Alan can tell you more about our group or you can check out our website at http://www.islandhistory.co.uk or email me at foiht2014@gmail.com for further details. Thanks Debbie Secretary for FoIHT
I worked there and what a class spot the people were real nice and friendly to all
There was some doubt about the date of the Glass Bridge picture. After checking the negatives again and looking at what else was on the same roll of film, I can pin it down to the end of January 1983. So it wasn’t ’82 as I originally thought, but very early ’83.