Comments on: Spitalfields Market Portraits, 1991

By: Pamela Morrison

Pamela Morrison — Mon, 20 Jul 2020 10:24:37 +0000

Wonderfully evocative images. Recently discovered family links bind me strongly to Spitalfields. In the 1820’s, Samuel Hewes, my great, great, great, great grandfather lived and worked in Spitalfields. He had a potato and vegetable shop/stall at, no 1 West Street Spitalfields Market. It’s so easy when studying these beautiful photographs to imagine my ancestor day in day out, carrying on life just as these proud market people. I can’t find No 1 West Street Spitalfields though I shall continue searching. One day I shall come to England to see first hand this lively, historic location.
Thank you MJ & HD for adding rich fodder for my imaginings about new & old Spitalfields.

By: Dave Freeman

Dave Freeman — Sat, 07 Sep 2019 19:48:18 +0000

I went to Spitalfields Market in the 1950’s with GH Grist & Sons Maidstone Kent as a lorry drivers mate…The pics brought back good memories …especially the Barrow Boys with their Barrows loaded sky high….GH Grist & Sons was a wholesaler of Fruit and veg in Maidstone Kent…I remember Doug Grist & Derek Grist who ran the Company…lovely people…at the age of 17 I joined up in the Army …Royal Artillery…The Gunners

By: Remo

Remo — Sat, 26 Jan 2019 12:19:39 +0000

Hi , What amazing photos and memories, thank you

My family used to run the Cura cafe on the corner of Folgate street up untill they retired and moved back to Italy in 1974.
My dad was Guglielmo Broglia ( Bill to the customers) and my Mum was Ida and my Sister Miria
and her husband Renzo ran the cafe and I used to help out in the school holidays.
All I have is and old black and white photo of the original building which is now luxury flats and would love to know if they are any more in existence.
Thanks again

By: Kathy Harvey

Kathy Harvey — Tue, 06 Feb 2018 13:51:43 +0000

A lot of my family worked there family name Bates my dad Harry started when he was 14 and left at 75 my two brothers Ashel and Johnny lots of my cousins and my two nephews Johnny Bates and Terry Bates the only job they all had they loved the market
I know my dad worked for J Bendon

By: david trew

david trew — Mon, 07 Apr 2014 20:22:27 +0000

Love all the photos , Bought back some lovely memories . Visited three days a week with my Gran & grandad . Thats when most fruit from kent was sol in old wicker barskits . One thing i miss in the photos was one of the old hot &jellied ell stall stood under the clock ..I was six years old then , 70 years ago .

By: John Millard

John Millard — Fri, 27 Dec 2013 09:34:57 +0000

On reading the comments of Barbara Hague, I have also been looking into the history of Spitalfields and have Harpers as relations. James William Harper had a shop in South Street and his mother Jane also had a shop.
If Barbara would like to contact me I have some more information

By: Barbara Hague

Barbara Hague — Tue, 15 Oct 2013 19:34:11 +0000

Fascinating pictures. I would really love portraits of people who worked there a hundred years before – including my great-grandfather and great uncle – Harpers by name.

By: Carol Servis

Carol Servis — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 07:49:46 +0000

Great pictures, brings back my childhood & teenage years, my father worked & dropped dead there, my brother worked there, and l went to Central Foundation Girls School in Spital Square.

By: Peter Biernis

Peter Biernis — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 16:43:00 +0000

Awsome pictures I can remember as a young lad delivering veg to Spitalfields most nights of the week. I remember the characters that worked there. Also the burger bar near the ten bells pub. They used to do awsome egg and bacon rolls.
The wife used to come with some nights and go off around the market and come back with arms full of fruit think she used to chat the old boys up lol

By: Derek Bell

Derek Bell — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 18:14:04 +0000

I am so moved when I see history of a place in a person’s face. Especially when that place is London. It makes me want to cry at the beauty of this world.