We stumbled upon a captivating collection of photographs on Flikr, showcasing scenes of Forest Gate captured in three different sessions in and around 1990 by the talented photographer Peter Marshall. With his generous permission, we are delighted to present a unique 'Then and Now' photographic essay, primarily centered around Woodgrange Road.
We are most grateful to the contemporary local photographer Igoris (Iggy) Taran for his 2024 take on the locations originally featured almost 35 years ago.
You can find out more about Peter and Igoris and their work in the footnote to this article.
The changes between the two sets of photos are striking and barely need commentary, but it seems sensible to provide some explanation and context for some images and their locations.
Although there are very noticeable changes, there are less obvious similarities. Each pair of images exhibits simultaneously change and similarity (same building, different function, same function, different appearance, same features, different layout or colouring, etc).
It is almost like a trip down Schrodinger's Street! Plus ca change!
Music venues
Woodgrange Road and its offshoots have played an important role in local musical history, as we have written about frequently on this blog. Two of the significant venues, the Lotus Club (featured here) and De Underground, which we hope to feature in the future, were still in operation in 1992. The locations still exist—but as flats now—and in one case, has a very different external appearance.
De Underground
De Underground was an important venue in the development of contemporary urban music. It operated from 18 Sebert Road from 1991 - 1996. Below is Peter Marshall's 1992 shot of it.
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| 18 Sebert Road 1992 |
Its role was significant enough for Newham council to erect a blue plaque by it in May 2021 in recognition of its role in the "development of UK hardcore, jungle, and drum and bass music." The owners of number 18 would not give permission for it to be erected on their wall, so it was placed next door - see below:
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| The plaque in situ - now removed |
Proudly displaying the plaque, before it was placed on the wall was one of De Underground's key figures, Uncle 22. See below:
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| Uncle 22 - with the plaque |
How different that 18 Sebert Road location looks today—it is home to some pretty shabby-looking flats. Number 16 has recently been renovated, during which the plaque was removed and has yet to be replaced.
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| 18 Sebert Road, today |
The Lotus Club
The Lotus Club operated at the other end of Woodgrange Road, above what is now Poundland. Below is a photo of the entrance to the club, tucked away around the corner:
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| Lotus Club - Post Office Approach - 1991 |
And here is that same entrance today. Largely the same appearance, still an entrance, but now to more shabby-looking flats. There is something rather sad about ground-breaking venues of 35 years ago becoming anonymous housing today. But, that's part of the story of change of purpose and continuity of buildings:
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| Entrance to a block of flats - 2024 |
Eagle and Child figurines
When the Eagle and Child pub—the one with the longest continuous history in Forest Gate—was refurbished in the 1890s, some distinctive figurines were placed on the facia board. Over 130 years later, they survive, but in a neglected state.
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| Above- Peter Marshall's 1992 photos |
Peter captured them in 1992, looking quite spruced up next to the nameplate of what was a pretty seedy and rough pub by then.
Today, the pub has gone, transformed into the Woodgrange Pharmacy. But the figurines have that uncared-for look about them.
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| Above Iggy Taran's 2024 photos |
They are the same objects on a building with different functions and care plans!
Moon House
This Chinese takeaway has been a long-term fixture on Woodgrange Road. When Peter captured it in 1992 it looked like your archetypal "Chinese Chippy" of the day, as shown below:
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| Moon House 1992 |
The location, name, and function have remained constant - and so has the family! When we showed the current staff the earlier image, they immediately recognised it as their childhood home/shop. The next generation now manages the take-away, with a far wider selection of dishes and an altogether more modern appearance.
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| Moon House, 2024 |
Forest Tavern, clocktower and station kiosk
Same kiosk, different roof fabric, same clocktower, different place, same pub, different name!
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| 1992 |
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| 2024 |
14 Sebert Road
Same shop, same door, different goods!
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| 1992 baby clothes and second-hand shop |
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| 2024 - Pizza Haven |
Tyre shops
From the tyre shop of 1992 to the tyre shop today!
Peter Marshall took photos of 84 Woodgrange Road, which was labelled a tyre shop, but had clearly been turned into a furniture store, retaining the old facia board. That space is now The Globe, an Albanian restaurant.
Same place, very different appearance.
The same could be said of 24-26 Woodford Road, which he also photographed. It has been transformed from Kasey's (?) in 1992 to today's local tyre shop. It has the same function, but in a different location!
84 Woodgrange Road
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| 1992 tyre shop, turned furniture store |
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| Today - Albanian-run coffee shop and restaurant |
24-28 Woodford RoadAll change! Different feel, look, and purpose.
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| 1992 - Entrance to what we believe to have been Kasey's motorbike shop |
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| 2024 - highly recommended tyre shop! |
It's not quite Woodgrange Road, but here we have the same shop, same location, but different offerings, with tanning and tattooing added to the selection!
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| Blondies - 1992 |
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| Blondies - 2024 |
Graffiti
Same medium, different subject matter, and different locations on Woodgrange Road!
1991-2
2024
Street life
Four of the locations of Peter Marshall's photos of street life on Woodgrange Road in 1991/91 offer interesting comparisons today.
Young drivers
The location is the same, as is the fact that the shop to the right is a butcher's. The change is that it is now Halal. The toy car has gone.
1991
People on the street
Same location, different demographic. The shop in the background was Woolworth, the same building today is the Tesco Express.
1991
The same location, equally diverse demographic. The children's play train has been replaced by a soulless, secure metal box. A striking difference between these two photos is the considerable increase in street furniture in the contemporary one, a feature recurring in many of the contrasting photographs above.
1991
2024
Tyre shop - street life
The 1990's tyre shop, turned 2024 restaurant was featured above. Below are street life scenes outside it: same sentiment (adult(s) and child), different ethnicity, from the same photo-shoots.
1992
If any readers have photographs of earlier-era Forest Gate locations that would offer interesting contrasts to the contemporary look and feel of a place, we'd be happy to consider running a feature similar to this one. Just get in touch!
Footnote
'Now' photographer, Igoris is a London-based photographer who works with portraiture, documentary and landscape photography. Currently part of an exhibition curated by Johny Pitts at the Hayward Gallery: After the End of History: British Working Class Photography 1989-2024. Contact: picsfromiggy@gmail.com, website: igoristaran.com Contact:picsfromiggy@gmail.com, website: igoristaran.com.
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