Comments on: So Long, Spitalfields Fruit & Wool Exchange https://spitalfieldslife.com/2012/10/11/so-long-spitalfields-fruit-wool-exchange/ In the midst of life I woke to find myself living in an old house beside Brick Lane in the East End of London Fri, 27 May 2022 06:06:42 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: James Harris https://spitalfieldslife.com/2012/10/11/so-long-spitalfields-fruit-wool-exchange/#comment-1465126 Fri, 27 May 2022 06:06:42 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=72457#comment-1465126 I walked around the Fruit & Wool Exchange with my dad in the pitch black of night in 1977 or 8.
I asked him how he could see where he was going. “With my eyes son” he said. I don’t know why he didn’t use the torch he had in his hand.
Looking at the photographs here in this account from the Gentle Author it all looks very familiar just with a lot more light. The stairs with the beautiful sweeping bannisters that I ran my small hand down and around are a particular memory.

]]> By: Henry Matthews https://spitalfieldslife.com/2012/10/11/so-long-spitalfields-fruit-wool-exchange/#comment-1379013 Tue, 18 May 2021 10:55:39 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=72457#comment-1379013 Is Sadiq Khan any better than Boris Johnson regarding the preservation of worthy buildings?

]]> By: double screw extruder https://spitalfieldslife.com/2012/10/11/so-long-spitalfields-fruit-wool-exchange/#comment-1181676 Thu, 23 Nov 2017 09:53:27 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=72457#comment-1181676 Ceramic and band heaters are a bit expensive compared to a
wire coil heater, but the benefits they offer are great.
* Ram Extruder. So the actual sturdy route filters gradually and also the fruit
juice funnel broadens.

]]> By: Brian Johnson https://spitalfieldslife.com/2012/10/11/so-long-spitalfields-fruit-wool-exchange/#comment-1128929 Tue, 10 Jan 2017 22:15:20 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=72457#comment-1128929 My first job was working in the London Fruit Exchange in 1950 for J.C.Houghton and Company Ltd. My father was a Director and the Auctioneer and I still have my Brokers official badge.
I left in 1955 to go into the Lloyd’s insurance market where by coincidence I worked with Mike Corby who turned the LFE auction rooms into squash courts in the 1970’s I think.
If anyone wishes to contact me -please do so.

]]> By: Mike inVirginia https://spitalfieldslife.com/2012/10/11/so-long-spitalfields-fruit-wool-exchange/#comment-1107410 Wed, 14 Sep 2016 00:43:40 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=72457#comment-1107410 Greetings to all, from an interested Yank. If I understand correctly, the historic path of Dorset Street is to be completely swallowed up by this new, expanded Exchange? And if so, will this not place the site of one of London’s – and indeed, history’s – most notorious unsolved murders smack dab in the middle of the new building?

A grievous loss, both from an architectural and an historical viewpoint. I have yet to be able to visit beautiful London – please don’t let them tear down all the good old stuff before I get there!

]]> By: Louise Harper https://spitalfieldslife.com/2012/10/11/so-long-spitalfields-fruit-wool-exchange/#comment-1099718 Thu, 04 Aug 2016 07:24:51 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=72457#comment-1099718 In belated reply to Mark Wheeler, had you ever actually been in the London Fruit Exchange you would be fully aware that not only was the building of great architectural merit but also up until it’s demolition was still sturdy and fit for purpose, housing 60 businesses who had to move out to make way for the modernisers to come in with their tatty building materials and designs. The LFE was not falling down, it was only 85 years old, one of London’s newer landmarks. To leave the edifice is at least something, but it was the building as a whole, inside and out, that made it an architectural gem.

]]> By: Simon https://spitalfieldslife.com/2012/10/11/so-long-spitalfields-fruit-wool-exchange/#comment-1043254 Thu, 22 Oct 2015 21:39:35 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=72457#comment-1043254 I used to work for White and son in the early 70’s very much as an office junior. They were independent brokers in the building and I was allowed in during school holidays. Best job of my life and I fell n love with the telephonist evry time I saw here but doubt she felt the same way.

]]> By: Ana https://spitalfieldslife.com/2012/10/11/so-long-spitalfields-fruit-wool-exchange/#comment-939454 Sun, 19 Apr 2015 09:26:46 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=72457#comment-939454 So tragic that this beautiful building is being demolished, it could have been preserved and used for many new purposes. The level of quality and craftsmanship found in buildings like these will never be seen again, no matter how much is spent on a new building to replace it. Its classic timeless beauty is lost to us forever and the new building will be made from vastly inferior materials and will probably look dated within a decade.

]]> By: BT59 https://spitalfieldslife.com/2012/10/11/so-long-spitalfields-fruit-wool-exchange/#comment-886176 Sat, 14 Mar 2015 23:44:50 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=72457#comment-886176 I despise Boris Johnson, what an ugly and short sighted fool he is. How can he destroy such a beautiful and historical building..shame on him.

]]> By: Michelle https://spitalfieldslife.com/2012/10/11/so-long-spitalfields-fruit-wool-exchange/#comment-855923 Tue, 24 Feb 2015 14:00:28 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=72457#comment-855923 This is awful. I used the gym there and loved going for a snoop about the building. There is nothing left now – just big glass boxes. In wapping, I have been watching the character being demolished and container style flats put up. There is very little left now – even Red Lion Street/Square has been allowed to decay to the point the developers can put through their plans. It is heartbreaking. I am all for progress, but this really doesn’t feel like it.

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