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Once Upon a Time in Brick Lane

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British documentary photographer Paul Trevor has released a collection of black and white images of Brick Lane in the 1970s and 1980s

A self-taught photographer Paul Trevor, who lived in East London neighbourhood, spent many years during the 70s and 80s capturing life on London’s most iconic East End street.

Chilton Street, E2, 1977

Paul Trevor became a photographer at 25 after abandoning his accountancy job. He photographed inner cities across Britain throughout his career.

In his new photography book, Once Upon a Time in Brick Lane, images show humour, grit and children playing out in the streets, capturing the area’s vibe before it went through dramatic social change to be- come a London’s hipster corner, with independent boutique shops, cafes and bars.

Sclater Street, London E1, 1975

Screenwriter Alan Gilbey writes in the book’s intro- duction: “Looking at Paul’s photographs, you can see all the special, fleeting, human moments… With the flick of a shutter, at the perfect time, these people live again. Even in monochrome, there is so much life.”

Wentworth Street, London E1, 1978

Paul Trevor’s photographs have been widely pub- lished in books, magazines, films and on TV. His work is motivated by a keen social impulse and his personal projects include the ‘Eastender Archive’, which docu- ments the changing community of the Brick Lane area over 25 years.

Brick Lane, 1977

Once Upon a Time in Brick Lane by Paul Trevor, published by Hoxton Mini Press, RRP £25 hoxtonminipress.com