Comments on: Five Buildings In Whitechapel

By: Lorraine

Lorraine — Wed, 24 Jan 2024 10:54:47 +0000

I lived in Turnour House, Walburgh Street (off Bigland Street) Stepney which is very similar (although awfully tatty now) & it’s interesting my flats were given the name Turnour. I wonder if there’s a connection with a Mr Turner?

Regarding the Proof House, was there a significant gun making industry in Whitechapel in the 19th century? I have ancestors who were gunmakers who lived in the area near to these premises.

By: Colin Piper

Colin Piper — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 00:48:35 +0000

I used to deliver milk to Gwynn House and other flats, houses and streets in the area during the early 1960’s. I was 8 years old and it was my Saturday job helping deliver the milk with our milkman, Ernie, who would pick me up from Blackwall Buildings and take me on the rest of his round. He would sometimes let me drive the electric milk float down quieter side streets. He paid me 1 shilling and a pint bottle of orange juice.

By: Katie Smith

Katie Smith — Wed, 08 Aug 2018 22:23:24 +0000

Hazel Finn – I’ve been looking at where my grandparents lived after moving from Australia in around 1960, I’ve found that they lived in gwynne house and I’m wondering what it was like at that time?

By: Hazel Finn

Hazel Finn — Sat, 21 Jul 2018 19:21:49 +0000

I lived in Gwynne House from 1947-64 and am pleased it is being regarded as a building of note. It is surprisingly similar to the Isokon Flats in Lawn Road, Hampstead. So pleased to see it is still in existence.

By: Annette k

Annette k — Fri, 20 Jan 2017 14:14:18 +0000

Every time I read an article on old buildings, architects, workers or educated families, and see how well built but without care, begin looking like and old molded sponge that hardened. The vines on some photographs these writers over the past year have featured in their write ups on property and building, family type, employment, section of England where the story of the property has been placed, makes an old woman of 70 weep.

All of my old homes and towns are being demolished. One adobe historic home in Mesa, AZ USA has been vandalized. Two bedroom adobe brick was claimed part of a historic neighborhood. Little did we realize, that neighborhood changing, violence and families moving into apartments these old places do not stand a chance. How many Christmas trees were in the house from 1956-1962? How the two old grandparents danced a polka or western dance at the Mormon Center. Kids and their wooden cars built with an old lawn mower engine, moved down the streets. Across from the adobe brick home, was a 5 bedroom home with children galore and parents who watched the young ones as they played in the large front yard. All history is removed. We are modernizing for the new groups of families.
Thanks, old building speak of old bones and dead heroes, or people who worked until their hands and eyes gave out? In the silk industry? Interesting follow up? Atk

By: Bill

Bill — Sun, 25 Sep 2016 22:02:43 +0000

What charm and character when viewed with the glass monsters in the background

By: Joan

Joan — Sun, 25 Sep 2016 10:42:09 +0000

Interesting to see the photograph of the Co-op’s London Headquarters. So often associated with the north, the Co-op is to celebrated for its political, social and economic role in ordinary people’s lives for 172 years. It has been part of my life since I was a child, when I remember sitting with my grandmother while she let me lick and stick the divi strips on a card, which she then took to Co-op headquarters, in the centre the of Bolton, where they were transfered into savings.

When I thinkof Leman St, I can see the fictional detectives of ‘Ripper St’, currtently on its 4th series. As late Victorians, I can now imagine them passing the Co-operative’s London Headquarters as they step out to solve another grizzly crime.

By: Delia Folkard

Delia Folkard — Sun, 25 Sep 2016 08:48:47 +0000

Love your choice of buildings and hope they never become just facades. We enjoyed your talk on ghastly facadism at RIBA but left feeling quite depresesed! Good to hear there may be some hope of saving the Still and Star in Aldgate.

By: Maureen Swaby

Maureen Swaby — Sun, 25 Sep 2016 07:27:26 +0000

Very interesting. The Co-op building is 99 Leman Street. Famous tea was named after it.

By: Valerie-Jael

Valerie-Jael — Sat, 24 Sep 2016 16:09:54 +0000

Very interesting buildings today. I always passed the Proof House on my way to and from school way back when. Valerie