Comments on: Photographs of Time Passing in Spitalfields

By: Stephen Gardner

Stephen Gardner — Tue, 13 May 2025 11:59:25 +0000

I lived in SPITAL SQUARE SPITALFIELDS in the House which abutted the Central Foundation School for Girls, and went to ST JOSEPHS primary school in GUN STREET between 1956 and 1965, the corner shop shown in the photo was owned by JACK SAMUELS and his Wife HETTIE . This was the local sweet shop where the pupils from the school would go to buy sweets they also sold a range of Grocery items, Sandwiches and filled rolls,
The shop Called LEONS shown on the corner of ARTILLARY PASSAGE , was owned by a Stoutish GENTLEMAN with a large Moustache ,the shop was a TOBACCONIST and only sold CIGARETTES And CIGARS, and when you walked by you could smell the Aroma of Cigars that were being smoked in the shop by the owner, ( not an unpleasant smell)
I also occasionally used the Underground Toilets and shower house located in the middle of the Market which was for Men only and used mainly by the Fruit and Veg Market Workers, I remember an older gentlemen who looked after the toilets selling a spray of Cologne etc for a penny after you had showered if you wanted to smell nice before going home to the wife.

By: grace caruso

grace caruso — Sun, 13 Jun 2021 13:21:41 +0000

I always love the photos and look forward to seeing them. For those of us who live so far away (Michigan) and are never likely to visit this area…it would be good to see how it looks now.

By: susan carroll

susan carroll — Fri, 16 Apr 2021 20:37:18 +0000

My maternal grandmother was born in Gun street Artillery Lane in 1891 and I find the history of the area fascinating

By: David Levy

David Levy — Sun, 28 Mar 2021 22:03:26 +0000

I believe I commented some years ago.
I am now 87 and my mother was born in Samuel Stores Artillery Lane in 1897.
During the war I attended St Josephs school in Gun St.

By: Paul ward

Paul ward — Thu, 04 Feb 2021 12:45:35 +0000

I used to live in the flats in Poster Street in 1961. They were very dire. Should have been pulled down much earlier than 1967. Would love to see anymore photos.

By: David Green

David Green — Thu, 28 Jan 2021 16:02:35 +0000

Would love to see 2021 photos from the same vantage points!

By: steven Barnes

steven Barnes — Thu, 22 Nov 2018 15:17:29 +0000

im 64 and as recent as the 80s parts of spitalfields and the est end still looked like that

By: don cook

don cook — Sat, 29 Apr 2017 16:38:31 +0000

Form is emptiness, emptiness also is form … emptiness is no other than form, form no other than emptiness. Our projected realities belie what is there.

By: Barbara Hill

Barbara Hill — Thu, 23 Feb 2017 12:38:03 +0000

I grew up in Seabright Street Bethnal Green in 40s and 50s. How things have changed just thought it was normal all the dust everywhere. Try to tell my family what it was like, these old photos show it as it was.

By: Sue Biddle

Sue Biddle — Fri, 04 Dec 2015 19:36:50 +0000

Thank you so much for sharing these fascinating pictures, Cheshire Street especially, which is where my silk weaving ancestors lived and worked. A wonderful addition to my family tree.