Comments on: The Haggerston Nobody Knows

By: Giles Falconer

Giles Falconer — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 09:52:51 +0000

Hi, I’ve just come across this site – I’m looking at my family’s history, specifically my paternal grandmother, Ruth Emma Falconer, née McDonald (1885-1976) & her father, Caleb McDonald (1856-1926). In the 1891 Census they (a family of four in total) are shown as living in 99 Brunswick Street (along with two other households at the same address).

I would be interested in any information about (or especially photographs of ) Brunswick Street. Incidentally Caleb is shown as a ‘Grocer’s Assistant’ in 1891, a job he had literally been born into as his father (also Caleb McDonald!) had been a grocer.

Thanks in advance,

Giles Falconer

By: BETTY MAY TELFORD

BETTY MAY TELFORD — Sat, 16 Aug 2025 23:00:25 +0000

LOCK FAMILY NICHOL SQUARE any descendants? LOCK surname and WILSON : James Lock and Dennis Wilson were friends (Parmiters School) when I met them
and I was once engaged to James so knew the family all very well his father had a butchery business. James married later and I went to Australia and met with Wilson family and kept in touch for years. I married Ian Telford 1965 and my sisters Eileen (m.Withrington) & Margaret (m.Lockyer) lived in Quilter Street till they married. Would be fascinated to hear from anyone especially LOCK or WILSON family related. I am on Facebook and have been back to Australia again. Betty M. Telford (Hereford). James Lock would be older than me if still alive. Such a shame about Nichols Square I have my old photos.

By: Brian Ekins

Brian Ekins — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 16:24:54 +0000

Does anyone know where Hilcot St, Haggerston was in 1921?
Regards. B Ekins

By: Myles Edwards

Myles Edwards — Thu, 23 Nov 2023 08:37:27 +0000

I first discovered this site about 10 yrs ago researching the Pearson Street area. We bought 4 Pearson St back in 2001. Moving in our neighbours gave us a copy of an old census of the 2-16 row listing people living in each house. Returning to this site it’s wonderful to see posts about families living in the house. Property up…we still have and use the outside toilet, wooden internal wall in the top floor bedroom, internal walls and chimneys in place, lower g/floor wood block/tar floor continues to keep the damp out. Until most of our neighbours we have attempted to preserve the original house. We know our neighbours, both sides of the street, many of whom have lived in the area since the 30s and 40s. We (residents) campaigned for trees to be planted and open our doors to elderly neighbours to join us for Xmas dinner.
The east end hasn’t died (yet) folk still look out for each other, wash their own windows and front door step (me). Shame about Hackneys decision to put wheelie bins outside each house, not convinced this would be done in Islington or Chelsea! The houses are perfect but are lovely homes. When you look at the old neighbourhood pictures, it makes you thankful they didn’t bulldoze the lot.

By: William Arnold

William Arnold — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 16:24:22 +0000

My Dad attended Scawfell Street School from 1921-28. The headmaster was B Abbott and his class teacher ? L Stevens. I wonder if anyone has a picture of the school please?
Thank you

By: Gillian Buck, formerly Gillian Major

Gillian Buck, formerly Gillian Major — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 14:49:08 +0000

Its fascinating that Tracey Shafe’s grandmother lived at 4 Pearson Street, but she hasn’t given an approximate year. From the 1921 census I know that my relatives, the Steggles, lived there. My father’s 2 aunts had married 2 brothers, and the 2 sets of parents and children were all living at 4 Pearson Street, crammed into the same house together.
My grandmother Lou also lived there in 1921 so there were a total of 5 adults and 8 children all living in 6 habitable rooms plus the cellar kitchen. By 1930 my grandmother Lou and her husband Jim Major had taken over the tenancy and remained there until 1980.
The house had never been modernised and still had an outside toilet in the rear yard and no running hot water. My grandmother was eventually rehoused in a flat when she couldn’t carry coal up 2 flights of stairs from the coal cellar any more.

By: Tracy Shafe

Tracy Shafe — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 15:14:11 +0000

Well goodness me, what a fascinating read all of the comments have made! I, like many others, have been delving into my past and researching the family history. Many of my relatives came from the East End, both my parents were born there, as were my maternal grandparents and great grandparents. I have discovered from a marriage certificate dated 1931 that my grandfather William John Roberts was living at that time with his parents, Thomas and Louisa Roberts, at 28 Fellows Street. My grandmother Lucy Sophia Amelia Field was living at 4 Pearson Street, with her parents Margaret and William Field. My grandparents were married at St Mary’s Church, Haggerston. I’m looking forward to doing more research and have enjoyed looking at so many old photographs and reading stories about people who lived and worked in that area. Thank you all so much!

By: Doreen Reynolds

Doreen Reynolds — Sat, 09 Sep 2023 17:51:59 +0000

Re Nichols square, i have put some old photos on. …east end of London site if anyone is interested.. i also put on a Randal Cremer photo that has Alan Venables in it..

By: Andrew Munday

Andrew Munday — Fri, 01 Sep 2023 11:14:41 +0000

This thread has been fascinating! I, like many others it seems, have been looking into family history. My grandfather grew up at 47 Fellowes Street (some references to an E, some without!) With his mother and siblings. He was Christopher Munday with a twin Patricia Munday. Sadly, my family have pretty much all passed on and I’ve only traced 3 of my Grandfather’s 4 siblings, Eileen, Leonard and Pat. His mother was Winnie Munday née Malloy if anyone has any memories of the family? If so does anyone know any details of the other siblings?
Many many thanks
Andy

By: Gillian Buck, formerly Gillian Major

Gillian Buck, formerly Gillian Major — Mon, 03 Jul 2023 14:19:56 +0000

I’ve been doing more research into my family, the Majors who lived at 4 Pearson Street. My uncle Len married Annie Drysdale whose family lived at 18 York Row. They were married in 1953 at St Chad’s. Does anyone remember the Drysdales? My aunt and uncle and their son, Peter Major, lived in 2 rooms on the top floor at 4 Pearson Street until the 1960s when they were rehoused in a high rise flat in Pownall Road. Peter was born there and went to Randall Cremer school until 1966.