Last week, under a gloriously sunny London sky – London Shoes ventured off to deepest Hackney-London E8 – an area I know very well, having worked there throughout the entire 1990’s. 
The purpose of my visit was to seek out a particular location – a location that is the subject matter for this quirky ‘Shoes’ blog.
The location is ‘Fassett Square’ just off Graham Road–Hackney.
Fassett Square is a small square surrounded by 56 Victorian residential houses bordering a communal garden encircled by a wrought iron fence – and it is commonly knowm that Fassett Square is the inspiration behind the famous fictitious “Albert Square” – the fulcrum of the long running BBC soap opera “East Enders” and one of the most immediately recognised locations on TV.
In East Enders, Albert Square has hardly changed in the 37yrs ‘Enders’ has been aired.
East Enders Creator ‘Julia Smith’ had first identified Hackney’s Fassett Square, as being the design template for the fictional Albert Square way back in the 1980’s. 
Apparently, the dimensions of each house surrounding Fassett Square, were taken – and replicated, when recreating the Albert Square houses, at the ‘Enders’ Elstree studio set up in Borehamwood – and the resemblance of the fictional Albert Square to the actual Fassett Square, especially throughout the early couple of decades of the soap – was uncanny.
When I worked there from 1989 to 2000 – places such as Hackney (inc Fassett square) were considered to be one of the more run-down and poorer areas of London. 
However – today, Hackney has changed massively and is now a much more affluent area, becoming one of London’s most sought after residential property areas – a very desirable place to live.
Today, a property in Fassett Square would set you back anything from a £million quid upwards – unrecognisable from the value of houses when I worked in the area some 30 odd years ago. 
The comparisons between the fictional Albert Square and the actual Fassett Square, have changed over the most recent decade – in fact in January this year, the BBC opened a completely new £87m East Enders set to accommodate the ever changing fictional ‘Walford’ (which, for those that didn’t know – is a hybrid of Walthamstow & Stratford).
So that’s all about Fassett Square-Hackney – and its influence on one of the most watched ‘soaps’ on TV. 
Interestingly – just down the road from Fassett Square, in the London Fields district of Hackney – stands the “Cat & Mutton” pub – which is said to be the inspiration behind the “Queen Vic” pub on East Enders Albert Square.
There has been a pub on the current ‘Cat & Mutton’ site since 1745 – and there is a definite resemblance of the Cat & Mutton to ‘Enders’ Queen Vic pub – although sadly, at the time I was there the pub wasn’t open, as it would appear to be an evening venue only. But I could clearly see why they say that the idea/design of the Queen Vic is influenced by it. 
So – before heading off back home, there were 2 tasks that I wanted to do.
Firstly, I visited the old Barclays Bank branch in Mare Street-Hackney, where I worked throughout the entire 1990’s.
The branch was closed in July last year (2021) – I have such happy memories working there and so I found it a little sad to see the place completely empty and abandoned. 
Secondly, I wanted to grab a cheeky beer after a warm day pounding the streets of E8, and so I popped into the ‘Dove’ pub in Broadway Market – not that far from Bethnal Green tube station.
The Dove pub used to be called the ‘Goring Arms’, but changed its name in 1990.
My visit was on a week day – but I couldn’t get over the fact that there appeared to be so many people sitting outside the coffee shops/patisseries/sandwich shops – enjoying the warm sunshine – so whilst in the ‘Dove’ I asked the pub’s landlady why all these people were not ‘at work’ – to which she replied “they are – they’re working-from-home” – nuff said – I used to work with plenty of those types
Anyway – hope you enjoyed my little ‘Enders’ related article and its accompanying photos.
Me – turning into ‘Fassett Square’ from Graham Road – Hackney-London E8
An ariel view of BBC’s East Enders old ‘Albert Square’ set, at the BBC’s Elstree Studio-Borehamwood
Hackney’s ‘Fassett Square’ – the inspiration/influence of the East Enders fictional ‘Albert Square’.
Another view of Hackney’s ‘Fassett Square’ – the inspiration/influence of the East Enders fictional ‘Albert Square’.
A still from a recent East Enders episode – where Keegan & Tiff are sitting in Albert Square
Hackney’s ‘Fassett Square’ – the inspiration/influence behind the East Enders fictional ‘Albert Square
Me – alongside the iron railings encircling Fassett Square-Hackney-London E8
Another view of Hackney’s ‘Fassett Square’ – the inspiration/influence behind the East Enders fictional ‘Albert Square
A still of Albert Square from a recent East Enders episode
The actual ‘Fassett Square’ – the inspiration/influence behind the East Enders fictional ‘Albert Square
Me – alongside some of the Victorian houses surrounding Hackney’s ‘Fassett Square’ – today, these properties are sold for anything from £1M upwards – a far cry from their value when I worked in the area for the entire 1990’s.
