Twenty years ago Wanstead and Leytonstone were the centre of a national anti-road campaign focusing on the building of the M11 link road. It was a highly charged campaign, which included long-term tree-dwelling on George Green – which famously led to a widespread belief that the tree had been granted its own postcode.
Memories of the event are to be discussed on Tuesday evening as part of the Wanstead Fringe. The evening will be held at the Wanstead Tap (details on this page and on the Wanstead Fringe app – iOS and Android) and by hosted by local author John Rogers.
But as a taster, Wansteadium is honoured to be showing these photographs from the time, taken by the late John Harrison of Reydon Ave. Our thanks to his family for passing them on to us. There will be more photographs displayed as part of the event.
A great set of pictures, thank you
Does the speaker have access to the audio interviews with locals who’s lives were affected by the upheaval? I seem to remember listening to tapes in the library. Residents of Leyton, Leytonstone and Wanstead were interviewed.
I remember it well. I lived in Warren Road at the time and there was little or no disruption. By the way, I think it is the A11 we are talking about not the M11. It was supposed to release the amount in traffic in Wanstead High Street which obviously has not happened.
Because unfortunately people cannot see beyond of their car bonnet and the whole of the UK seems to designed around car use which is neither sustainable or practical.
I live just over half a mile to the High St yet I see those live around me often drive there.