History

 

L Loraine Estate Community

Loraine history

Ninety years of Holloway home

A notable social housing development tied to the early 20th-century expansion of London's public housing.

  1. 1800s

    Holloway Road takes shape

    The area around the estate evolved from a 'hollow' or sunken medieval highway into a major residential and commercial hub.

  2. 1936

    The estate is built

    Loraine Estate (often spelt Lorraine in historical documents) is built as social housing in Holloway, Islington.

  3. Design

    McMorran and Whitby

    Designed by the architectural firm McMorran and Whitby. Donald McMorran was known for blending traditional brickwork with modern functionalism — here in distinctive buff pinkish brick, with double archways and grassed central areas.

  4. 1940s

    Wartime Holloway

    Like much of Holloway, the area around the estate was affected by wartime bombing and the rebuilding that followed.

  5. 1972

    'It's Ours Whatever They Say'

    Local housing struggles were captured on film — the documentary is free to watch on the BFI Player.

  6. Today

    A resident-led community

    The community centre is the hub of a resident-run programme of activities, gardening and celebrations for all ages.

Watch the film

"It's Ours Whatever They Say" (1972) documents housing campaigns in this part of London.

Watch on BFI Player