Comments on: The Soup Kitchens Of Spitalfields

By: Josie Barnett

Josie Barnett — Mon, 16 Nov 2020 15:50:08 +0000

I am researching my family and I know that my great grandmother ran a Soup Kitchen together with her sister at New Princelet Street Shul around the turn of the 20th century.. I am trying to find out about this but have not got very far. One thing I thought that maybe the soup kitchen was not actually in the Synagogue. I believe her sister was called Suraleah, no idea of the second name. Jimmick was their maiden names.

By: Jeannette

Jeannette — Wed, 22 May 2019 15:25:10 +0000

The long history of charity is interesting. As is the soup. I wonder if those old recipes could be recovered?
Again, thanks for this. As our times seem to grow darker and crueller, these centuries of simple kindness to one another get much more important.

By: Rob Sharrock

Rob Sharrock — Wed, 15 May 2019 21:49:31 +0000

Thank you for this very interesting glimpse into history. It led me to find out about John Grey http://www.pewterbank.com/Theodore_Compton_John_Gray_-_concerning_John_Townsend…38.pdf
You also mentioned the Barclays and Gurneys, two distinguished Quaker families. Now I’ve got the bit between my teeth I’ll be researching more about the Quaker connections with Spitalfields.

By: Ruth

Ruth — Wed, 15 May 2019 16:05:19 +0000

Thank you for your posts, they are wonderful. Sadly this one makes you reflect that there must be a need for soup kitchens in Spitalfields once again, although more often referred to as food banks these days…

By: Jill Wilson

Jill Wilson — Wed, 15 May 2019 12:13:35 +0000

or didn’t have!

By: Jill Wilson

Jill Wilson — Wed, 15 May 2019 12:13:04 +0000

I wonder how tasty / otherwise the soup was that they were given? I hope it was better than the watery gruel which Oliver had…

By: Paul Loften

Paul Loften — Wed, 15 May 2019 11:32:37 +0000

Once again we have to thank the GA and this time Philip Carstairs for revealing the depth of compassion that gave birth to these charitable institutions . The East End led the way in the foundation of care towards those who must have suffered terrible deprivations. . If you look at the records in the Pale of Jewish settlement such as Russia and Poland for the 18th and 19 century you will find so many entries for children that simply died of malnutrition.

By: Hels

Hels — Wed, 15 May 2019 01:33:50 +0000

I remember the Spitalfields Soup Society in Brick Lane and the London Soup Kitchen for the Jewish Poor operated on Brune Street very well indeed. And had a vested interested in both – my thesis was about the Huguenots who were expelled from France and made a new life in London etc; and my paternal grandmother migrated from Russia and lived in poverty in the East End.

The architecture in both your photos is splendid.