I organised a walking tour of Hackney Wick this afternoon.
I found it interesting because although I bicycle through it pretty often, I hadn’t registered how much of it is under reconstruction with huge new building developments, roads closed and the whole neighbourhood a building site.
So, the question is whether its curious mixture of new build and surviving industrial development, its graffiti and bars, can survive the onslaught of new development, however sympathetically it’s done.
I doubt it.
| Charles | Saumarez | Smith | 
You may already know this but one person who thinks and knows a lot about Hackney Wick and the changes wrought on it in the last 15 years or so is Simon Goode co-founder of the London Centre for Book Arts on Dace Road. Simon produced a map/pamphlet for the 2024 Open House called Industrial Buildings and Sites of Historic and Architectural Interest in Old Ford. Simon and his partner Ira have had a ringside seat of the developments around Fish Island in the 12 years that they have been operating their studio.
Dear Joan, No, I didn’t know this and wish I had. Funnily enough, I had thought of calling in on the London Centre for Book Arts and will now. Thank you. Charles