Preserving a London Fields squat in the 1990s

In 1994, the terraced houses on Ellingfort Road and London Lane in Hackney, east London, were under threat of demolition. The artist Tom Hunter, one of the squatters who’d made their homes there, used photos and a detailed model to document the community and save it from eviction.

Key location:

London Fields, Hackney

Key dates:

1990s

Street level

The model of the terraced houses was made by Hunter and fellow artist James McKinnon as part of Hunter’s degree show at the London College of Printing, now the London College of Communication. Made from wood, paper and photographic images, their 3D models are incredibly detailed. Peer into the windows and you’ll see the interiors of many of the rooms.

Making a home

People began moving into these derelict Victorian houses in the early 1980s, setting up their homes and workshops inside. Many were artists, but there were also labourers, architects, teachers and students. "We spent a lot of effort on our homes," said Hunter, "probably more than most people do when they move in".

Under threat

By 1994, Hackney Council planned to evict the residents, bulldoze the houses and replace them with industrial units. A spokesperson for the company benefiting from the redevelopment gave an interview in the local paper, calling the area "a derelict, crime-ridden ghetto".

The Ghetto

Hunter’s project, which he called The Ghetto, was a response to this criticism of his home and his community. Squatters were commonly portrayed in the media as troublesome lawbreakers. Hunter used his model and photos to show that the residents weren’t the problem the council thought they were.

Model residents

Hunter photographed the residents in their homes – sometimes relaxing or working, sometimes looking back at the camera with resolve, sometimes staring out of the window in deep thought. You can see how each of them has decorated their space, making their home their own.

What happened to the residents?

In 1999, after Hunter’s project had raised awareness of their cause, around 60 people living in 20 homes won their battle to stay and became legal tenants. The council provided funding to refurbish the buildings and established the area as a creative community.

Gentrification in Hackney

This London Fields community is part of a wider story of gentrification in Hackney. Artists and creative companies seeking cheap rents moved into the area from the 1980s onwards. Wealthier people and businesses catering to them soon followed, while property developers spied a chance to capitalise on the new demand. Together, these changes transformed the character of the area, pushing up rents and living costs for long-standing residents.