Comments on: Caroline Bousfield, Craftsman

By: Kimberley watson

Kimberley watson — Sun, 05 Sep 2021 12:18:49 +0000

What a wonderful woman Caroline is and all that she has enabled for the Victoria Park village and surroundings -just like a country life would be.
I lived in Victoria Park Road 35 years ago and remember her and the wonderful shop.
Such a shame to see the shop close but in the new wave of art and craftsmanship back in fashion I hope it will continue to have an artistic occupant.
I work as a gardener now and work in this and surrounding areas and over the years have noticed the roundabouts bursting into bloom-mainly sponsored by estate agents but Caroline was the inspiration I would say!
All the very best to her and her family and I’m sure she will still be being creative and inspiring.

By: Marcia Howard

Marcia Howard — Wed, 05 Jun 2019 14:03:29 +0000

Caroline, you are Inspirational! Love your pots too. And Gordon’s brickwork was pretty good too!
Thank you Gentle Author for introducing those of us from afar, to such amazing stories.

By: Jen

Jen — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 14:23:02 +0000

Guerrilla gardening! An inspiration! I’ve just stepped outside to have a look at the neglected small planting strip down the street, and imagine what might thrive there. Thank you for featuring Caroline Bousfields’ work and environs.

By: Robert Hill

Robert Hill — Mon, 03 Jun 2019 13:45:29 +0000

We moved to Hackney in 1975 (we are now in the Thames Valley). Bunch & Dukes; I recall going into their office in the Narrow Way. They were estate agents in the proper sense as they didn’t sell many houses but there was a window in the office where you paid your rent. When we bought our first home, a flat in Clapton Square, we celebrated by going to Percy Ingles for tea and cake

I remember Caroline’s workshop and the roundabout from when I used to go to Gore Road. Here I regularly visited Mr Renson, one of the founders of the Hackney Society and co author of ‘From Tower to Tower Block’, who knew more about Hackney than anyone I ever met.

By: Kate O

Kate O — Mon, 03 Jun 2019 06:17:48 +0000

This is a lovely story and an inspiring woman; we need more like her!

By: mlaiuppa

mlaiuppa — Mon, 03 Jun 2019 04:13:46 +0000

The roundabout is a huge are crying for a garden. I can’t imagine why the city would simply neglect it and leave it to be a bunch of weeds. Now it is a habitat for all sorts of lovely creatures. A means of unifying the neighborhood, a focal point for tourists on busses, and even a harvest for those wishing to make use of the flowers and plants. Besides the lavender I wouldn’t be surprised if Caroline had a bit if edibles hidden in there. £5 rental is a bargain. But the city should really be paying her for landscaping and maintenance of what would otherwise be an eyesore. Caroline is correct in that guerrilla gardening has really taken off. Glad she went the official route as I would hate to see the city come out and pull out all of her hard work.

Bees, huh? Could she hide a little hive in the middle where no one would see but the bees could live? Might be a bit of a profitable sideline, selling a few jars of lavender honey.

By: Saige (formally Jane) Vendome England

Saige (formally Jane) Vendome England — Sun, 02 Jun 2019 19:38:17 +0000

Caroline is an inspiration and reflects the true old spirit of the East End. She is such a community minded woman and her garden and pottery are beautiful. Thank you once again Gentle Author for bringing a delightful story about the East End to this grandaughter of an East Ender in New Zealand.

By: Pauline Taylor

Pauline Taylor — Sun, 02 Jun 2019 17:42:14 +0000

What a wonderful person and a real inspiration to those of us who try to get traders to work together to improve their environment, I found the council’s comment about squatter’s rights very amusing, this is how councils see people who improve their surroundings on a voluntary basis ~~~ an enemy that has to be defeated ~~~ so congratulations Caroline for getting the better of them. I was also amused to read how long it might take some of us to make a pot. Well I had pottery lessons at Art School many years ago and I know if I had spent all of those intervening years struggling with clay on a wheel I still would not have succeeded in making a pot !
I admire you Caroline and your pots are beautiful.

By: Catherine

Catherine — Sun, 02 Jun 2019 15:49:36 +0000

Thanks you GA–reading this was a lovely start to my Sunday out here in San Francisco.

By: Eric Forward

Eric Forward — Sun, 02 Jun 2019 13:58:53 +0000

Nice coincidence as I walked past this, admiring the building, while enjoying the weather in Victoria park yesterday. We took a walk to stretch our legs and work up an appetite for some fish & chips in Lauriston Village. This is an absolutely beautiful part of the city, and it is clear that Caroline has made a significant contribution to that fact. This shows that one person can make a difference in their environment, despite the apathy and ignorance of others. Caroline is a true local hero and I chose for her to be an inspiration to me to do and be better.