Comments on: At Captain Cook’s House In Mile End Rd

By: Pip Harrison

Pip Harrison — Fri, 30 Dec 2022 19:55:30 +0000

Have just read this article. If the house is rebuilt would it not be the essence of facade-ism? I have seen here in Wellington NZ a steel structure outlining a previous building’s dimensions, which struck me as poetic.

By: Heather Cole

Heather Cole — Tue, 05 Nov 2019 14:12:29 +0000

Arrived here at the Newsletter on a link from today’s (5 Nov 2019) Roman Road Letter post suggesting that Cook’s home be rebuilt. A happy circling-back to you! Gives me the opportunity to say thank you for sending The Creeping….of Façadism, which is the most beautifully bound book of the year!

I think I’ll go over to browse in the bookshop now.

By: jet eliot

jet eliot — Sat, 10 Mar 2018 18:54:07 +0000

Wonderful post, interesting and informative, enjoyed the photos too, thank you.

By: Marcia Howard

Marcia Howard — Tue, 20 Feb 2018 22:47:59 +0000

Pulling the house down and then replacing it with nothing useful beggars belief. Putting up a plaque on that ugly wall is farcical, and I agree with Annie G, it certainly looks like a public convenience – with the windows bricked up. Bonkers!
Glad to say that living in North Yorkshire, we take great pride in the Captain Cook heritage – even if his parents’ cottage was sold for £800 and taken to Melbourne in Australia.

By: Ruth Richardson

Ruth Richardson — Tue, 13 Feb 2018 22:42:09 +0000

Why couldn’t the site be offered for redevelopment on condition that its frontage is an exact replica of the old house front? There must be loads of people who would love to build their own house in London. At the moment it looks like a pissoir: an utter mess!

So much for civic improvement in that part of the world!

Honestly! How on earth could those dignitaries be so pleased with themselves for building such a monstrosity of a wall?

That’s something I find very interesting: nowadays we have all these planners and architects and building standards, and rules & regulations, and what is produced is pure ugliness, whereas in the past, buildings were mostly decent, functional, human in scale and perfectly habitable. Who on earth could honestly argue that that vile wall as an ‘improvement’ on the nice little historic house with its plaque?

By: Cliff Thornton

Cliff Thornton — Tue, 13 Feb 2018 08:18:45 +0000

I believe that prior to demolition Cook’s house was offered to Australia, in case they wanted to preserve it, as was done with the cottage from Great Ayton, now in Melbourne. But the offer was declined.

By: Alex Pink

Alex Pink — Mon, 12 Feb 2018 14:21:11 +0000

I once met a descendant of captain cook. A young photographer, living in London.

By: Yvonne M

Yvonne M — Mon, 12 Feb 2018 14:16:51 +0000

I like the sound of the reconstructed house for those in need. Perhaps it could be included in a local scheme funded by a developer?
Those local digniteries looking so pleased with themselves were probably looking forward to seeing their names on the wall in letters as big as those giving Captain Cook’s achievements.
The mess in front of the wall should be cleared too. It shows no respect for the man and has no rights on that area of frontage. The council should step in here as they do in other areas.

By: Richard

Richard — Mon, 12 Feb 2018 11:52:53 +0000

Countess Spencer in the plaque unveiling photo, wearing the large hat.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Sun, 11 Feb 2018 23:15:20 +0000

Thank you for yet another compelling and little known story.

I hope we hear a hopeful follow up of success one day.