Lansbury Estate facts for kids
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The Lansbury Estate is a large, important group of homes built by the local council in Poplar and Bromley-by-Bow. These areas are in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. The estate is named after George Lansbury. He was a local leader (a councillor) and a national politician (a MP) for the Labour Party.
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The Story of Lansbury Estate
The Lansbury Estate is one of the biggest council housing areas in London. It covers a large space. This space is bordered by East India Dock Road to the south. The Docklands Light Railway is to the east, and the Limehouse Cut canal is to the north-west.
The area where the estate now stands was badly damaged. This happened during the Second World War due to bombing. Planning for the new homes started in 1949. Building began just before 1951. This was part of a big national event called the Festival of Britain. The first parts built were the Chrisp Street Market area and the Trinity Independent Chapel. More homes and other buildings were added towards the east. The very last part, at Pigott Street, was finished in 1982. This area is near Bartlett Park.
Building a Community
The idea behind the design was to create complete neighbourhoods. This meant that each neighbourhood should have everything a community needed. This included flats, houses, churches, schools, and a home for older people. There was also a shopping area where people could walk freely. It had a covered market. The plan also included pubs and open spaces. All these places were connected by footpaths. The builders used traditional materials. These included London stock bricks and Welsh slate. This was done to balance the modern style of the buildings.
A famous writer about buildings, Lewis Mumford, wrote about the Lansbury Estate in 1953. He liked that its design was not just about looks or saving money. Instead, it focused on the people living there. It considered their different interests and needs. He felt the planners avoided boring, prison-like buildings. They remembered the real purpose of homes and neighbourhood life.
English Heritage is an organisation that protects important buildings. They have said that the estate is very significant. They have listed some of its buildings as important. This includes the SS Mary and Joseph Roman Catholic Church. This church was designed by Adrian Gilbert Scott. However, English Heritage also noted that the estate has been neglected. Some parts have also been modernised in ways that were not helpful.
Another famous writer, John Betjeman, really liked the estate. He also thought highly of the nearby St John's Estate. This estate is on the Isle of Dogs.
The GLC used to own the Lansbury Estate. Later, the Tower Hamlets Council owned it. In 1998, the ownership of the homes changed. This is called a stock transfer. The properties were then given to Poplar HARCA. This is a housing association that manages homes.
Getting Around
Train and Tube Stations
The estate is served by two Docklands Light Railway (DLR) stations. These are Langdon Park DLR station and All Saints DLR station. The closest London Underground (Tube) stations are Bromley-by-Bow tube station and Bow Road tube station. For national train services, Limehouse station is the nearest.
Bus Routes
Several London Buses routes serve the area. Route 309 goes through the centre of the estate. Routes 15, 115, D6, D7, D8, 277, 135, and D3 all run along the edges of the estate.
