Comments on: Sheila Bell Remembers Great Eastern Buildings

By: Sheila Bell

Sheila Bell — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 16:34:24 +0000

Thank you everyone for your own personal stories of great eastern buildings they were very nostalgic.
Ian Finch – so very sorry for such a long delay as I only saw these comments due to my daughter showing me my nan was Sarah keppel and I remember vividly your mum dropping your sister off at my nans before she went to work how strange this should come up I’m in my eighties now but even today I can still see your sister’s face when she was a little I hope you see this your comments brought back wonderful memories thank you Sheila Butt nee Bell

By: William Smith

William Smith — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 08:51:54 +0000

Been going through my family tree looking many years back 1838 – 1918 my great great grandparents lived in 15 grey eagle Street and also No 3. Doubt I would ever be able to find pictures going back that far but you never know! John Smith and Sophia Andrews. What’s really weird is when I found out what street they lived I realized it is the exact same street I worked in for BT. very strange coincidence. I am also a model maker and recently did a model of the ten bells pub currently working on Christ Church Spitalfields. Funny how we walk in the same footsteps of our ancestors. So very interesting

William Smith

By: Terence Kenny

Terence Kenny — Mon, 11 Sep 2023 16:38:07 +0000

Do you remember any of the Kenny family that lived in 18 great eastern buildings. Mums name Rachel Kenny/Levy children Jeanie, Derek, Terry, Tom and later on Roy.
Any information would be greatfully received thanks

By: Ian Finch

Ian Finch — Sun, 18 Jun 2023 11:51:08 +0000

Hi Sheila
My name is Ian Finch. I lived with my parents and sister at number 61 Great Eastern Buildings. I was born there in February 1952 and my sister Cheryl in October 1954.
I was just looking up about Great Eastern Buildings and came across your story, which was fascinating and couldn’t believe it when I saw that your grandparents were Sarah and George Kepple. Your Nan used to look after my sister and I as my mum had to work, we always called her Nanny Kepple. It just bought back so many memories. We moved to Hackney when I was about 6 or 7 and my mum used to still take us over to Quaker Street for Nanny Kepple to look after us.
I remember a girl who I was friends with, she lived upstairs to us and her name was as “Bootsy”
obviously a nick name, just wondered if you remembered her.
Regards
Ian

By: steven harris

steven harris — Wed, 19 Apr 2023 13:43:13 +0000

Hi Sheila,
Great memories and, of course, we share a history of living in those buildings. I also well remember the Grey Eagle, Two Brewers, the wash rooms on the landings and the slightly melodic sound of trains passing by. The brick Lane market was a world to itself of course and as you say, the cast of characters living in those buildings would defy any fiction writer! So glad to see you are well.

By: Marcia Howard

Marcia Howard — Wed, 15 Mar 2023 07:42:17 +0000

I love these insights into other people’s lives.

By: Juliet O'Neill

Juliet O'Neill — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 21:52:07 +0000

My dad was born in Hamilton Buildings in 1922. As this was off Great Eastern Street I assume not far away, and pretty similar I imagine.

By: Di Corry

Di Corry — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 18:33:00 +0000

Thank you GA and Sheila for sharing this heartwarming and interesting story.
Sheila, you still have the same lovely smile as in the photograph.

By: Christine Swan

Christine Swan — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 16:34:58 +0000

Thank you Sheila and the GA for another slice of historical East End life. Unfortunately, we moved away from our Peabody flat when I was very young but I imagine a similar community existed. They are still standing of course and I revisit at least once a year. They have huge murals on the outside now and a fantastic food market outside every day so it really is a great place to be. The Mother’s Hospital, referred to here as the Salvation Army Hospital, where I was also born, is now flats too.

By: Neil Bartlett (66)

Neil Bartlett (66) — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 09:47:00 +0000

A really enjoyable read and off now to check my Ancestry records to see if the Bells may have been relatives. My nan was named Lily Bell and although a fair bit older than the one in this story she came from a large family in the area. My Lily married Charles Thomas Bartlett. His mother was Eliza Worrell but I have been unable to track down his father, also called CTB. I would love to hear if these names trigger anyone’s memories. Thankyou Gentle Author and Sheila Butt for sharing these wonderful memories. Likewise to Paul Loften