Homes fit for Heroes Centenary Conference: Walking Tours

Tour 1: Bethnal Green and Shoreditch borders walking tour

19July 2019, 10:30-12:45

A tour on foot of about two miles led by Dr Michael Passmore to illustrate social housing erected between the 1870s and 1970s. It will encompass a range of estates and blocks of flats built by local authorities, philanthropic societies and housing associations, including slum clearance schemes, inter-war flats and post-World War II redevelopments. Featured will be London’s first council estate, two ‘homes fit for heroes’ schemes and fine examples of 1950s brutalist architecture.  Of special interest will be designs by early LCC architects, Sir Frank Baines, Skinner, Bailey & Lubetkin and Denys Lasdun. At the halfway point refreshments will be available to purchase from a local cafe.

Meeting place
Outside Shoreditch High Street Overground Station (on section of line between Canada Water and Dalston Junction).
The walk will finish at Bethnal Green Underground Station (Central Line). 

£5. Booking essential. Attendance limited to 15 persons.

Tour 2: Becontree walking tour

19 July 2019, 11:00-13:00

A tour on foot of the early portion of the London County Council’s Becontree estate – at the time the largest municipal housing scheme in the world - led by Prof Mark Swenarton and Mark Watson, Education Officer at Valence House Museum.

We will see the first block of houses (completed November 1921), the adjacent school, early timber-clad cottages, the shopping parade and the urban set-piece of Valence Circus. Also the special exhibition of drawings on display in the Archive plus the ‘room sets’ on permanent display at the adjacent Valence House Museum.

The tour will start and end at the Archive and Local Studies Centre, where refreshments (including lunch) are available in the café.

Meeting place
Archive and Local Studies Centre, Valence House, Becontree Avenue, Dagenham RM8 3HT

£5. Booking essential. Attendance limited to 15 persons.