The Boundary Estate: The Child of the Jago

How a small area of East London became the worst slum in Victorian London, then the country's first council estate.

[JayForeman]

My grandma grew up on the Boundary Estate. About 10 years ago there was a documentary about it on iPlayer. I took my laptop round to watch it with her. My favourite moment was when she gasped and shouted “That’s my old sweet shop!” She hadn’t thought about it in more than 70 years.

[richardgeldart]

Back in 1965, when I was 19 and a trainee in the GLC Legal Department, I had to investigate a tripping accident on some Boundary Estate stairs.
Did I resolve it? Er, no.
But I did meet a nonagenarian lady tenant who wanted to tell me her story.
"Before the Great War, there were lovely German bands playing on the bandstand.
"We had to kill them later, I suppose", she added.
"Funny old world", was her conclusion, and I'll always recall her words.

[anonnymous]

I live on the Boundary Estate. I wasn't so crazy about my flat to begin with as it's sort of quirky in layout, with no proper hallways, so all four rooms - living room, bedroom, kitchen, bathroom - are basically right next to each other. But I've done it up nicely and now find it hard to imagine living anywhere else.

I'm on the top floor of a five storey building and there's no lift but I'm used to that now, even if the delivery drivers aren't! Also, as it's a grade 2 listed building, there's no double glazing to retain the aesthetic integrity, so it's not the warmest flat in the winter.

I think around half of the flats in my block of fifteen are now privately owned, which is a shame, as most are let out for eye watering rents. I consider myself to be very fortunate to be a council tenant with a secure tenancy and genuinely affordable rent.

[cmw]

How strange. I was sat under the shelter at Boundary Gardens just 2 nights ago wondering of the history of the buildings around. I wasn't expecting Jago Hazzard to fill me in just 2 days later.

[pmichael]

Fascinating account of the area and its history. A lot packed into less than 12 minutes! Thank you!

[richardbatty]

I really enjoyed this fascinating tale. I can see a lot of research has gone into this. A production you should be proud of.
Thank you.

[brianartillery]

A brilliant video, Mr Jago, sir. After seeing that odd bandstand used as a location on TV shows like 'Primeval', and 'Luther', I've always wondered where it was, and now, thanks to you, I know. I love the repurposed railway station benches on it as well. Many years ago, (1980's) when some 'remediation' (read: 'demolition') work was being done on a station in my town, three friends and myself 'liberated' a perfectly good station bench from a pile of rubble, and carried it, in triumph, through the streets in the small hours, to a friend's house. Not one person asked what we were doing. The bench, once repainted, and re-slatted, took pride of place in my mate's kitchen for years.

[shrikelet]

The idea that poverty is a moral failing of those it afflicts is the most tenacious and pernicious meme to emerge from the Industrial Revolution.

[crossleydd]

Hearing this brings a lump to my throat, bringing to life the existence of my Great Grandfather, wife and 14 kids, only half of which survived out of childhood, living in London slums from about 1819 to 1863. It's no wonder that my grandfather (born 1860) joined the British Army as a bandboy, aged 12, to get away from the poverty and degradation that existed in Grays Inn Road (then Lane), St. Giles and Seven Dials, just some of the areas that they inhabited.

[theantimen]

I have been the milkman on the Boundary estate since 1983 when it had once again become a run down and neglected area. I have seen the improvements over the year's and watched the large Bangladeshi community move out and young hipsters move in. Sadly my last customer moved out last year and I've gone from serving 300 customers to none in the space of 38 years. I still have my memories of carrying 3 crates of milk upstairs in the bigger blocks in the heat of sweltering summer mornings and the wonderful Bangladeshi people who lived there. I even learnt some words of Bengali to communicate with the wives who spoke no English! PS: Only one of the original Old Nicole tenants moved back in when the flats where rebuilt, such were the high rents being charged.

[anwrangr]

That was brilliant - I never knew that place even existed. I must have a wander through there at some point because those buildings are gorgeous. The accounts of the slums reminded me of George Orwell's The Road to Wigan Pier, but worse.

[RogersRamblings]

It's sounds as if life in the Jago was a definite hazard.

[davidconnor]

I like the way you sneaked in those shots of former railway station benches at the end, under the radar...

[dusyjewel]

This was wonderful; I was raised on Old Nichol Street from 1971 to 1985 and only learned of the area's history many years after I left. It was quite a dive when we lived there but I have many fantastic memories.

[clickrick]

I've only just finished re-reading Terry Pratchett's Dodger, which features Angela Burdett-Coutts, and which could very well have been set around the area of the Old Jago.

[duartes]

I don't know if you'll ever get to read this puny comment but thank you. Thank you for years of remarkable content that have educated and entertained me beyond reasonable expectation. You have a tremendous way with your words (loved the zinger at 8:42) and your voice is captivating. I can only hope to one day give you a proper thank and a firm handshake. Perhaps a hug too. Keep up the good work!

[mickydub]

I was born in old ford rd East london in 1958 and i can remember asking my grandad in the 60"s where he was born, My grandad was about 6ft 4 and had a tattoo on his hand and when asked he got down to my height and looked me right in the eyes and said in a chilling voice ".I COME FROM THE JAGO LITTLE UN .. I COME FROM THE JAGO " I ran to my mum in tears scared to death of what the Jago was ... He was a bull of a man but i loved him to death .

[e.a.forrest]

Had the great privilege to be taken on a guided tour of this estate by local historian David Rosenberg. A fascinating history!

[charlieOkeene]

Great video, Jago. I first became aware of The Child of the Jago through an episode of Rumpole of the Bailey.

[shinvelcro]

To be fair, Shoreditch is still like a horror story. You can hear the cry of almonds being ground for there milk all around the clock.