Adverts From The Stepney Borough Guide
May 10, 2014
From 1900 until 1965, Spitalfields was in the London of Borough of Stepney. Although Stepney has ceased to exist as a political entity long ago, the official guides are still preserved in the Bishopsgate Institute, serving as a reminder of this lost kingdom where – in the thirties – fluffy picture frocks, crude drugs and skulgarde helmets might easily be obtained.
Images courtesy Bishopsgate Institute
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Great selection here, I especially like the one advertising upwards of 70 cows on the premises of the model Dairies in Black Lion Yard! Valerie
Had my ears pierced at Spiegelhalters because my dad used to maintain their burglar alarm. Many visits to Dr Leahy of Commercial Road (Irish and Catholic and so highly regarded – and feared – doctor to the nuns of the parish) followed as my ears turned septic! His phrase ‘If God had meant you to have extra holes in your ears’ can still be heard in my head and is one reason why my soon to be 13 year old daughter, despite much pleading, still has unblemished ears.
“Skulgarde” were very advanced for their time – I think the messengers in Cocteau’s “Orphee” (Riding Sunbeams IIRC) wore them.
Ah, Spiegehalter …
Their premises is famous – see “Nairn’s London” – but the entire frontage, including the specatucular “Spiegehalter gap” is now threatened with demolition.
What a marvellous selection! Thoroughly enjoyed these. Hopping(especially on peg legs) and galloping wouldn’t be the associations used to sell alcoholic beverages nowadays I think. And why would the sewing machine top converter be advertising that it was a profitable side-line for furnishers? Guess the feather purifying works would be handily situated near the chicken slaughterers…what a hive of industry it was all round.
These are fantastic, so evocative of their time, I remember quiet a few of these businesses, a good few of whom were still trading until relatively recent year’s, WONDERFUL.
Oversaturated by multicoloured internet advertisements these vintage typesettings are real eye candy! (Not only to me as a Graphic Designer…)
Love & Peace
ACHIM
so nice to see the old ads. and posters , also noted they all had the old style telephone numbers. sadly many of these buisness’s were bombed during w.w. 2 i can still remember a few of these as i lived in the spitalfields area. which i might add was not as bad a place to grow up as some people seem to think. many thanks for posting these long forgotten gems.
Oh,these are wonderful,& love the names that go with them!
As a young boy I lived for several years at 41 Umberston Street – an address that has vanished because of slum clearance (?). These ads. certainly recall long-ago. Kudos for reviving them.