Comments on: David Hoffman’s East End

By: Timothy

Timothy — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 11:35:53 +0000

My Dad, when he taught at the College of Furniture in 1975/76 was given all the tenancies of a derelict block of flats called Weaver House, Pedley St. Back then it was a street coming off Bricklane next to (then operating) Shoreditch Tube Station. We lived as a kind of commune with mainly students and teachers from the college, and a few young bengali men who worked in local services. The deal was rent free (only Rates) in exchange for renovating flats. I started a C&G’s Saturday photography course at the end of the road (then Sir John Cass School of Art), as a teenager, and would go out photographing the surrounding area – from Bricklane and Whitechapel, to the docks and River at Tower Bridge. Photoed a lot of street graffiti (I noticed subsequently used by Gilbert and George) and also NF and SW/protest action in Bricklane in b/w film. Most only remain as negatives and contact sheets.
For me David’s photo’s certainly capture and evoke the mood and social fabric of the period.

By: Shawdian

Shawdian — Sun, 13 Nov 2016 21:56:50 +0000

A Hard Life

By: Ian Silverton

Ian Silverton — Thu, 10 Nov 2016 20:50:21 +0000

The guy with the large picture on his shoulders,looks like Fred Brooks,a Bethnal Green publican at one stage of his life,then a another one stall holder in Leather Lane Market, we had many great times together in the 60s 8os,he is still mentioned in East End folk law.

By: Trevor

Trevor — Mon, 16 Nov 2015 03:53:54 +0000

Around 1977/78 I used to drive my Ford Cortina to Cheshire St and park up near the Vallance Road end and open my boot along with many other cars and sell my old unwanted items from it. If the police were seen, there was always someone who would shout out to warn everyone as what we were doing was illegal. I have often wondered if this was where the term car boot sale came from.

By: Graham Harrison

Graham Harrison — Sat, 14 Nov 2015 10:32:17 +0000

Wonderful. There’s a story etched onto every face in every picture.

By: tony

tony — Wed, 11 Nov 2015 20:29:16 +0000

Absolutely fantastic images of the 70’s in dear ol Spitalfields. ..brick lane club row….I’m my youth then it felt like a post apocalyptic supermarket….my most vivid memory of back then….some dilapidated bombs items market backwater off Cheshire street….a burning waste bin brazier….crap being sold….and a 78 player knocking out fats waller ‘if you a viper’….I was about 17 and it’s seared on my brain. I didn’t know Hoffman then….wish I had but am glad to know him these past 20 yrs…he captures images that evoke such strong memories so very well. Thanks for sharing these now.

By: Jackie joseph

Jackie joseph — Wed, 11 Nov 2015 15:16:48 +0000

Thank you David Hoffman you took me back to the 1950 my friend maureen sherman lived in the mansion (opposite george the poles pub) we went to Jersey together (there was four of us ) a couple who live on the island wanted to give four East end girls a hoilday of a life time and they did we were 12-13 years old maureen and her bother and mum lived in the basement l have not seen her since .l love your work thank you . jj

By: Brian Harris

Brian Harris — Tue, 10 Nov 2015 18:19:57 +0000

David, these are all wonderful….blimey what a lot of poverty back then….I remember as a kid ‘totting’ with my Dad by that chain link fence on Cheshire Street in about 64-65…. we used to get there abot 4 in the morning on a Sunday and flog any old stuff…my job was to clean up old spark plugs with emery paper and sell’ em for 6p each…dad used to hang second hand clothes on the fence…remember a wonderful doughnut shop down there and a record shop where I bought my first 45…’Remember the Spartans’ by Sounds Incorporated ( have the CD in the car !! )…I’d love to go through you contacts to see If you have anything from the top end of Brick Lane showing my Uncle Charlie on his stall selling cosmetics ( opposite where the ‘Top’ Beigal shop is now….)

By: Phil Maxwell

Phil Maxwell — Tue, 10 Nov 2015 17:14:01 +0000

Wonderful photographs!

By: Sophie Grillet

Sophie Grillet — Mon, 09 Nov 2015 18:35:33 +0000

Does everybody still look that rough? Or are we just not looking?