Located between Shoreditch High Street and Bethnal Green Road, Boundary Estate is currently a popular Victorian red brick development set around the Arnold Circus rotunda. London's most notorious slum, Old Nicol, has been demolished to make way for London's first – and possibly the world's – first new social housing scheme. Look back at its history and explore available properties in the area.
Old Nicol: “Virtue, Filth, and Poverty”
The Boundary Estate tenements were built by the newly formed London County Council (LCC) in the 1890s. Local pastor pastor. Osborne Jay was the visionary of this project, having moved to the parish in 1886. Although he worked diligently to improve the lives of his parishioners, he ultimately found it necessary to demolish the Old Nicol shantytown he served in order to correct the social ills he had fostered. I concluded that there is. In that dirty street.
To give an idea of the conditions of life in the Old Nicoll slums, the following vivid account appeared in the Illustrated London News in 1863:
It huddles in dark cellars, dilapidated attics, empty blackened rooms, reeks of disease and death, a painful monotony of vice, filth, poverty, for which there is no means, even if one has the inclination. It's just one round. Observation of courtesy and cleanliness.
The situation at Old Nicol was also brought to public attention by Arthur Morrison's novel The Jago Child. This story about a child's struggle with various vices was inspired by the author's visit to the area at the invitation of a pastor. Jay.
The book had such an impact on Victorian perceptions that it was mentioned by the Prince of Wales at the opening of the new Boundary Estate in 1900. Sadly, the new development did not benefit the approximately 6,000 residents of the original slum. Most of them could not afford new apartments and simply moved to nearby slums.
Construction of boundary site
Architect Owen Fleming designed the layout of the new district. He widened existing streets such as Boundary Street and Mount Street, and ensured that the new roads leading from Arnold Circus in the center were wide and tree-lined.
The new tenements were built of yellow and red brick, and eventually 23 blocks were built, housing just over 5,500 people. Stores, workshops, and a laundry were included, and the existing school and church were preserved.
The centerpiece of the new development, Arnold Circus Park and roundabout, was built using the rubble of demolished slums. A bandstand was built on top of this raised enclosure, which is now Grade II listed along with the park and all the original buildings.
Currently, two-thirds of the Boundary Estate remains in the hands of Tower Hamlets Borough Council, while the remaining private land is highly sought after by buyers and tenants. In addition to its traditional and Arts & Crafts style, the property's proximity to Shoreditch High Street, Brick Lane and Columbia Road Market places it at the heart of a vibrant and creative community.
Benson House, Arnold Circus, Shoreditch, E2
2 bedroom flat | £695,000
This spacious two bedroom apartment is located within Benson House, in the heart of Boundary Estate. A bay window to the reception area creates a bright and airy feel, while clean, modern décor and dark stained wood floors throughout add a contemporary feel to this Grade II listed property.
Boundary Street, Shoreditch, E2
2 bedroom flat | £2,384cpm
Located on Boundary Estate's namesake street, this beautifully refurbished apartment features a large dual-sided reception/kitchen area with exposed iron beams and wooden floors. Two carpeted double bedrooms, a modern shower room and separate toilet complete the picture of this stunning Shoreditch home.
To view all of our properties in Shoreditch or to find out more about properties in and around Boundary Estate, please contact our Shoreditch office.
