Comments on: The Friends Of Arnold Circus

By: Jacqualyn Conner

Jacqualyn Conner — Sun, 04 Nov 2018 15:56:41 +0000

My late mother attended Rochelle Street Primary School from 1931 to 1937.

By: Ian Silverton

Ian Silverton — Sun, 04 Nov 2018 10:19:20 +0000

Good to know the old band stand still stands,as children of the 50s living local we played around it,always closed I remember,but one Sunny Sunday mourning we come across it and the Band was in full flow,great sound and a good sight, but that was the only time,as I remember.

By: Gary Arber

Gary Arber — Sat, 03 Nov 2018 16:47:27 +0000

In the 1950’s there used to be some small workshops in the circus, these were rented out to small traders. In those days my shop also sold toys, there was an old basket maker there named Lapidus, I used to buy children’s baskets and push along baskets from him. It was a pleasure to see “old Lap” sitting on a small stool making a basket between his legs, his baskets were neat and strong.
Gary

By: Paul Loften

Paul Loften — Sat, 03 Nov 2018 11:06:14 +0000

Thank you for this . It teaches us that hidden within a landmark that we see daily and do not give much thought to, is a vibrant history that never stops at one point in time. Once a likely fortress against Royalists and then a notorious rookery and there is much more. Who can walk past such a spot without feeling a sense of excitement ?

By: aubrey

aubrey — Sat, 03 Nov 2018 10:48:25 +0000

I grew up in Laleham Buildings; another town alongside the Thames. (Hedsor bldgs opposite). The “bandstand” as we kids used to called it, was usually closed to us during the ’50’s (and maybe even the ’40’s). Climbing over the railing in order to gain access to the park illegally, could be a hazardous operation.
I can, however, recall it being opened on special occasions when a brass band played wthin the stand. I can’t, though, remember the what the celebration(s) were for.
We had fun time when we had rare impromptu running races around the circus. (Private cars were not very prevalent then; if at all).
I’m glad to know that the garden is now being frequented as it should be. After all it was probably designed to be used in a quotidian way.

By: Laura Williamson

Laura Williamson — Sat, 03 Nov 2018 09:27:01 +0000

The Boundary was certainly a vast improvement on the Old Nichol although it is questionable how many of the original residents benefited and how many were just moved on to find equally impoverished accommodation elsewhere.

My late husband spent a lot of time on researching his East End ancestry and a very useful resource was “Sanitary Ramblings, Being Sketches and Illustrations of Bethnal Green” ( Hector Gavin 1848) which paints a vivid picture of how grim the Old Nichol area was; much of it is available online now and is an interesting read. Some of my husbands family were in Turville Buildings; the residents there tell Gavin that they frequently have no water as their landlord is in debt the water company. There are many similar stories.

By: Bailey Jones

Bailey Jones — Sat, 03 Nov 2018 09:10:36 +0000

I visited Arnold Cirus several years ago and found it had a very peaceful quality. A very interesting part of London’s history.