Comments on: At London Fields Railway Arches

By: KAREN DELVIN

KAREN DELVIN — Tue, 28 May 2019 17:57:35 +0000

My grandfather, Michael Lazarus was a London cab driver (who had to pass the cabbie test, ‘The Knowledge’). He was a true cockney. Over the years, he established a fleet of taxi’s. And owned his own garage in Hackney. A true self made man. My grandmother had health issues, & needed the ocean air. So in the 60’s he sold the garage, & retired to Hove, Brighton. He was a delightful man! Always had a ‘sunny’ disposition. Made us all laugh, with his quick wit & jokes.

My parents divorced, & my mother moved back (along with me), to her native country, America. I’ve lived here in New York, ever since. But always came home for visits with my family. My grandpa would be saddened to see what has happened to hard working people being forced out of their livelihood. ….

By: Marcelle Garner

Marcelle Garner — Fri, 29 Sep 2017 06:01:31 +0000

I feel very sad when I read about things happening to honest hard working people like these & of those that used to have business at the Olympic site .The Olympics cause great distress displacing 100s of people wherever they are held .It all boils down to greed.

By: Bryan Dixon

Bryan Dixon — Sun, 02 Apr 2017 13:15:30 +0000

I too am and old Londoner(in fact a cockney) but “emigrated” to North Yorkshire many years
ago. In the late 1940’s and early ’50s these railway arches were often used by small enterprises, provided local jobs, and assisted in the commercial recovery of Hackney and its remaining inhabitants from the effects of the war. London Fields was still mostly given over to the storage of old Civil Defence Equipment, Barracks and bomb shelters. The arches, when unused or left unlocked, were often our playground. Is the arch leading through to Martello terrace still there? Where they were used for vehicle repair or as machine workshops or for scrap recovery, that is where we would go to sell items we “rescued” from the many bombed out houses and factories around us.

By: Rodney Maennling

Rodney Maennling — Wed, 08 Mar 2017 16:03:35 +0000

I’m an ol’ Londoner, and my father from Hackney. All of you contribute a huge amount to the community and economy; food, transport, pets, recreation and shelter, and other social needs. Congratulations!
Fight the good fight, and get big publicity and community support. People are with you. I wish I were closer!

By: Lisette

Lisette — Wed, 01 Mar 2017 10:28:40 +0000

Saddened to hear about the threat to the London Fields Arches and the traders, who have been there for years, and contributed a lot to the local economy, and created a sense of community in which was, before the traders, quite a deprived area. Clearly Network Rail puts profit over people and it’s a disgrace, It does not even seem to be listening to these traders, it engaging in talks. I really hope the locals will support these traders. I wish them all the very best in their plight, and long may they continue to trade from these arches.

By: tim sayer

tim sayer — Sun, 26 Feb 2017 16:03:36 +0000

Once again, a story about the greed of Network Rail. But it could be any corporate horror. Isn’t it about time for us to start rioting in this country? We have been supine for too long in the face of these money grabbing horrors.
One of my targets woud be No 1, Hyde Park, that monstrously hideous apartment block designed by Rogers Stirk Harbour. Richard Rogers sold his soul when his firm took on that project.
Then on to torch a few corporate headquarters. And if we bump into (Sir) Philip Green on the way …

By: Lynne Perrella

Lynne Perrella — Sun, 26 Feb 2017 13:16:38 +0000

Thank you for your intrepid advocacy, and thanks to Sarah for creating these compelling and
vibrant portraits. The photos convey so much — Contribution, focus, dedication, community,
vitality, the rewards of work, the importance of specialized skills and trades….I could go on.
WHY are these people under attack? I don’t get it.

By: Paddy Keogh

Paddy Keogh — Sun, 26 Feb 2017 12:39:50 +0000

Good luck to everyone featured here,hope you win this battle,pardon my french but fcuk Network Rail,keep up the good work Spitalfieldslife

By: Delia Folkard

Delia Folkard — Sun, 26 Feb 2017 11:07:25 +0000

It’s a disgrace, the heart and character of London is gradually being ripped out.

By: Libby Hall

Libby Hall — Sun, 26 Feb 2017 09:59:22 +0000

As always – lovely photographs by Sarah Ainslie.

I have a personal vested interest in these arches. Four times a year Pip and I go to get his hair cut at London Doggies, and while that’s being done I sit in E5 Bakehouse having a coffee and something delicious to eat.

It feels as if from all directions our life in East London is being attacked. Thank goodness Spitalfields Life goes on showing the world what’s happening, and, in quite a lot of instances now, actually STOPS it from happening!