Comments on: The Manhole Covers Of Spitalfields https://spitalfieldslife.com/2022/01/09/the-manhole-covers-of-spitalfields-o/ In the midst of life I woke to find myself living in an old house beside Brick Lane in the East End of London Wed, 26 Jan 2022 20:13:23 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.1 By: JASON LEMPIERI https://spitalfieldslife.com/2022/01/09/the-manhole-covers-of-spitalfields-o/#comment-1447770 Wed, 26 Jan 2022 20:13:23 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=190259#comment-1447770 I adore these coal plates…so much so I have redrawn them from my time visiting London a few years back. See them here: https://www.rethinktankdesign.com/coasters/london-coal-plates

]]> By: Nicola Freshwater https://spitalfieldslife.com/2022/01/09/the-manhole-covers-of-spitalfields-o/#comment-1446677 Mon, 10 Jan 2022 17:36:47 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=190259#comment-1446677 I’m glad you like the sunburst design produced by Clark, Hunt & Co.
The Hunt in question was my great great grandfather, John Alfred Hunt, who was apprenticed to Mr Henry Clark in 1839. Mr Clark had opened a cabinet ironmongery shop at 159 Shoreditch High Street in 1828. John Alfred was the son of William Hunt, draper, of 124 Shoreditch. In 1854, at the time of the Crimean War, John Alfred joined the Honourable Artillery Company and at the time of his death in 1913 he was the “Father” of the Company. He was also a Member of the Haberdashers’ Company and was its Master in 1898.
By the company’s centenary in 1928 there were still three members of the Hunt family on the board. Clark, Hunt & Co remained in business until at least the 1960s and was then bought, I believe, by Cakebread Robey.

]]> By: paul loften https://spitalfieldslife.com/2022/01/09/the-manhole-covers-of-spitalfields-o/#comment-1446605 Sun, 09 Jan 2022 18:06:37 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=190259#comment-1446605 Where the coalman did once pour his coal
A metal plate covers a hole
A purpose some may say is sole
For the unseeing passer by to stop
What would be a very nasty drop.
Yet this plate does please my eyes
For they see another function lies
There beneath my moving feet
Is the art and story of the street

]]> By: Lynne Perrella https://spitalfieldslife.com/2022/01/09/the-manhole-covers-of-spitalfields-o/#comment-1446593 Sun, 09 Jan 2022 12:48:52 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=190259#comment-1446593 Fascinating! I wonder if Spitalfields street urchins of yore ever played YOUR version of
New York City stickball – Using the manhole covers as bases? Alas, that game is probably “too” American, and too much like baseball to appeal to you. But, surely kids of every nation and every generation find ways to turn their neighborhood streets into playgrounds? Would love to know if the London manhole covers were ever used in that way.

Thank you, GA, for always shining a light.
Stay safe, all.

]]> By: Achim https://spitalfieldslife.com/2022/01/09/the-manhole-covers-of-spitalfields-o/#comment-1446591 Sun, 09 Jan 2022 11:41:19 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=190259#comment-1446591 Wonderful story. At first moment I thought it must be coin design! It is everyday design in a special form.

Love & Peace
ACHIM

]]> By: Mathilde Grange https://spitalfieldslife.com/2022/01/09/the-manhole-covers-of-spitalfields-o/#comment-1446585 Sun, 09 Jan 2022 09:56:09 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=190259#comment-1446585 Wonderful manholes! Now, if I ever get to Spitalfields, I’ll walk along looking down and bumping into everyonesearching for manholes. Thank you.

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