Comments on: Lost 18th Century Houses In Spitalfields

By: Vivien Langton

Vivien Langton — Thu, 17 Feb 2022 17:34:14 +0000

Hello – I’m researching my family history and have just discovered that my great, great, grandparents Moses and Jane Saunders lived at 190 Brick Lane at the time of the 1871 census with their family (including my great grandma who was then 9 yrs old), so I was thrilled to find the photo of this building. Judging by a contemporary article I have also found, Spitalfields was a pretty grim place to live at that time, although the building itself is beautiful – it had 24 residents then!

By: Linda Lower

Linda Lower — Thu, 20 Dec 2018 16:31:12 +0000

My Great Great Great grandfather, William Rose who was a weaver, is recorded as living at No.70 Sclater Street in 1871.
It’s amazing to be able to see the house where he lived. I do hope it is renovated.

By: Crystella Poupard

Crystella Poupard — Mon, 15 Dec 2014 19:11:07 +0000

My ancestors the Stokes and the Le Maires were all weavers in Spitalfields up to the mid nineteenth century. These buildings are not just my heritage but also the country’s. Too many wonderful buildings connecting us to the past have been lost in the name of commercial enterprise. These too were built with such a sentiment in mind, but at least they have some aesthetic value. We should hang on to them at all cost.

By: Peter Holford

Peter Holford — Fri, 20 Jun 2014 13:48:54 +0000

It begs the question of how many other old houses are hidden behind more modern frontages. Interesting as ever – thank you.

By: Pauline Taylor

Pauline Taylor — Thu, 19 Jun 2014 14:08:14 +0000

The first house in Padbury Court shows what can be done, not sure about the next two though, what has happened to their frontages and door cases? Still at least they have been saved, and I hope that many of the others will be saved and sympathetically restored, we cannot afford to lose these beautifully proportioned houses from our towns and cities. No buildings since have been as pleasing to the eye in my view.

By: Sarah Vernon

Sarah Vernon — Thu, 19 Jun 2014 10:29:29 +0000

If only modern houses were built in such a beautifully aesthetic fashion.

By: Achim

Achim — Thu, 19 Jun 2014 10:22:29 +0000

Not far from Kassel — the »GERMAN HUGUENOT MUSEUM«:
http://www.huguenot-museum-germany.com/

Love & Peace
ACHIM

By: Sara Strawson

Sara Strawson — Thu, 19 Jun 2014 08:37:34 +0000

As an addition to the above I found the house my ancestor lived in just off Brick Lane has gone. He was Jeremiah Forbes and was living at 11 Pelham Street, now Woodseer Street, in the 1851 Census. I believe it must have been opposite the houses which are still standing.

By: Sara Strawson

Sara Strawson — Thu, 19 Jun 2014 08:31:37 +0000

This is, indeed, very sad. So many lovely buildings have been lost through the years and, unfortunately, still are. This is a country wide issue and one that should be addressed. Many of the new developments are designed without a thought for the aesthetics of the area.
I currently live in Bath where empty buildings, particularly industrial ones, are plentiful and have also seen the slow demise of many traditional and historic houses in Norwich disappear in favour of less attractive replacements. I am sure this is progress and I would be labelled a purist but I am sure this ‘progress’ is not always good.

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 19 Jun 2014 08:11:07 +0000

That’s amazing! I’ve been familiar with these houses all my life but had no idea that they were so old!