Comments on: CHIT CHAT – The Umbrella Maker, the Dairyman & the Paper Bag Seller

By: Save The London Fruit and Wool Exchange

Save The London Fruit and Wool Exchange — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 20:42:56 +0000

In looking at the 1841 Post Office Directory for Brushfield – then Union – Street in search of The Gun in its original location, it shows that the Inces were next door. The Gun was at 31 and George Ince, umbrella manufacturer, was at 32 Union Street. This Directory is on the Facebook page, with the other businesses of Brushfield Street (probably including the Brushfield after whom the street was named):
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=397069500304097&set=a.397001410310906.102804.383535838324130&type=3&theater
There is no chance that Richard has any photos or drawings of his family’s business when it was at 32 Union/Brushfield Street, that also might include The Gun, there from about 1780-1927? The Inces seem to go as far back in Spitalfields as this alehouse…but if not Richard, can anyone out there help, or point to where an image may be?

Lovely post on these surviving Spitalfields family businesses, thank you. We must endeavour to buy local and this is the most wonderful showcase.

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 21:11:28 +0000

Borth is actually the centre of the world. Lived there for ten years, and now live in Aberystwyth. I’d love to know if Henry still has family in the area.

There’s some information about the cattle and sheep drovers on the BBC website – http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/mid/sites/rhayader/pages/stharmon_drovers.shtml

By: joan

joan — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 15:54:23 +0000

Jones the milk might like to know that Borth is a place of legend in this East London household. My Shrewsbury raised partner spent many a summer holiday on the Welsh coast and Borth looms large. He has particular memories of excited expectation at the thought of Borth’s petrified forest. A ninth wonder of the world perhaps? Or just a few stumps. As a ten year old boy he expected the former.

My memories of Sheerness and Leysdown just can’t compete.

Best wishes,

Joan

By: Margaret

Margaret — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 05:57:51 +0000

This was a riveting read. It’s great to read about small businesses doing so well, against the odds. The odds being the astonishing and short-sighted policies which favour large and multi-national companies who are the only ones who can afford the rents. So glad to see three such very different enterprises continuing long family tradition while adapting to meet changing markets. Long may they continue.