Am I wasting my time trying to unravel this?

[canthavetoomanylights]

My grandmother was born in the East End of London towards the end of the 1800s. It was actually in Poplar (of Call the Midwife fame) and I know from her and my mum she lived through times of dreadful poverty.
Her name was very common, with many possible variations. Families moved often due to their circumstances. There were lots of labourers and mariners in the area with the same or similar names.

A lot of the population were illiterate (my gran was) and spellings seem rather random.
So it feels impossible to know anything with any certainty.
I should add I’m new to this and feeling a bit disheartened. Would appreciate any thoughts.

"...together with the historic map site I linked to earlier"

I would just like to add as well, that site is absolutely fantastic, it has lots of large scale maps covering a wide period of time.

The best map site for old maps are the National Library of Scotland side by side maps.

https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/side-by-side/

Thank you. Censuses are your key to this. England is also good in that there are many bishop's transcripts of christening/ baptisms/ marriages as well as the GRO. The downside of English records are they are so expensive to buy and the total ignoring of mother's names in marriage ceremonies until 2022.

@canthavetoomanylights

What I had in mind was a visit to the Tower Hamlets Local History and Archives Library, OP. It's near Queen Mary's.

I did a major First World War research project and spent some time at the TH Archives, as they had information relevant to the soldiers recruited in the area and their families.

https://www.ideastore.co.uk/local-history/visitor-information

@TheSquareMileoh now I want to go! However I think it’s too soon because I’m not yet sure what I want to know iykwim.. but thank you for the link.

The map sites look really helpful.. I’ve only
managed a quick look on my phone atm and haven’t worked out how to search but will def look again when I’m home. Again, thank you.

@corblimeymlud my fathers family is proving a lot more straightforward as they all stayed in the same area for generations and the parish records are amazingly clear. The local newspaper is also full of incredible detail.. even down to what my grandmothers bridesmaid wore in 1925! With pink sweet peas in their bouquets. They were all farm
labourers or coal miners but the village was a real little community.

@canthavetoomanylights

Another resource which I have found useful is the holding of Electoral Registers maintained by the British Library, OP.

bl.libguides.com/reference-services/social-sciences/electoral-registers

If your family are/were CofE you may find these records useful. I found my grandmother's baptismal certificate on Ancestry as they have the London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1925. They give address and fathers occupation which made it easier for me to find the right people on the census (surname Brown).
Take a look at the Charles Booth poverty map and his notebooks. My great grandparents lived in street that was 'very poor but not criminal, with some assaults and a lot of drunkenness' and 'some thieves' but not as many as the next street along 😀
https://booth.lse.ac.uk/