Festival of Britain - Exhibition of Architecture, Poplar

The Festival of Britain opened in May 1951 - so here we celebrate it's 50th Anniversary.  It was to be a celebration of Britain’s achievements in science, industrial design and technology, arts and architecture.  As early as 1948, the LLC was invited to contribute to an "Exhibition of Live Architecture". They accepted and decided to use their development at Poplar. The LLC then planned to have part of their neighbourhood development completed in time for the Festival. Their aim was to demonstrate to the public the potential of town planning. By the opening of the Festival of Britain a quarter of the Lansbury Estate, named in honour of local socialist politician George Lansbury, was ready, residents moved in, the market and shops were open for business. Buses ran from Aldgate and a riverboat service connected the South Bank Site to West India Dock Pier thereby enabling visitors to journey to Poplar to see the LLC’s modern Lansbury Estate.  

The modern market, laid out in the form of square with continental influences, was not at all popular with local people. They preferred the old market in Chrisp Street with its stalls on both sides of the road. However, people did like the new market public house, the "Festival Inn", with its modern furniture and décor.