Whitechapel Market

Whitechapel – one of London’s most diverse and historically rich neighbourhoods – is in the midst of profound transformation. A new railway station, hospital, town hall, hotels and numerous residential and office developments are reshaping its streets and skyline.

At the centre of this change lies the centuries-old Whitechapel Market, a vital part of local life known for its character, colour and affordability. Plans by Tower Hamlets Council will see the market undergo significant improvements in the coming years, reshaping its layout and infrastructure while seeking to preserve its distinctive place in the life of Whitechapel.

Yet the market also reflects the complexities of the area – where renewal and hardship, opportunity and struggle, exist side by side.

The photographs from this work – including the images below – have been acquired by the London Archives, London’s official repository of memory, ensuring that this moment in the market’s history becomes part of the city’s permanent historical record. I am also in discussion with Tower Hamlets Council about how the project might develop in collaboration with the borough as the plans for the market progress.