Comments on: Colin O’Brien’s Brick Lane Market

By: essexcockney.com

essexcockney.com — Fri, 11 Jul 2014 14:19:28 +0000

I was born and grew up in Bethnal green ,a great place to be a kid in the 1960-1970s all those dumps debris and bombed houses ,and brick lane on a Sunday was out of this world …..great days great memory’s ….

By: Robert Green

Robert Green — Fri, 30 Aug 2013 20:52:33 +0000

I feel very sad when I look at these picture’s, I see so many face’s hear that are no longer with us, people that I remember even as a boy, To this day, I have worked on Sclater st every Sunday for over 42 year’s, (I’v only missed a few week’s in 1976 when I broke my leg ! ! ) I love this market, My whole life has revolved around it, But it is changing so much now, and so fast, I fear for it’s future, So few of the old face’s are left, And most of the new generation of people who frequent the area now have no real interest in engaging with the tradition’s of this historic East London street market, I have an uneasy feeling that the diminishing band of stalwart’s like myself who are fighting a desperate bid to preserve this famous East End tradition, are doing so in vain, For in reality, I think we are now fighting a cause that is already lost, in all but name.

By: D BAKER

D BAKER — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 20:58:44 +0000

Heard about this amazing website from antiques trade gazette and find C O B’s pics quite nostalgic,
and bringing back memories from about 1963 to the early 70’s when I worked a stall in Brick Lane on the corner of Sclater ST on Sundays and on Saturdays I was in the Roman Road outside the Needle Gun pub. I also remember the animals being sold in the 50’s and early 60’s in fact Club Row was known more for these sales and was more for locals than visitors who frequented Mddx St just a few hundred yards away. I went back several weeks ago for the first time in 40 years and a lot of the buildings remain and of course the 24 hour bagel shop, it all seemed very familiar with the exception of the more up to date clothing worn. Brick Lane further down has changed and the brewery site is no more. Again thanks for these wonderful pics. DGANDJB

By: John Kelly

John Kelly — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 14:35:19 +0000

Colin – these pictures are extraordinary. I had a shop on Cheshire St for a couple of years (the robot shop) and watched with dismay as the old and unfortunate were displaced by the feckless scions of the middle classes.

Blackman’s shoes is the only honest shop left, and the old man died recently.

I’m in India writing a book ‘A Year Among the Robots’ right now, which talks about much of the stuff you have eloquently captured in photographs. If you haven’t already seen them, take a look at Berkoff’s photos of the East End taken thirty years ago: http://www.paulsmith.co.uk/paul-smith-world/exhibitions/berkoffs-east-end/

By: twixy_styla

twixy_styla — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 13:11:58 +0000

I can just say a big WOW!!! AMAZING takes me back to the olden days! Compared to my sophisticated life in my luxury palace, a BIG difference, what a life!

By: Freddie N

Freddie N — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 21:51:55 +0000

Great for sharing these wonderful pictures. I worked as a market trader through the whole of the Eighties on Sclater St and also Cheshire St with my late Dad (during my school years). I often look for photos of the area during that time and these are exactly how i remember. Few words can describe that time and place but your photos do the job very well.

All the best,

Freddie N

By: bat020

bat020 — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 12:49:02 +0000

Thanks for these wonderful photos. I’ve lived in the area for the past 15 years and they vividly capture what’s been lost in the recent “regeneration” of the area. One very minor point: the first set of photos seems to be from the 1990s rather than the 1980s – note the presence of an 0956 mobile phone number!

By: Richard

Richard — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 11:55:53 +0000

These photos bring the song ” Streets of London” by Ralph McTell to mind and remind me of the nights when I used to help with a soup kitchen that stopped on the corner of Brick lane. We met many people who were homeless and seemed to have lost hope but there was an old lady, with her bags of clothes, who used to come by to chat. She did not always take any food from us but loved to chat with us. She was called Ethel and was one of a few that made you realise that giving up is not an option. Wonderful photos that bring back strong memories.

By: Lobo

Lobo — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 11:54:35 +0000

Thanks for these pictures. I moved into the area just as it started to get gentrified but I’d never seen it in such light before.

By: Louise Fryer

Louise Fryer — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 10:49:48 +0000

The second to last photo is very moving, such a hopeless scene.