Poplar’s story, told by the people who live It

16/10/2026

Ahead of the final Festival of Britain 75th anniversary community event on 30 October, Ana-Mae from our Communities team shares her reflections on the stories, memories and community spirit that have shaped the celebrations this year.

“As our Festival of Britain 75th anniversary programme comes to a close, I’ve been reflecting on what these past few months have meant, not just for me, but for the many residents, volunteers, schools, community groups and partners who helped bring it to life.

For many people, the Festival of Britain is something associated with the South Bank. What is often forgotten is that Poplar was at the heart of it too. In 1951, the Lansbury Estate was built as the Festival’s Live Architecture Exhibition, showcasing ideas about housing, community and how people might live better after the war.

That story deserves to be remembered.

When we began planning these celebrations, our aim wasn’t simply to look back. We wanted to give local people the chance to explore Poplar’s history, share their own experiences and think about what kind of future we want for E14. Just as the original Festival looked forward with optimism, we wanted heritage to become a way of inspiring new ideas and new connections.

The Cabinet of Curiosities display at Poplar Picnic

Community stories

What has struck me most is how many personal stories emerged when people were given the opportunity to share them.

One of my favourite moments came from conversations with the firefighters at Poplar Fire Station. They told us about a time before telephones were commonplace, when firefighters followed shouts of “Fire!” through the streets until they found the emergency. That was where the phrase ‘There’s a shout in’ came from. It was a small story, but one that brought local history vividly to life and reminded us how communities relied on one another.

The fire station also contributed a simple tree branch to our Cabinet of Curiosities project, which brought together personal objects loaned by local people to tell the story of everyday life in Poplar. What might seem an ordinary object came to represent something much bigger: care, resilience, public service and the many generations of people who have made Poplar their home.

Another memorable moment was meeting former residents of E14 at our Poplar Picnic summer event. Some no longer live in the area but returned specially after hearing about the anniversary celebrations. They spoke fondly about childhood trips to Chrisp Street Market, shopping in Woolworths and growing up in Poplar. Walking through the recreated show home brought back powerful memories, from the furniture and household items to toys they remembered from their own childhoods.”

"Former residents returned to Poplar specially for the anniversary celebrations, delighting in memories of Chrisp Street, Woolworths and childhood life brought vividly back to life in the recreated show home."

Ana-Mae, co-lead for our Festival of Britain 75 anniversary celebrations

Discovery and inspiration

“This year’s Festival of Britain activities also gave me the chance to discover new things myself. After more than 20 years of working in Poplar, I finally visited inside the Festival Inn. I’d passed it countless times without realising just how much Festival of Britain history is preserved within its walls. It left me wondering what happened to the famous maypole that once stood nearby and reminded me that there is always more to learn about the place we think we know.

I was equally inspired by the children who took part in the recreation of a Lansbury Estate show home workshops. They imagined life in post-war Britain, thinking about rationing, rebuilding after the Blitz and moving into a brand-new home on the Lansbury Estate. Hearing their surprise at how different everyday life was in 1951 showed just how powerful history can be when it feels real and relatable.

None of this could have happened alone.

This year’s celebrations has been shaped by residents, schools, volunteers, artists, historians, community groups and people from across Poplar HARCA. Together they contributed ideas, expertise, enthusiasm and countless hours of effort.

From walking tours and oral histories to creative workshops, exhibitions and the Poplar Picnic, every activity relied on people bringing their own knowledge and experiences. That’s what made the programme feel authentic. It wasn’t a story being told about the community. It was a story being told by the community.

A legacy for Poplar

Most importantly, we’ve created something lasting.

We’ve recorded oral histories, collected photographs, gathered objects and documented stories that might otherwise have been lost. Future generations will be able to discover not only the buildings and architecture that make the Lansbury Estate special, but also the memories, friendships and experiences that have shaped life here over the past 75 years.

My hope is that people leave this programme with a greater appreciation of Poplar’s unique place in history, but also a stronger belief in its future.

The Festival of Britain was built on optimism and imagination. Looking at the creativity, generosity and pride shown throughout these celebrations, I think those qualities are still very much alive in Poplar today.”

Join us for our final celebration

We’re bringing our 75 year anniversary celebrations to a close with a special event where we’ll share highlights from the past few months, celebrate everyone who took part and reflect on the impact we’ve created together.

Festival of Britain: Poplar 2026 Highlights

📅 30 October

🕒 3pm-6pm

📍 The Feldy

Whether you’ve been involved throughout the programme or are discovering it for the first time, we’d love you to join us.

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