About
Echoes from the Bridge House
The Bridge House, which operated from the early 1970s until 1982, became one of East London's most significant venues, hosting a variety of incredible bands. The Bridge House gained a reputation for its diverse and high-quality music, regularly featuring bands from the punk, mod, and alternative scenes that would go on to achieve fame, including Depeche Mode, The Q-Tips, The Cockney Rejects, Wasted Youth, and U2. Our Echoes From The Bridge project is funded by Historic England. This project records the historic pub and music venue the Bridge House in Canning Town.
“You didn’t have to feel like a lonely person there. It was all about the music and having cheap drinks,” said Dave Fennessy.
Eastside Community Heritage and project volunteers have conducted extensive oral history interviews and archival research with those who were involved in the music scene at at the time.
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“It was a hive of artistry, musical artistry at the end of the day. Terry Murphy, I think, saw it purely on a financial level. There were no venues in East London… I’ve got so much respect for Terry Murphy. He really did achieve something spectacular. The Sex Pistols played there,” said Rocco Barker.
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Though shut now, the community of those that played, visited and worked at the Bridge House is still very much alive and active, without which this project could not be achieved.
Photo Gallery
Over the course of this project, Eastside Community Heritage has collected a vast array of photos and memorabilia donated by the many participants involved.
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If you are interested in exploring any more of these photos and collections at ECH email Bill@ech.org.uk, office@ech.org.uk or ask at any of our social media channels.
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The Bridge house, music ticket, 1980's, donated by Steve Fisher
Music from the Bridge House
In March 2025, ECH held our Echoes From the Bridge House exhibition, using original material donated as part of this project. This exhibition featured an engaging Q&A session, original music first recorded at the Bridge House, and a listening station where members of the public could experience some of the powerful oral histories captured during the project.
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Exhibition boards created by members of ECH gave visitors the opportunity to learn about and enjoy some of the incredible material generated as part of this inspiring project.
Contact ECH office if you'd like to borrow the exhibition.
Exhibition Display and Film
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Watch Our Project Launch Film
Enjoy a film created for our exhibition launch of the Echoes From the Bridge project! A fantastic night now documented. If you are interested in accessing any of the materials from the project, please email Bill@ech.org.uk or Office@ECH.org.uk. Credits : Jonathan Schütz @ Curly Lizard
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About Eastside Community Heritage
Eastside Community Heritage was established in 1993 as part of the Stratford City Challenge community history project. In 1997 Eastside became an independent charity. Over the years Eastside has worked on numerous projects documenting the lives of ‘ordinary’ people from, and who live in, East London.
Follow Eastside Community heritage on
www. hidden.histories.org
or contact office@ech.uk for more information
About ECH
