Comments on: My Last Spitalfields Nippers Lecture

By: Philip Marriage

Philip Marriage — Sat, 21 Jan 2023 22:33:21 +0000

For those of us who are unable to join you in this, your last, NIPPERS lecture is there any chance you can publish your notes, either in an extended blog or as a separate essay within ‘Spitalfields Life’?

I love this book, cherish my own copy, given it as a gift to friends and found Horace Warner’s story a fascinating tale, worthy of record and available to all.

By: Cherub

Cherub — Sat, 21 Jan 2023 17:18:10 +0000

I find the photo of Annie and Nelly very sad, they look very malnourished poor little souls. My late mother was one of 9 born in 1919. They lived in a mining village and she said they were all lucky because they had shoes on their feet. Many children in the village didn’t back in the 1920s.

By: Christine Swan

Christine Swan — Sat, 21 Jan 2023 14:34:57 +0000

I often think of my “nipper” ancestors when I look at these photographs. Such innocence captured on film. All of my lot were based around Shoreditch, Spitalfields, Bethnal Green and Hackney. One of my great aunt’s entire family died, mostly in childhood from the 1890s onward. Only her eldest son survived to adulthood but was killed in action in WWI. Her brother, my great grandfather’s family, were ravaged by TB which killed the adults, leaving my grandfather and the other children destitute. All of the children were separated and the youngest sent to Goldie Leigh Homes, one to a farm near Swansea, one to HMS Exmouth training ship. My grandfather enlisted aged 16 with the Dorsetshire Regiment and was posted to India. I still have his cigarette case and a bottle of patchouli oil that he brought back – the scent always makes me think of him. I trained as a teacher and worked in East London. Deprivation was still evident in the 1980s and is still now. I’ve taught my own fair share of “nippers” over the years and still send my son, also a teacher, into school with boxes of snack bars for any children who are hungry. Terrible to think of in the 21st century. It’s a pity I’ll miss your last lecture, I would very much have liked to attend.

By: Mathilde Grange

Mathilde Grange — Sat, 21 Jan 2023 11:36:22 +0000

Very moving pictures.

By: Susan Taylor

Susan Taylor — Sat, 21 Jan 2023 11:27:42 +0000

I wish I lived down there. My grandfather was born at Royal mint Square, moving to peabody on John Fisher Street, previously glasshouses Street I think. He would have been one of these nippers. I got the book some years ago. Gives me a good insight 8nto how he and my ancestors lived. Next time were down I’d like to come on your tour. My daughter lives in whitechapel ironically. Last time we were down I saw you doing your tour outside Spitalfields church.

By: Milo

Milo — Sat, 21 Jan 2023 08:18:06 +0000

It would be quite difficult for me to attend your ‘Spitalfields nippers’ lecture, but i could probably be there at a pinch.

By: Su C.

Su C. — Sat, 21 Jan 2023 06:20:53 +0000

I bought a copy when this was first published and I continue to come back to these hauntingly beautiful images time and again trying to ‘hear’ the life happening around each of these Nippers. I am so glad I have this treasure.