Comments on: A Walk Down The Mile End Rd

By: Sally Polanek

Sally Polanek — Sun, 12 Apr 2026 07:32:26 +0000

I have yesterday purchased a large distillery jar with the address 86 mile end road and mile end distillery on it,After putting the address in out of interest of the jars past I have come onto this site. How lovely that I can trace my lovely jar back to Stepney in London, I live in the south west and the jar will now sit in my garden barn as a decoration, What a long way it has travelled I bought it in North East Somerset, I love it even more with the connection I have found today.

By: Susan Ososki

Susan Ososki — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 21:34:51 +0000

This is a wonderful site. My husband’s ancestors had a tailor shop at 396 Mile End Road which was transformed into the Stepney Cinema from 1911 to 1940. Can you tell me if the building is still standing and what it is being used for now? We are planning a trip to England in May and hope to take a walk up this street.
Susan

By: Nathaniel

Nathaniel — Fri, 28 Apr 2023 09:43:07 +0000

Hello ,

I love reading your article on Mile End.

To that end I was wondering if you’d have any information of no.86 Mile End Rd that was once a whisky distillery?

I’m doing research for a book that I’m slowly compiling and would appreciate any help.

Thank you for your time and hopefully look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards

Nathaniel Dodd (Nathan)

By: Jean Olwen Maynard

Jean Olwen Maynard — Sat, 14 Aug 2021 11:02:30 +0000

Response to Matthew Humphreys: Greenwood Street ran north-south off the south side of Mile End Road directly opposite Trinity Almshouses on the north side.

By: TCS

TCS — Sat, 01 May 2021 22:06:15 +0000

The Genesis was the Mile End ABC for many years – police were called to it in 1978 for the local premiere of Grease, when people broke through the doors. The queues stretched back towards Murphys/the Blind Beggar at the junction of Whitechapel and Cambridge Heath Roads.

There was a big brewery (Albion?) between the cinema and the tube station for many years. Trumans (might be Charringtons) was where the modern Sainsbury’s is. I’m probably getting the brewery names mixed up.

The Waste used to stretch much further than it does now.

By: Grahame Soffe

Grahame Soffe — Fri, 16 Apr 2021 18:22:26 +0000

I’m researching Russoff & Sons, later Minka Ltd, at 394 Mile End Road (south side) for an obituary. They were master tailors and ladies costumiers (of Russian-Jewish origin). There was a major robbery of costumes through the roof of their warehouse, worth £35,500 in today’s money in 1929 – in all the papers. Borris Bennett the famous photographer in Whitechapel Rd took society photos of women dressed up in the gowns and costumes. The Coliseum Cinema was next door at 396. All destroyed in the Blitz in 1940-1.
Does anyone have any information or photos of 394 and/or the cinema?

By: Matthew Humphreys

Matthew Humphreys — Tue, 04 Aug 2020 16:42:45 +0000

Nice photos. Do any of your readers know where Greenwood Street, Mile End was? It existed in 1849 but despite looking at numerous maps have failed to locate it. It must have been very close to Mile-End Road as a shop had a front door on Mile-End Road and a back door on Greenwood Street.

By: Matt Gurney

Matt Gurney — Tue, 24 Sep 2019 19:56:19 +0000

I worked in tower hamlets for many years and often walked the Mile End Road and felt an affinity with the place. I’ve since discovered my ancestor George Bohn had a bakers at 1 Barnes place, Mike end road near the turnpike up until 1848 when the poor old sod found himself in debtors prison. He lived at 115 brick lane and died in 1855, the year the beigel shop opened at 155 brick lane…I love those beigels!

By: shetcliffe.fish.jerred

shetcliffe.fish.jerred — Fri, 18 May 2018 21:35:18 +0000

I am researching into my grandmother and grandfathers life and the mystery surrounding my grandmothers mother and father.
Thomas and Mabel Fish (nee Jarred) owned a Hat Shop in Holborn, possibly living above it.
My grandad was born in mile end, Charles shetcliffe.
My grandmother (nee fish) was born in the district of st Luke’s, Holborn at: 166 white cross street in 1914.
That’s all I know, would be lovely to find a photo of the street or the shop! Please.

By: Nigel Brooks

Nigel Brooks — Thu, 01 Mar 2018 19:27:15 +0000

A trip down memory lane for an ex Stepney Green Schoolboy. Many memories. Two that come to mind is a shoe shop called Shuzz A Go Go that covered my feet (along with Blackmans in Cheshire Street which was a bit of a schlep for my short pins) which was adjacent to a magical old fashion Dry Cleaners and Repairers.