Our proposed event is part of Cable Street 90: A Major New Festival of Heritage, Art, Music and Performance Marking 90 Years Since the Battle of Cable Street.
The Battle of Cable Street took place on 4 October 1936, when tens of thousands of East End residents – including Jewish, Irish and other local communities – prevented Sir Oswald Mosley's British Union of Fascists from marching through the area. Cable Street is often remembered as a single day in history, but its legacy continues to inspire artists because it speaks to universal questions about love, community, identity and collective action.

We plan to hold a walking tour to mark 90 years since the Battle of Cable Street. This event will celebrate the European Days of Culture theme of love. The ancient Greek words most closely associated with the love of community are Philia (loyal fellowship) and Agape (selfless, inclusive care for others). The heritage of Cable Street tells a story of these loves – in and across communities. During the famous battle, local East End communities fought to demonstrate their love for justice, their love of peace and fierce love for an established world order under threat.

It is more important than ever to celebrate the heritage of the East End’s Jewish community and explore positive themes such as love. Tower Hamlets is home to a huge amount of Jewish heritage and history but only a dwindling Jewish population. The community is reeling from a recent arson attack on the historic Nelson Street Synagogue. A House of Commons Debate Pack (Increases in antisemitic offences, January 2024) records that the highest number of incidents per 10,000 Jewish population was recorded in Tower Hamlets (268).

A guided walk with expert tour guide, Rachel Kolsky, will explore Wapping and Shadwell's extraordinary social and maritime history. From the repurposed Shadwell Basin and Tobacco Dock to the streets where East End communities united against fascism in 1936, we’ll uncover stories of migration, love, resilience and solidarity. Along the way we'll discover the Battle of Cable Street mural, as well as an unexpected cast of characters and places: exotic animal keepers, rope makers, a mortuary turned natural history museum, the school that inspired one of Rachel's favourite films and the remarkable Wilton's Music Hall. Full of hidden corners, surprising stories and striking architecture, this walk will offer a fresh perspective on an East End neighbourhood shaped by generations of diverse communities and layers of love.