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Phil Maxwell in Vallance Rd

April 26, 2017
by the gentle author

Vallance Rd, 1984

Contributing Photographer Phil Maxwell knows Vallance Rd better than most, since he lived in Pauline House at the Whitechapel end of this busy thoroughfare for thirty years, and walked up and down it daily. Yet among the ancient streets of the East End, Vallance Rd is a newcomer. As late as the mid-nineteenth century, maps show Baker’s Row leading north from Whitechapel Rd onto the open common land that still existed to the south of Bethnal Green at that time. By the end of that century, as the terraces spread across the open land, White St extended from Bethnal Green Rd by way of Notts St down to meet Baker’s Row, and thus the route known today linking Whitechapel and Bethnal Green was formalised, acquiring its current name in the early twentieth century. Once, the Whitechapel Workhouse was a formidable landmark in a street that has always been a means of getting from one place to another rather than a destination its own right, as Phil’s photographs testify.

Photographs copyright © Phil Maxwell

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7 Responses leave one →
  1. Yvonne Eade Kolessides permalink
    April 26, 2017

    Love each and every one, fabulous photography as always..

  2. Malcolm permalink
    April 26, 2017

    Another great collection from Phil.

    I remember walking up and down Vallance Road on a Sunday with a friend, back in the 70’s. His Nan used to live opposite Weaver’s Fields and she made the best roast lamb dinners. She knew Violet Kray too. She wouldn’t talk about the Krays though, said she knew too much!

  3. Jeanne permalink
    April 26, 2017

    I’m pretty sure the first old lady was my lovely neighbour Monica, when I lived over in Nelson St. I wonder when the picture dates from.

  4. April 26, 2017

    It was taken in the early 1980s Jeanne.

  5. Richard permalink
    April 26, 2017

    A mixture of old and new. Interesting to see the advert painted over. Thanks.

  6. nicholas borden permalink
    April 26, 2017

    particularly interesting to see that the passing time shows the photos have a strength all to themselves

  7. April 26, 2017

    Very fine pictures as usual!

    Love & Peace
    ACHIM

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