Comments on: At Minto Place, Bethnal Green

By: Kelly Holman

Kelly Holman — Mon, 06 Sep 2021 09:30:32 +0000

Such a beautiful and moving tribute.

By: Cherub

Cherub — Sat, 04 Sep 2021 19:19:32 +0000

What a lovely series of memories to have. A quieter era when people had time for each other and were charitable. I like to think post Covid perhaps we’ll go back to that.

By: gkbowood

gkbowood — Thu, 02 Sep 2021 21:18:37 +0000

I really enjoyed reading this -such a world away from life these days and yet not so much in some respects! Thank you.

By: Bernie

Bernie — Thu, 02 Sep 2021 13:46:06 +0000

“in winter, a coal fire flickered (excellent for making toast)”

As the number of people who have actually made toast at an open coal fire is probably now rather small, and it is something that was much practiced in my childhood, I will comment that the fire had to be in a certain state to be excellent for making toast. It was not excellent unless red-glowing faces of the coals were exposed. More usually, only the black, unburnt faces were seen except here and there, where burning coal was exposed. And plain burning coal was not so good; the best toast required hot-glowing coals.

My family, in London (Stoke Newington) used a toasting-fork made of wire, the handle of which could be extended by sliding two parts past one another so that one’s hand did not also become toasted like the bread.

By: Barbara Hague

Barbara Hague — Thu, 02 Sep 2021 11:21:57 +0000

This describes the life of my grandparents who lived in Mile End. Outside toilet, mangle in garden, gas lamps, covered mantlepiece, grandad limping even.
I wish it was a book I could buy.

By: Richard Smith

Richard Smith — Thu, 02 Sep 2021 09:54:54 +0000

A fascinating and entralling picture of family life in the East End. I wonderful read, thank you GA.

By: Leana Pooley

Leana Pooley — Thu, 02 Sep 2021 08:26:21 +0000

So interesting and full of detail. As an allotmenteer I was interested in the sinking of a well on the allotment.

By: Laura Williamson

Laura Williamson — Thu, 02 Sep 2021 08:07:46 +0000

Thank you so much to Joyce (and Billy) for this fascinating memoir. The changes in the East End and the wider world that James lived through are extraordinary and he and Aunt Mary really came alive in this. I love the phrase “He was a much-loved hardworking Victorian man, full of character and strength.”

It bought back happy memories of my own grandfather (b 1893) who did EVERYTHING in a 3 piece suit. Double digging the garden on particularly hot days his collar/tie and jacket *might* come off, but this was not a given!

By: Marina

Marina — Thu, 02 Sep 2021 06:09:03 +0000

A beautiful trove of memories.

By: Ian Silverton

Ian Silverton — Thu, 02 Sep 2021 05:55:37 +0000

Interesting read, think we all need reminding of how poor our family where and us children as well bought up in Bethnal Green at this time. Well remember the poor ex service Guys no legs,blind, crippled,begging for money poor souls, some even selling matches,hot chesnuts,newspapers. What a waste war is. Lived and worked around bombed out houses,shops, with one parent people whofathers never returned home from war.