Hughes Mansions Stepney | WW2 Photos

Hughes Mansions was a development of block of flats on Vallance Road, Stepney, in the East End of London. It was built in 1929 and named after Mary Hughes, a local councillor and philanthropist who had bought an old pub in the same street and turned it into a social centre.

Hughes Mansions, located on Vallance Road in London’s East End, consisted of three apartment blocks with a total of 93 flats. These buildings were constructed in 1929 and were considered a significant upgrade from the previous “back-to-back” slums that had once occupied the area.

Hughes Mansions, Vallance Road, Stepney Lodnon
Hughes Mansions, Vallance Road, Stepney

The blocks were named after Mary Hughes JP, a prominent Quaker philanthropist who also served on the Metropolitan Borough of Stepney’s Housing Committee. Her dedication to improving the living conditions of working-class families in the area was commemorated in the name of these buildings.

Hughes Mansions were destroyed in March 1945, by the last of Hitler’s rockets falling on London. This was the second worst of all rocket incidents, involving 131 deaths and severe injuries to 40 people.

WW2 1940s

Hughes Mansions was home to many working-class families, mostly Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe. They lived in small but comfortable flats with communal gardens and balconies.

The Blitz

During World War Two, Hughes Mansions faced many air raids from German bombers. The residents took shelter in the basement or nearby public shelters. Some of them were evacuated to safer areas like Saffron Walden or Buckinghamshire.

On 10 May 1941, Hughes Mansions suffered a direct hit from a high-explosive bomb that killed 46 people and injured many more. Among the victims were four children from one family: Julia, Ann, Joe and Philip Emden. Their parents had stayed behind in London to look after their shop.

The survivors of Hughes Mansions rebuilt their lives and their community after this tragedy. They repaired the damaged flats and carried on with their daily routines.

The V2 Rocket

However, on 27 March 1945, Hughes Mansions faced another devastating attack. This time it was from a V2 rocket, a new weapon developed by Nazi Germany that could not be detected or intercepted by British defences.

The V2 rocket exploded at 7:21 am near Hughes Mansions, creating a huge crater and destroying most of the building. It killed 134 people and injured 40 more. It was the second-worst V2 incident in London and the last one to cause fatalities.

The V2 rocket struck just three weeks before the end of the war in Europe. Many of the victims were children who were getting ready for school or playing outside. Some of them had returned from evacuation only recently.

The survivors of Hughes Mansions were left homeless and traumatised by this second blow. They were relocated to other parts of London or elsewhere in Britain.

The Memorial & Treves House

The original Hughes Mansions in its entirety was never rebuilt. The site remained partially vacant for many years until it was redeveloped in the 1960s.

Treves House is a residential tower block located on the Hughes Mansions extensive site in the Whitechapel area of London. The building was constructed in the 1960s as part of a larger program of urban renewal in the area.

At the time of its construction, Treves House was considered a modern and innovative design, with its distinctive curved shape and spacious balconies. The building was named after Sir Frederick Treves, a surgeon and author who gained fame for his association with Joseph Merrick, also known as the “Elephant Man.”

Over the years, Treves House has undergone several renovations and refurbishments to maintain its modern facilities and amenities. The tower block offers a range of studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, as well as communal facilities such as a laundry room, bike storage, and a 24-hour concierge service.

In recent years, the Whitechapel area has undergone significant redevelopment, and the demand for housing in the area has increased. Treves House remains a popular choice for residents due to its prime location, modern design, and easy access to public transportation.

However, like many high-rise residential buildings in London, Treves House has faced challenges related to safety and maintenance. In the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017, there has been increased scrutiny of the safety of high-rise buildings, and Treves House has undergone inspections and upgrades to ensure that it meets modern safety standards.

In 1995, on the 50th anniversary of the V2 attack, a memorial plaque was unveiled at Weavers Fields by Tower Hamlets Council and local residents associations. It reads:

“In memory of the 134 men women and children who were killed March 27 1945 when at 7:21 am a V2 rocket bomb exploded at this place Hughes Mansions Vallance Road.”

The plaque is located near where Hughes Mansions once stood. It serves as a reminder of the lives lost and the resilience shown by those who survived.

Post WW2 Redevelopment

After the end of World War II, the East End of London, including Vallance Road and Hughes Mansions, was left devastated by the bombing. The post-war period saw a massive rebuilding effort throughout the country, with the government launching a series of initiatives to help rebuild homes, infrastructure, and communities.

In the case of Hughes Mansions, the building was repaired and restored in the years following the war. This involved extensive work to repair the damage caused by the bombing, including the rebuilding of damaged walls and roofs.

One of the major post-war initiatives was the construction of new social housing in the 1960s. The London County Council (LCC) was responsible for the construction of many new housing estates in the East End, including in the vicinity of Hughes Mansions. These new developments were designed to provide better living conditions for residents and to replace the many homes that had been destroyed during the war.