A still of Albert Square from a recent East Enders episode
The actual ‘Fassett Square’ – the inspiration/influence behind the East Enders fictional ‘Albert Square
A view of the inside of the Fassett Square greenery – unfortunately its a private and is open to residents only – so I had to stick my camera through the wrought iron railings, to get this photo.
Another view of Hackney’s ‘Fassett Square’ – the inspiration/influence behind the East Enders fictional ‘Albert Square
Me – alongside the iron railings encircling Fassett Square-Hackney-London E8
A still of Albert Square from a recent East Enders episode
The actual ‘Fassett Square’ – the inspiration/influence behind the East Enders fictional ‘Albert Square
Another view of Hackney’s ‘Fassett Square’ – the inspiration/influence behind the East Enders fictional ‘Albert Square
A view of the inside of the Fassett Square greenery – unfortunately its a private and is open to residents only – so I had to stick my camera through the wrought iron railings, to get this photo.
Me – alongside the iron railings encircling Fassett Square-Hackney-London E8
The infamous “Queen Vic” pub – on the set of East Enders.
The “Cat & Mutton” pub down by London Fields-Hackney-E8 – said to be the inspiration/influence behind the famous ‘Queen Vic’ in the long running East Enders TV soap.
Another view of the ‘Cat & Mutton’ pub down in the London Fields district of Hackney-London-E8 – this old 1700’s pub is said to be the influence behind East Enders ‘Queen Vic’ pub
Me – outside the ‘Cat & Mutton’ pub – London Fields-E8 – said to be the inspiration behind the famous ‘Queen Vic’ pub in the East Enders tv soap
The railway bridge across Mare Street-Hackney-London E8. An area I worked in throughout the entire 1990’s.
Barclays Bank – 298 Mare Street-Hackney-London E8, where I worked from 1989 to 2000. When I was first transferred there in 89, the branch site consisted on the ground and 1st floors. In the mid 1990’s the branch merged with Kingsland Road-Dalston branch, and only the ground floor was required. The branch closed in July 2021 – but it remains a place that is very dear to my heart.
Me – outside my old work place ‘Barclays Bank-298 mare Street-Hackney-London E8. The bank site has been empty since the branch finally closed its door for good in July 2021.
The “Dove” pub – Broadway Market-Hackney-London E8
Another view of the “Dove” pub – Broadway Market-Hackney-London E8
Me – inside the Dove pub – Broadway Market-Hackney-London-E8
Me – necking down a ‘cheeky’ organic lager!!” in the ‘Dove’ pub in Hackney – after a successful day seeking out ‘Fassett Square’ and the ‘Cat & Mutton’ pub – both were real life inspirations for the long running TV soap ‘East Enders’…..Albert Square and its Queen Vic pub.
Learn something new every time! Great stuff.
Me too Milly – thank you – it was an interesting one wasn’t it !!
Geoff (www.londondonshoes.blog)
Born and worked in Hackney. Knew the area well but not been back for some time. Broadway Market and the Goring Arms (now The Dove)
Great stuff.Mr.C. I could almost hear that drum sequence as I finished reading – “a la ‘Enders”! 🤣
Very interesting Geoff, can see where the Beeb got the idea from. 😊
Keep them going Geoff
I’ll try my best Peter 🙂
Back the 1970s early 80s, I was a member of the Hackney Allotment Society and also on the H.A.S committee. One day (before Eastenders was first broadcast) we received a letter from the BBC Eastenders research team, asking about the “rules and regulations” about working one of Hackney’s allotments, to which our secretary duly supplied them with what they needed to know for their program.
Hi Ken,
Thank you so much for taking the time to contact my London Shoes – and for sharing your story regarding the Hackney Allotment Society and the BBC East Enders research team – what a great story.
The 1st episode of the now legendary soap was first aired in Feb 1985 – and reference to Arthur Fowler and his allotment in Walford, soon appeared in subsequent episodes – and continued for many years – what a claim to fame for the Hackney Allotment Society!!
I have no doubt that there will be future readers of this particular blog article – who will find your comments really interesting.
Once again – thank you for sharing.
Kind regards
GEOFF (www.londonshoes.blog)
I have n