Comments on: Remembering Scars Of War

By: Laura Williamson

Laura Williamson — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 23:24:08 +0000

I could be wrong (and am quite ready to be corrected) but some of the damage at Barts from the Zep raid looks like it was caused by strafing with bullets…?

My grandmother, from whom I absorbed terms like “Zep raid”, hated all airships as they reminded her of the WW1 air attacks and would go indoors if the Dunlop blimp went over as it made her so uncomfortable. Her birthday fell on 08/09/1915 (she was 20 that day)

By: Leana Pooley

Leana Pooley — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 17:43:59 +0000

Dare I say that what you are proposing could be seen as a sort of facadeism – although it wouldn’t be ghastly at all.

By: James Harrison

James Harrison — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 15:39:27 +0000

A really clever architect would incorporate the war damaged wall into their hotel plans. Sadly, many architects nowadays lack such creativity in this “stack ‘em high and sell ‘em expensive” world.

By: William Martin

William Martin — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 14:50:45 +0000

The Tower Hamlets local government should be put in receivership. What next, plowing up the cemetary for a car park?

By: Linda Granfield

Linda Granfield — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 13:06:01 +0000

It would be a much-needed focal point on an otherwise all-out-boring building. AND a draw for tourist ‘walks.’

Thank you for drawing attention to the shrapnel damage we walk by without noticing. The photo of the fellow on his cellphone, oblivious to what is so near him–fantastic!

Has there been consideration of some kind of markers on some of the buildings–directing us to ‘see and ponder’?
The patches on University College serve as markers–imagine if they were colours? like art-history in one spot.

By: Paul Loften

Paul Loften — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 12:26:56 +0000

Shrapnel and bombs damaged not only the walls but left scars on the lives of East Enders. My dear sister Ros has her earliest childhood memory that is never forgotten My father was on leave from the army . The air raid siren went but the V1 rocket was overhead, and he heard the motor cut out. Fortunately they were both in the kitchen The ear shattering blast took a few seconds ,
giving just enough time to roughly grab her and dive under the heavy wooden table. Her memory is of looking up from under the table and seeing the ceiling come down in slow motion. Neither of them were hurt but the house was so badly damaged they had to move. They don’t make kitchen tables like that any more .

By: Sue Mayer

Sue Mayer — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 11:31:44 +0000

I hope the hotel can keep this wall as it is far more interesting than the hotel building. The wall is part of our history. It should be kept as a reminder of how damaging war is to buildings and life.

By: Mathilde Grange

Mathilde Grange — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 09:59:42 +0000

By the way, the hotel looks horrendous…

By: Pamela Traves

Pamela Traves — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 09:33:16 +0000

These we should Remember for Ever.???

By: Jill Wilson

Jill Wilson — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 08:24:13 +0000

Fascinating reminders of the times when London was in real peril.

The Mansell Street / Chamber Street wall is by far the most dramatic example and should definitely be preserved!

Come on Historic England – do your bit for a change and get it listed.

(And I would have thought the hotel would welcome the inclusion of at least one point of interest to improve yet another incredibly bland bit of architectural design…how depressing that final image is.)