Comments on: In Old Clerkenwell

By: Heiko

Heiko — Sat, 21 Aug 2021 10:58:39 +0000

Wonderful images and bringing back those memories of Clerkenwell. I studied photography at the then London College of Printing which was located at Back Hill in 1997. I was living in Tooting Bec and took the Northern Line up north to change at Moorgate for Farringdon or at Bank to change for central line to Chancery Lane (coffe at leather Lane was a treat on the way to college).
I loved the strolls through Clerkenwell and often walked till Old St. All those quirky, atmospheric little streets and sometimes I even passed the Barbican to have a look what’s on there at the theatre, cinema and gallery. Came back in 2002 for a postgraduate course at the RCA and the LCP was gone (now it is the LCC at Elephant and Castle) and it transformed into a coorporate building. Excuse my rusty english as I am now living abroad and it is not my mother tongue.
Your blog is a great find. Thank you!

By: Mel Wall

Mel Wall — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 23:34:04 +0000

I was a policeman in the 1970s walking around Clerkenwell and Finsbury. Those photos evoke so many memories. Yes Clerkenwell was a lovely place and I expect it still is. I’ve told my children and grandchildren about my time there. Thank you for the trip down memory lane.

By: carmen king

carmen king — Wed, 22 Apr 2020 18:05:04 +0000

Loved looking at the photos I came from farringdon road lived in corporation building’s and went to st Catherine laborea sorry about spelling wonderful memories ty so much

By: Ron Bunting

Ron Bunting — Tue, 22 Jan 2019 09:28:53 +0000

My GGG grandather ,the Rev .Jabez Bunting lived in Myddleton Sq. Theres one of those plaques on the wall of the house where he lived.

By: Valerie Comer - Coules

Valerie Comer - Coules — Mon, 25 Jun 2018 13:01:31 +0000

Thank you for sharing these beautiful photos, these streets were my playground when growing up, I was born in Sekforde Street. My great grandparent and grandparents lived in Wilmington Square and had a stall in Leather Lane, my mus family were greengrocers and had stalls in Exmouth Market. I still live in Clerkenwell although many things change it still seems to retain a village atmosphere. Thanks for the memories!!!

By: Hetty Startup

Hetty Startup — Wed, 09 May 2018 09:51:16 +0000

A very evocative set of photos of an area of London I used to know better. The fire station was a tempting spot – considered by friends as a potential squat – and the streets were so quiet on the weekends as I remember. Thank you as usual!

By: Joyce M

Joyce M — Wed, 21 Dec 2016 00:08:10 +0000

Did my nurse training at Gt Ormond St , loved the area was just there in Oct and walked around Hatton Garden Ely Place and Clerkenwell on a Sun , was so nice and quiet then brought back memories. Also was ther during week and saw Leather lane mid day market is now all food not a lot of merchandise like 30 yrs ago. Love the Fryers Delight fish and chips still on Theobolds Road glad to see it still there

By: Sean C

Sean C — Sat, 16 Jul 2016 10:52:45 +0000

Great Photos and a very informative text that informs people who may not know the area about its very working class and sometimes very rough past.An area of London I love.my Family had lived in the area since 1595 until the late 20s when my grand father moved to Tottenham to escape the dwelling houses. Hard to believe now that up until the 60s, Tottenham was considered a nicer place to live than Clerkenwell. Whilst gentrification hasn’t ruined Clerkenwell ,it sticks in the throat a bit that my grand dad escaped a slum,yet 2 generations on I can only dream about being able to afford to live in the area. All the old Dwelling Houses along St John Street now being sold for fortunes is hard to bear as well…But progress stops for no man.
Brilliant site 🙂

By: Louise

Louise — Mon, 08 Dec 2014 19:39:07 +0000

Dear GA, Wonderful photos, very evocative. I agree with Bru above, perhaps you could work your magic and write a little something about Little Italy.

My grandparents settled there in Little Saffron Hill, they came from Atina in Frosinone. What a difference in surroundings. What an alien environment the grey dirty streets of Clerkenwell must have seemed, compared to the Atina they knew and loved so much. There they had been beautiful open vistas of the verdant Val di Comino, a valley encircled by tree clad mountains with a backdrop of the magnificent Abruzzi mountains beyond.

By: Bru

Bru — Tue, 21 Oct 2014 08:11:22 +0000

Dear GA,
When you have the time, might you be inclined to concentrate on the ‘Little Italy’ area of Clerkenwell ? My father arrived from Italy in the 1920s and based himself there. Later he married my mother at St Peter’s Church and they set up home in the area. I remember my grandmother talking about ‘Back Hill’ and ‘Saffron Street’. I’m sure your Italian readers would love to see/read your take on ‘Little Italy’.
Bru
Surrey