post-1945 stepney again underwent change as large numbers of refugees from war-torn europe moved in. shops began selling previously unheard of foods such as salami or artichokes and the flowers in often tiny front gardens were replaced by vegetables. again, the number of children increased and second creek and the small number of spare allotments became their playgrounds, complete with re-enactments of battles fought far away. houses changed colour, copying those found greece and italy and the streets resounded with voluble italian, greek and ironically - german.