Hackney Wick
Hackney Wick is a neighbourhood in East London, situated in the south-eastern portion of the Hackney district within the London Borough of Hackney, adjacent to the River Lea and the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.[1] Historically an industrial enclave, it industrialized rapidly from the late 18th century onward, beginning with a silk mill established around 1787 and expanding into a manufacturing hub by the mid-19th century, supported by the Lea Navigation canal (opened 1770s) and Hertford Union Canal (1830), which facilitated transport for dyes, waterproof materials, and other goods.[2][3] Post-World War II deindustrialization led to economic decline, but proximity to the 2012 London Olympics spurred regeneration, converting derelict warehouses into artist studios and galvanizing a street art culture amid ongoing urban development.[4] The Hackney Wick ward recorded a population of 12,308 in the 2021 census, reflecting density-driven growth in a diverse area marked by Victorian-era factories now preserved in a designated conservation zone.[5][6]