Comments on: Stepney’s Lost Mansions

By: Debra. E. Sewell

Debra. E. Sewell — Sun, 26 Feb 2023 13:28:20 +0000

My heart breaks gor all that is gone. Destroyed in the face of Modern. Its wrong and tragic. The area was once, i imagine, beautiful and serene. I will get to England to walk mdny miles trying to visit the places you have told us about..I must…before it is all plowed under gor a Modern shop or Bank

thank you

Debra

By: Maureen Cocklin

Maureen Cocklin — Thu, 30 May 2019 20:48:25 +0000

Interesting read, as always.
I lived in King John Street (now Stepping Stones Farm) until 1970 when we were moved out.

I heard it was to a meeting house for Annie Besant, the social reformer. Whether she used part of the property before demolition is not exactly known. Information from deeds dated 1663 states that Henry, the first Marquis of Worcester, owned the property. The building was demolished around mid to late 1900s to make way for residential properties.

By: christopher long

christopher long — Thu, 14 Dec 2017 14:04:13 +0000

great read & research gillian ! yes i am 1 of those locals (of only 20 years) who thought those arches were possibly 15th century:-)
do you happen to know anything about roger crab, the 17thc soldier haberdasher, hebalist & hermit who lived in bethnal green & supposedly buried in st.dunstans? the inspiration for lewis carroll’s mad hatter apparently.
i have asked some of the church wardens as to the whereabouts of his tombstone which has a wonderful epitaph. but nobody knows & the my scouring of the church & precincts drew a blank.
Tread gently, reader, near the dust
Committed to this tomb-stone’s trust:
For while ’twas flesh, it held a guest
With universal love possest:
A soul that stemmed opinion’s tide,
Did over sects in triumph ride;
Yet separate from the giddy crowd,
And paths tradition had allowed.
Through good and ill reports he past,
Oft censured, yet approved at last.
Wouldst thou his religion know?
In brief ’twas this: to all to do
Just as he would be done unto.
So in kind Nature’s law he stood,
A temple, undefiled with blood,
A friend to everything that ‘s good.
The rest angels alone can fitly tell;
Haste then to them and him; and so farewell!’

By: Ros

Ros — Sun, 11 Sep 2016 16:39:07 +0000

Where was the opening photo taken? It’s great. Another very informative piece, thank you.

By: pauline taylor

pauline taylor — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 17:59:24 +0000

Thank you so much Gillian, a great piece, and brilliantly written as always!!

By: david sankey

david sankey — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 15:13:00 +0000

As ever Gillian conjours past worlds from few words and fire the imagination. There’s so much in Stepney. One small correction. Although TfL, Department of Transport and Crossrail sponsored my book, the publisher is MOLA (Museum of London Archaeology). If you want to read more about John Fenne, Lord Darcy (Monument at St Botolph’s Aldgate http://www.stbotolphs.org.uk/famous-parishioners , beheaded), the 1st Marquis of Worcester catholic convert who funded Charles I, Matthew Mead, Puritan Minister who built the Stepney Meeting House in the Garden (tomb in St Dunstan’s https://www.flickr.com/photos/davidsankey/13306569665/ ) . His son Richard who went back to CofE and as a physician attended Queen Anne on her deathbed… right up to WW2 and founding of Stepping Stones City Farm , then take a look at http://www.mola.org.uk/publications/stepney-green-moated-manor-house-city-farm

By: Caroline Bottomley

Caroline Bottomley — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 09:31:47 +0000

Fab, thanks a lot

By: Valerie-Jael

Valerie-Jael — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 06:39:28 +0000

Another very fascinating post, thanks! Valerie