Chris Dorley Brown has spent his entire career documenting the ever-changing landscape of London’s East End.
His retrospective book, A History of the East End, published by French publisher Nouveau Palais, presents a rich visual archive of the area, with images spanning from 1987 to 2023. The book, produced in a unique format, offers a window into East London's ongoing cycle of shrinkage, expansion, triumph, and failure, all seen through Dorley Brown’s documentary lens.
Dorley Brown’s creative journey began in East London during the late 1970s, a period marked by intense political conflict and social transformation. Though his family had roots in the East End, it wasn’t until this time that he himself became immersed in the area’s social complexities. His photographs, taken over decades, capture the stark contrasts of a region in constant flux—rising and falling with the pressures of urban renewal, gentrification, and the forces of history.
The book takes readers on a captivating journey through the many boroughs of the East End, as if strolling through the decades and streets themselves. It starts along the banks of the Thames, introducing us to the vernacular architecture of the 1980s, much of which would be demolished in the years to follow. We then see the contemporary structures that have since replaced them, tracing the transformation spurred by the construction of venues for the 2012 Olympic Games. Along the way, Dorley Brown’s camera turns toward industrial units, social housing estates, and street life—all facets of an area that has weathered immense social and economic change.
The book also takes a poignant pause during the COVID-19 pandemic, showing deserted streets in the heart of the City during lockdown. Yet it concludes where it began, back on the banks of the Thames, underscoring the cyclical nature of urban life in the East End.
“A History of the East End” is not merely a collection of photographs, but a rich narrative punctuated by a series of essays and texts. Throughout the book, Dorley Brown reflects on his career with ease and skillful prose, blending personal recollections with social history. His depictions of East London are at once witty and evocative, using a highly visual style to touch on themes like gentrification, the area’s cultural history, and its ever-changing identity.
In capturing the essence of this dynamic part of London, Dorley Brown has created a visual time capsule, an ongoing archive that will serve as a testament to the East End’s rich and tumultuous history. His book not only preserves these moments but also allows them to be viewed in new light as the dust of time settles, letting mystery and memory infuse the images with added depth.
Purchase your copy of the book here.
