Comments on: Fiona Skrine Remembers The Sit-In At Spital Sq

By: John Cunningham

John Cunningham — Fri, 26 Aug 2022 09:18:40 +0000

The bravery and commitment of these young people back in the seventies and eightieshas has left us with a great architectural legacy in Spitalfields. This part of London would be very different today without their efforts. The only pity, is that nowadays one would need to be a multi millionaire in order to purchase an eighteenth century house in Spitalfields. And not just eighteenth century places. A 1950s infill house in Fournier Street was recently on the market for over 2M.

By: Steve Shinners

Steve Shinners — Sat, 20 Aug 2022 21:17:47 +0000

Taking action is required sometimes to save things like beautiful old buildings. Talking should be enough but while your talking the developers move in, even under the cover of dark and destroy all what you are trying to save , and not blink an eye !
Fiona should be proud of saving the school from the “demolition man” .

By: David Lawson

David Lawson — Sat, 20 Aug 2022 17:46:08 +0000

My first encounter with Spitalfields when I moved to London in the late Seventies was a hunt for Fort Street, where my father was born, which turned off the Square behind the old school. I eventually realised it disappeared as part of clearence back in the Twenties to expand the market but I remain glad that something he would recognize has survived.

By the way, a great write-up of your tours in the latest ediotion of the Oldie by former Spitalfields resident Patrick Barkham. Should bring business pouring in.

By: Cherub

Cherub — Sat, 20 Aug 2022 16:05:14 +0000

What a fascinating story about the hard work involved in restoring an old house, and it must have been so scary being in labour with the hurricane raging.
We actually slept through most of it because we had a flat overlooking the A127 London to Southend arterial road and we just thought the racket was an unusual amount of traffic (it usually eased off late at night). At 5.30 in the morning we were woken by a huge crash, the high garden wall outside our block had toppled over blocking the road. All our neighbours on the top floor above us had been up all night watching the storm from the landing. My sister sat up clutching a Bible because she was terrified her old roof was going to cave in!

The devastation when we went out later in the day was sad, trees uprooted all over the middle of the road and through the side of houses. I shuddered seeing happy family homes with the rooms exposed and belongings strewn all over.
To think it was nearly 35 years ago also makes me feel very old, I was 26 and not long married, now I’m 61 ?

By: Adele Lester

Adele Lester — Sat, 20 Aug 2022 13:47:49 +0000

As an alum of the school, I feel proud to say part of our building still stands guarding the rest of the Square!

By: achim

achim — Sat, 20 Aug 2022 10:13:42 +0000

A great story — respect for Fiona Skrine’s achievement in saving the old buildings.

Love & Peace
ACHIM

By: Beryl Happe

Beryl Happe — Sat, 20 Aug 2022 09:19:13 +0000

How lovely to see Fiona’s story about her part in saving our old school hall from destruction. It has been many years since I was a pupil at Central Foundation Girls school, but I still feel a part of it. If it hadn’t been for Fiona and her band of followers including Dan Cruikshank, a chunk of history would have been lost. Thank you Gentle Author.

By: Karen Rennie

Karen Rennie — Sat, 20 Aug 2022 08:43:48 +0000

Fascinating reminiscences by Fiona Skrine, thankyou. Of course Mark Girouard has recently been in the news too, for sadder reasons.
I wonder what number Wilkes Street her house was? My dad Jack Fishman was born at 49 Wilkes Street in 1908.