When the war ended in 1945 Canning Town people were left with the task of rebuilding. There was a massive housing shortage due to the extensive bombing suffered in the area. In West Ham as a whole, over 27% of the houses had been destroyed. In the south of the borough, near the docks - a major target - the figure was as high as 85% of houses destroyed.

However, the destruction of some of Canning Town’s worst slum areas meant an opportunity for the rebuilding of better housing, such as the Keir Hardie Estate. Between 1945 and 1965 the council built around 8,000 new homes in the borough.

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Tom McAllister
The Old Dispensary
30 Romford Road, Stratford
London E15 4BZ
Tel: 020 8430 6393 Fax: 020 8430 6392

Last updated 17 February 2003