Comments on: Working People & a Dog

By: Terry

Terry — Mon, 29 Jul 2019 20:35:11 +0000

Looking for info on a William and Mary Lyons that may have had a Fruit Shop in the area in the early 1910’s They had a son Robert and possibly a daughter Rose or Rosie.. any help would be greatfull

By: Tom Coster

Tom Coster — Thu, 17 Jul 2014 19:55:03 +0000

Absolutely brilliant!!

By: Ann

Ann — Thu, 26 Jun 2014 11:05:15 +0000

As a small child I grew up in Wentworth Buildings and went to a school in Old Montague street in the late 1950’s.
I remember a wonderful lady that owned/worked in a jewish fishmongers…her name was Kitty Bass…does anyone recall her?

By: Miriam Delorie

Miriam Delorie — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 06:34:22 +0000

Absolutely wonderful photos…amost spooky – like those walls and areas still breathed and lived after so long. I don’t suppose you would have any old photos in your collection of Artillery Lane? My grandparents lived there in 1901. best regards, Miriam

By: Sonia Murray

Sonia Murray — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 00:19:20 +0000

I spent half the day looking… and looking… and looking. Going from one set of pictures to another, and back. It wasn’t all grunge – there was fine architecture and ironwork in the image of the lady on the balcony; one wonders that it hadn’t been taken care of, that it had been permitted to run down. The child at play on the step could have come from WPA pictures of the Great Depression in America. And the child on the rocking horse, his learning stunted by that terrible environment… Loved the strudel lady and the fallen angel. Such wonderful pictures, evoking memories of the people of a bygone time and place. A dear, dear friend, now gone, grew up in Plaistow. John, thanks so much!

By: debra williams

debra williams — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 03:45:33 +0000

the man on the horse and cart is almost certainly my grandad i have pictures to compare it to taken by steve lewis from the newham recorder and family photoes.. hw lived as i still do in western rd plaistow and though he has been dead 40 years is still so well remembered it was great to come across this

By: john edwards

john edwards — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 14:36:45 +0000

Another in memoriam – Whole place was jewish – Whitechapel Mile End awash with blood and sawdust.
Bang the scrag end on the scales & shout ‘well over the odds there darling’ … Well under actually & they all knew the chiselling game. Roggs off commercial road was the last to go. Scummy barrels of herring & cucumber. Huge cat that lay on the pavement and would schlepp you into the black & white tiled shop if you stopped to have a look. I swear it did. Legend has it the only time the jews and irish had a truce was to make the greatest dinner ever – jews had fish – irish potatoes ….. ! Blooms went [ Torah had struck long before it shuffled of to Golders ] Tubby’s still there & just as awful – same with Rinkoffs long eclipsed by the 2 beigal / rye shops corner Brick Lane / Beth Grn Road.
Will never forget Carrolls in Windmill st. [ up west] Can see the light pink quivering slab of perfect salt beef coming up on the wooden dumb waiter to be put on rye with mustard & beetroot horseradish. Heaven & you can’t get it – unless you make it yourself like me – but there’s no shiny suits slim jim ties razor cut singe hair saloons & photo’s of Kid Berg or Randolph Turpin on the wall and dinette stools to perch on to show off your Austin Drip Dry. And the smells Johnny Boy! Covent Garden!
Brick Lane ‘ The Waste’ Old clothes & B.O. you could make soup from ….. You magic boy you.

By: Ashley Bovan

Ashley Bovan — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 11:16:56 +0000

great faces and characters – love the rag and bone man as well

By: Jens Marott

Jens Marott — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 13:55:17 +0000

Finally! We get to see the people of the street, what a fantastic set of prints, it fills me with joy, I just love the faces of the past, there was a reality to it all. Thank you John for this wonderful story, but you can keep the eels to yourself. Dog lurking amongst the cars, lovely shot.

By: Gerry Coe

Gerry Coe — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 11:20:12 +0000

All the people above have said it all John, brilliant portraits. Back from Spain so catching up now.