Case Study B – Tower Hamlets

1. Look at Source One and answer these questions. Try and look at the handwritten version of the census first before the typed one.

Source one- 1921 Census record- The National Archives (RG15/1655)

• What religion is Israel? How can you tell?
• Why does it say ‘out of work’ next to Israel’s job? How do you think that affects the family?
• How long do you think the family has lived in Britain? Clue- think about where John was born.
• Is there anyone whose job is ‘home duties’? Who is doing that job? Why do you think house work took a long time?
• What else can you learn about this family?

2. What questions do you have about this family that are not answered by the census record? Write these down and keep them.

3. Study Sources two to five and answer these questions.

Source two- Photograph of Jewish New Year at Philpot synagogue 1922- Tower Hamlets Local History Library and Archives (P 18776)

• What does this reveal about Philpot synagogue?

Source three- Newspaper article 1989 about a ‘flapper wedding’- Tower Hamlets Local History Library and Archives (P 18781)

• What does this tell you about people’s lives in the 1920s?

Source Four- OS map of Grove road 1893- Tower Hamlets Local History Library and Archives (LCM 764)

• Look at the map of Grove road. What different buildings can you see? What does this tell you about this area?

4. Look at the questions you wrote earlier. Check which ones have been answered by the other sources. What further questions do you have about the family or life in the 1920s?