Comments on: A Brief History Of Coborn Street

By: Simon Muggleton

Simon Muggleton — Fri, 07 Nov 2025 16:36:51 +0000

I am currently researching the life of Lizzie McKenzie a suffragette who was born in 1865. She gave the address of 82 Coborn Road Bow on her marriage to Arthur McKenzie on the 15th April 1893. Lizzie was the secretary of the Lewisham Branch of the WPSU in 1908, and was arrested on the 1st March 1912 for smashing the windows of the Canadian Pacific Railroad Company in The Strand. She was sentenced to two months hard labour at HMP Holloway, and went on hunger strike, and given the WPSU Hunger Strike medal on her release.

By: Richard Burgess

Richard Burgess — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 20:19:38 +0000

My family (Burgess) lived at number 15. I had some wonderful memories there. My nan used to take me regularly to Victoria Park as. Small child, where it was a real thrill to feed the Reindeer. We moved out to Essex. I very much remember the Snook brothers from when I was a child. My grandfather Ted Burgess Snr, used to have his car serviced there. My initials are still carved into the brickwork by the door of number 15 and those of my aunt, Josephine whi emigrated to Africa before I was born. My dad, Ted Junior is still going, although now quite old. I had my first legal pint in the Coborn Arms, bought by my dad and grandad. Wonderful, fun times. Shame we all have to get old. I still visit when I can and often conduct some history tours in Spitalfieds.

By: R.Snooks

R.Snooks — Sat, 18 Jun 2022 18:53:03 +0000

Very interesting read. I’d like to give you an update on the history of Ye Olde Coborn Motors of 57/59 Coborn Road. This property once belonged to the Co-op Society and was an outlet for their dairy products from the shop at 59 . When my father first rented the Garage section (57) a Mr Jones and his wife lived above the shop and were the last managers of the Co-op dairy (59). The shop then became an independent Betting Office which subsequently was taken over by William Hill. My father Phil Snooks eventually purchased the whole property. This still remains the same as you can see from your picture.

By: Fred dodd

Fred dodd — Fri, 07 Jan 2022 19:41:48 +0000

I lived in coborn road with my family, it was the first house my dad bought, right next to the old railway station, and went to my first day at school through coborn st, then after to bow boys school, my dad rented an upstairs flat just of Tredegar terrace, my dad sold up in about 1966, and moved to Newbury Park in Essex, my grandad owned the mirror shop near Roman road, now I’m in Ely and it’s been great to see the place again, thanks.

By: E. Stewart

E. Stewart — Wed, 10 Feb 2021 07:34:11 +0000

I enjoyed the article because I went to Malmesbury Road school from 1938, graduated from there to Coborn in 1945 and lived in Tredegar Square until 1956 (apart from the time I was evacuated with Malmesbury Road school)

By: Cherub

Cherub — Wed, 03 Feb 2021 14:20:16 +0000

A very interesting read for me as I was a mature student at Queen Mary University on the Mile End Road back in the early 90s, when it was known as Queen Mary and Westfield College (after Westfield College was merged with Queen Mary and moved from its home at Hampstead). There were some very lovely old streets bordering the college, friends of mine rented a place overlooking Bow Common. Many of the grander houses like these were rented by groups of medical students from Bart’s.

I also like the reference to Charles Booth. I read Charles Booth’s London in the late 80s and it is an absolutely fascinating account of Victorian times, but sometimes the extent of family poverty recorded makes difficult reading. The colour coded street maps held in the Museum of London are equally fascinating.

By: Annie Green

Annie Green — Tue, 02 Feb 2021 09:33:36 +0000

Wonderful stories! More of these would be great.

By: Jill Wilson

Jill Wilson — Tue, 02 Feb 2021 08:20:45 +0000

Fascinating stuff – I think every street has a unique story to tell…

So more please, all you people out there living in your very own bit of London!

By: John Price

John Price — Tue, 02 Feb 2021 07:55:24 +0000

Lovely, thank you. A charming and distinctive street.