Comments on: John Claridge’s East End Shops https://spitalfieldslife.com/2017/02/22/john-claridges-east-end-shops/ In the midst of life I woke to find myself living in an old house beside Brick Lane in the East End of London Sat, 25 Feb 2017 01:22:36 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 By: Derek Cox https://spitalfieldslife.com/2017/02/22/john-claridges-east-end-shops/#comment-1137786 Sat, 25 Feb 2017 01:22:36 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=154466#comment-1137786 Thanks for the bittersweet memories these photos invoke.

]]> By: Achim https://spitalfieldslife.com/2017/02/22/john-claridges-east-end-shops/#comment-1137417 Thu, 23 Feb 2017 15:07:21 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=154466#comment-1137417 Wonderful time, those Sixties!

Love & Peace
ACHIM

]]> By: gabrielle https://spitalfieldslife.com/2017/02/22/john-claridges-east-end-shops/#comment-1137123 Wed, 22 Feb 2017 15:03:06 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=154466#comment-1137123 I was born in 1950 and kids thought nothing of bombsites and run down buildings. Pretty much stayed that way, except some monstrosities of flats thrown up, til developers arrived in 80s. Feel sorry for those who suffered deprivations of 2 world wars and when areas were improved were kicked out of London to make way for super rich.

Not many people took pictures back then so these photos are especially welcome. Thank you John Claridge.

]]> By: Lynne Perrella https://spitalfieldslife.com/2017/02/22/john-claridges-east-end-shops/#comment-1137095 Wed, 22 Feb 2017 11:22:50 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=154466#comment-1137095 An opportunity to say how much I have loved owning a copy of “East End”, with John Claridge’s photos. It is a book that is always out on our table in the living room — We turn to any page, and marvel at the inscrutable “eye” that captured these images. Gritty, magnificent, and humane.
Highly recommended.
Thanks Gentle Author, for shining a light.

]]> By: Jim McDermott https://spitalfieldslife.com/2017/02/22/john-claridges-east-end-shops/#comment-1137090 Wed, 22 Feb 2017 10:54:06 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=154466#comment-1137090 After yesterday’s slightly more optimistic survey of the East End’s traditional small retailers, this one shows why so many fell victim to the newer, convenience culture. If owners couldn’t afford to keep adequate stocks at keen prices they were hardly prepared for the competition. I recall a small shop in my own home town (in Lancashire), the window of which was not only fully stacked but – a delightful touch – also hosted a miniature Hornby railway that ran in and out of the display and could be activated by passing kids by pushing a button on the external window frame.

A few years later I passed by the now-empty premises, and saw a few pieces of rail-track scattered on the window table. A new Spar had opened down the road and undercut the smaller business mercilessly.

]]> By: Murray Batley https://spitalfieldslife.com/2017/02/22/john-claridges-east-end-shops/#comment-1137085 Wed, 22 Feb 2017 10:32:34 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=154466#comment-1137085 A very good edit this

]]> By: Bailey Jones https://spitalfieldslife.com/2017/02/22/john-claridges-east-end-shops/#comment-1137061 Wed, 22 Feb 2017 08:32:21 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=154466#comment-1137061 There is a strong sense of decay in the peeling shop fronts. I guess many of the buildings, sadly, were due for demolition. They seem neglected and unloved. The mood is grim, anti-nostalgic.
Bleak.

]]> By: Phil Maxwell https://spitalfieldslife.com/2017/02/22/john-claridges-east-end-shops/#comment-1137011 Wed, 22 Feb 2017 03:31:51 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=154466#comment-1137011 Thanks for small shops & thanks for John Clarridge!

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