London Fields East - the Ghetto

'The Ghetto' is a model of Ellingfort Road and London Lane in Hackney. In the early 1990s the houses were occupied by squatters, many of whom were artists. The houses had been squatted for many years but were under threat from Hackney Council who had earmarked the streets for demolition. The council wished to replace the houses with light industrial units.

The model was made by photographer Tom Hunter and model-maker James McKinnon. Hunter lived in Ellingfort Road and saw the piece as a way of documenting the community in the face of its impending break up. He also wanted to show that the residents were not, as the council claimed, social undesirables. The model and portrait photographs of the residents formed part of his degree show at the London College of Printing.

Hunter remained in the street when the squatters won the battle to stay in their homes. The residents became legal tenants and Ellingfort Road became a council-approved creative community.

People started to move into the street in the early 1980s, making the derelict houses into homes and workspaces. 'We spent a lot of effort on our homes', said Hunter, 'probably more than most people do when they move in.' Other residents included artists, architects, teachers and students.