Changing living and working conditions

East London’s landscape has been shaped by the demands of manufacturing and technological innovation. Traces of this industrial past linger – from factory waste pollution in the River Lea to the street Storehouse stands on, named after Alexander Parkes, who invented the first synthetic plastic. The people who laboured in the East End also shaped the area through demands for better working conditions, public health and housing. These objects uncover how people worked, lived and continue to persist within an ever-changing east London.

Written by: Floor Assistant team, V&A East Storehouse

Published: April 2026

Working Museum