Comments on: Whitechapel Lads

By: Ignacio V.

Ignacio V. — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 20:31:42 +0000

Beautiful photos. Small correction, but the founder of the Working Lads’ Institute was actually Henry Hill, Jr., a merchant of London who passed away in July of 1927. He was the one that donated the stained glass windows in the lecture hall, of which there were three and also stained glass ceiling lights—all adorned with representations of different concepts. Rev. Jackson purchased the building and became superintendent in 1896, if I recall correctly. I would love to see more of these photos, if you have any. The one with the soldiers was used by the Institute in their annual report in 1919 (I believe) and it is nice to see a high-quality version of it! Thank you for this post.

By: Susan Tailby

Susan Tailby — Mon, 18 Jul 2022 19:16:37 +0000

How brilliant Rev Jackson was in trying to meet practical needs and caring for everyone. I found more of his biography here – https://www.myprimitivemethodists.org.uk/content/people-2/primitive_methodist_ministers/j/thomas_jackson
I appreciate that it’s not perfect – but there are considerate, humanising touches – like the coverlets on the beds made things homely rather than another institution. I love that the affection for the Rev shows clearly in the photo of the World War One soldiers. I do wonder where the lads ended up though – were they like the Nippers and survived to live happy and long lives?
Thank you for bringing the work of the Missions back into our thoughts – for me, as a Christian, you’re providing me with lots of role models and inspiration!

By: Shawdian

Shawdian — Thu, 29 Dec 2016 08:42:54 +0000

Such desperation on those faces and probably the majority perished in WW1.
Interesting to see coloured people given refuge and included in the photographs, not something you often see from this era. One wonders what stories these men could tell and given the chance what lives they could have lived had the oppertunites been theirs for the taking.

By: Richard Smith, Goldsmiths University of London

Richard Smith, Goldsmiths University of London — Mon, 08 Sep 2014 15:30:22 +0000

Fascinating image of the five soldiers with Rev. Jackson. The cap badge suggests they may have enlisted in the West Yorkshire Regiment. Was the photo dated? From mid-1918 British Army recruited West Indian subjects living in the US, many of whom served as garrison troops in the UK. I have come across many individual examples in my research but very unusual to see group photograph of black soldiers who in this case may well have been born and raised in the Britain. The black population in UK before WWI was around 20,000 and mainly settled in East London, Liverpool, Bristol, Cardiff, also Glasgow and Tyneside.

By: Nancy Clark

Nancy Clark — Sat, 07 Jun 2014 12:53:57 +0000

Oh my, those faces – such a shame there is no names known, what a wonderful resource for family historians!

Have you considered uploading the WW1 ones onto the Imperial War Museums project – Faces of the First World War. The one in particular that really moved me were of the four lads with the vicar in uniform. Amazing.

By: Nicola

Nicola — Sat, 10 May 2014 11:44:18 +0000

What a wonderful showcase of social history. The young men are proud not bowed. Thank God for people like Rev Thomas Jackson who were (and are) prepared to help those that others would condemn as irredeemable.

By: Judy Reith

Judy Reith — Wed, 07 May 2014 15:09:43 +0000

Having just returned from volunteering at the Street Child World Cup in Rio, these are particularly poignant pictures. We had a UK girls team with us from a youth project in Islington, but these girls live like royalty compared to the kids from the 19 other countries who came to play football, and add to the campaign ” No Child Should Live On The Streets.” Sad that such a slogan is still relevant today as it was when these soul filled photographs were taken.
Thank you for taking the trouble to hunt them out and post them for us

By: Jill Dion

Jill Dion — Mon, 05 May 2014 04:15:10 +0000

What powerful photographs! They break my heart.

By: Philip Elkins

Philip Elkins — Sun, 04 May 2014 19:05:09 +0000

Such wonderful photographs, each one tells its own story. A unique vision back into the past, so marvellous and interesting.

By: sarah ainslie

sarah ainslie — Sat, 03 May 2014 21:11:48 +0000

Extraordinary portraits and with just a hint of the background of the place they are living in. The inspiring dignity that they inhabit, some of the most powerful portraits I have seen of this period and so very moving. A wonderful find, Sarah