Comments on: 16 Smithfield 20.33 https://spitalfieldslife.com/2014/02/25/sarah-ainslie-at-smithfield-market/16-smithfield-20-33/ 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, 28 Feb 2014 14:46:09 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.2 By: Peter Martinelli MBE https://spitalfieldslife.com/2014/02/25/sarah-ainslie-at-smithfield-market/16-smithfield-20-33/#comment-253610 Fri, 28 Feb 2014 14:46:09 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/16-Smithfield-20.33.jpg#comment-253610 This is a cashiers desk in the General Market known as the “Village” the building now at the centre of a clash of developers. The building was actually called by the workers “the Japanese Village” and shortened to the “Village”. The reason for the name was it had a “Kew Gardens” style tower in the roof to try to gather the wind currents to cool the building before refrigeration was available. The Dome Roof – so proudly displayed by the “Savers” wishing to retain this old mess of a roof, is in fact a dreadful example of emergency “War Damage” repair.

The depicted beautiful lady in the desk was an example of the client-friendly ladies who ensured that customers were made to feel welcome and part of the Smithfield family.

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