The LCC also introduced a number of other measures aimed at improving living conditions for residents, including the provision of new schools, parks, and community facilities.

However, the post-war rebuild was not without its challenges. Many families had been left homeless as a result of the bombing, and the demand for new housing far exceeded the supply. In addition, the economic climate was difficult, and resources were limited. As a result, many of the new housing developments were built quickly and with cheap materials, leading to issues with poor quality and overcrowding.

Despite these challenges, the post-war rebuild of the East End, including Hughes Mansions, was an important step towards rebuilding communities and creating a better future for residents. Today, Hughes Mansions remains a residential block, and the surrounding area has undergone significant regeneration and redevelopment over the years.

Hughes Mansions Vallance Road Stepney WW2
Hughes Mansions Vallance Road Stepney WW2

These photos of the WW2 bomb damage in London are from a collection of newspaper and magazine articles published in England during World War Two. My late grandfather gave these to me as he knew I was interested in London history.

Of 93 flats 60 were completely wrecked or had to be demolished.

The flats, completed in 1929, were named after Councillor Mary Hughes, J.P., member of the housing committee, daughter of the author of “Tom Brown’s Schooldays,” and a Quaker philanthropist who gave away much money.

She bought an old public house in Vallance Road, re-named it Dewdrop Inn and made it a social centre. She died early in the war in St. Peter’s Hospital, which overlooks the scene of Hitler’s carnage in Hughes Mansions.

14 thoughts on “Hughes Mansions Stepney | WW2 Photos”

  1. My grandmother, Leah Myers, lived at no. 17 along with her children Joe, Alf (my dad), Annie and Nita. Also living in Hughes Mansions, at the time was my dad’s great friend Lou Rosen, and his mum. They lived there from before the war to way after, 1950s into 1960s? Does anyone remember them? My dad, Alf Myers, was a public librarian in Tower Hamlets for over 40 years.
    It looks like Anna Shea was living next door. So, my dad lived at no.17 before he joined up and then from 1945 till he got married in 1948. How amazing.

    Reply
    • Hi Carole, I have just been reading a book titled “The Little Wartime Library” by Kate Thompson, & Hughes Mansions is mentioned in it during the bombings of WW2 in the early 1940’s…..It tells of this place being bombed & the storyline is about the people & little community who lived underground in the Bethnal Green subway for 5 years & the Little Wartime Library……The general storyline is from true facts but with name changes….I just couldn’t put this book down, & maybe it might give you some answers….Throughout reading this book I was jotting down place & street names & then looking them up on the internet & came across this photo of the Hughes Mansions raised to the ground…..
      Good Luck.

    • Oh I’m reading that now & like you I keep looking up places online which is how I found this site.
      There are lots of novels around with titles including The Little…but don’t let that put you off. This one is different & so interesting.

  2. When the V2 fell on 27th March 1945, I lived at 19 Hughes Mansions, aged 8, with my mum and dad and my brother. Luckily, we lived in the block which took the blast and survived just! I have very clear memories of that day which often come back to me.

    Reply
    • I wonder if you remember my grandmother Lily and my cousins, twins, Barry and Mavis who were 9 years old. They lived at No. 25 Hughes Mansions. I wish I could have met them,

    • Lily was my Aunt – married to my Mother’s brother Jack Solomons. The twins were my cousins. Lily would have been your Aunt too I would think as she was the Mother and Uncle Jack’s wife.

    • Marua – can you please respond as I think we are related – Was Jack Solomons your Grandfather? He was my Uncle ( um’s brother). I have been looking for his family for a long time. My Mum was a Solomons.

    • Hi Estelle and Maura – it’s Maddy from Findmypast here! We also think you’re related as Jack Solomons married Lily Schwartz and together had four children, including the twins Barry and Mavis. Sadly Lily and the twins died in the Hughes Mansions bomb. Did you ever manage to get in touch? We’d love to talk to either of you about your family history and finding one another. Let us know if you’d be interested 🙂

    • I have just started putting together my family tree. My great grandad Harry, his wife, Jane, together with their daughter, Miriam and granddaughter Sandra, lived at number 32. Sandra was only 2 at the time, so sad. Thanks for posting the photos and if anyone has any information on them, or life at the Hughes Mansions that they would like to share with me, please comment! I’d love to learn more.

  3. My mother lived there and during war lost one of her sisters after last bomb dropped. My mother was a war bride and came to America and would go back to visit family. I remember spending a summer there at hughes mansion in 1962, was 10 years old.

    Reply
  4. Vallence Rd., had some very interesting tenants, especially at 178. Iremmber the address as I also lived at 178
    But not Vallence RD.
    I did go to school with the son of the pub in Vallence Rd. Years after we left school, he told me of the “ meetings” that were held in the pub.
    “ Meetings?”
    Keep searching .
    Regards to all. Stan

    Reply

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