A look at my father's East End of London, around the old Boleyn ground of West Ham United at Upton Park - where my father grew up and where my uncle played for the club. In 2016 the club moved to a new stadium at the Olympic Park in Stratford, ending 112 years of history at the ground.
The Boleyn ground is now a housing development.
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A look at my father's East End of London, around the old Boleyn ground of West Ham United at Upton Park - where my father grew up and where my uncle played for the club. In 2016 the club moved to a new stadium at the Olympic Park in Stratford, ending 112 years of history at the ground.
The Boleyn ground is now a housing development.
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the Boleyn Ground, May 2016 ~ shortly before demolishment work began
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the Boleyn ground ~ May 2016, shortly before demolishment work began
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the Boleyn ground ~ May 2016, shortly before demolishment work began
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the Boleyn ground ~ May 2016, shortly before demolishment work began
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cranes involved in the construction of new apartments at the old Boleyn Ground
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my father watching construction of new apartments at the old Boleyn Ground
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my father watching construction of new apartments at the old Boleyn Ground
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cranes involved in the construction of new apartments at the old Boleyn Ground
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cranes involved in the construction of new apartments at the old Boleyn Ground visible above flats
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looking up Green Street to cranes involved in the construction of new apartments at the old Boleyn Ground
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construction of apartments where the Boleyn Ground once stood, seen from Green Street
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mural of Bobby Moore outside shops on Green street
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mural of Billy Bonds and Trevor Brooking on Priory Road
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a mural behind retail units off the Barking Road
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the old Boleyn Cinema on the Barking Road
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The World Cup Sculpture, also known as 'The Champions', at the junction of the Barking Road and Green Street. It features West Ham players' Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst, Martin Peters and Ray Wilson, all of whom played in the World Cup winning England team of 1966. The sculpture is by Philip Jackson
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cranes involved in the construction of new apartments at the old Boleyn Ground visible above the famous Boleyn Tavern
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cranes involved in the construction of new apartments at the old Boleyn Ground visible above the famous Boleyn Tavern
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the Boleyn Tavern on the corner of Green Street and the Barking Road, after its refurbishment
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my father in the Boleyn Tavern, May 2016, before its refurbishment
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a picture inside the Boleyn Tavern
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view from a doorway of the Boleyn Tavern to the corner of Green Street and the Barking Road
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typical street corner in East Ham, where my father grew up
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Macauley Road, East Ham, where my father grew up
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Macauley Road, East Ham
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coppiced London Plane tree on Macauley Road, East Ham
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my father in front of no. 24 Macauley Road, East Ham, 2019 ~ the house he was brought up in. There was no bathroom and only an outside WC
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no. 72 Macauley Road, East Ham. My grandparents, along with my father and his sister, temporarily moved into this house when a bomb blew out the windows of their own property, no. 24, during an air raid in WW2. One bomb landed directly in the street, but failed to explode. Had it done so, neither my grandmother, my father or my aunt would have survived.
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original tiled front path at a property on Macauley Road. All of the houses used to be tiled like this. Now almost none of these remain.
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detail of The Central pub, where my grandfather used to drink. It closed in 2017 to be developed into flats and a retail unit
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detail of The Central pub, where my grandfather used to drink. It closed in 2017 to be developed into flats and a retail unit
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a pedestrian walks past what was Ken's Cafe on Green Street, a favourite with West Ham supporters, especially on match days. It closed its doors in 2020, after 53 years of business
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Upton Park tube station - the arrival and departure point for many West Ham, and visiting fans
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whitewashed sign at Upton Park tube station ~ the nearest station to the Boleyn Ground
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my father outside the London Stadium, 2019 ~ West Ham's new ground at the Olympic Park, Stratford, east London. West Ham United are tenants and have a 99 year lease on the stadium, which was built for the London 2012 Olympics.