Comments on: The Tale Of James Hadfield’s Pistol https://spitalfieldslife.com/2023/04/29/the-tale-of-james-hadfields-pistol-i/ In the midst of life I woke to find myself living in an old house beside Brick Lane in the East End of London Sun, 20 Aug 2023 12:55:26 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: ANTHONY Mills https://spitalfieldslife.com/2023/04/29/the-tale-of-james-hadfields-pistol-i/#comment-1519025 Sun, 20 Aug 2023 12:55:26 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=195559#comment-1519025 I was at Parmiters 1948
to 1952 and Vernon was my History Teacher.
I tried to be amateur booker to classmates and lost a packet on 1952 Derby.
Walking to school next day in approach road I was overtaken by Vernon who just said stick to history boy.

As has been noted a great character

]]> By: Keith https://spitalfieldslife.com/2023/04/29/the-tale-of-james-hadfields-pistol-i/#comment-1508368 Sun, 30 Apr 2023 11:39:32 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=195559#comment-1508368 My 2 x Great Grandfather was born and brought up in Whitechapel and was a gun maker and brass polisher by trade and worked in Government owned gun factories in Whitechapel etc. He also made guns and at the Colt Factory, Thames Bank, Bessborough Place, near Vauxhall Bridge, Pimlico (nearby the site where Tate Britain stands today).

]]> By: Christine Swan https://spitalfieldslife.com/2023/04/29/the-tale-of-james-hadfields-pistol-i/#comment-1508299 Sat, 29 Apr 2023 08:25:53 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=195559#comment-1508299 Part of me is pleased that Hadfield found some peace in writing poetry for an audience of squirrels which must be the subject for another time surely. It is amazing how one tiny thread of research reveals a massive tapestry of facts and events. This is excellent Julian and you should be congratulated for bringing us another historical tale from the East End.
My own sympathies of course, rest with the democratic and humanitarian campaigners, the so-called radicals and non-conformists. I will check out the pubs owned by Merceron although my own research has focused a little later in the 1820s when my radical silk weaving ancestor was protesting but his father was also a union member but I haven’t researched him extensively yet. Maybe he fell foul of the Boss of Bethnal Green? Who knows! Having visited some of the pubs where they still exist, I can imagine how information could easily be gathered by free, unguarded speech in an informal setting. At the meetings, food seemed to be provided by the pub. I’m not sure who paid but this would have provided a perfect setting for capturing discussions that were not minuted or reported by the press. Sneaky!
I’m currently researching TB which seems pertinent as I’m currently languishing with Covid but I could be distracted back to radical silk weavers easily enough. Sadly, I will miss Julian’s talk but I am sure it will be a huge success.

]]> By: Milo https://spitalfieldslife.com/2023/04/29/the-tale-of-james-hadfields-pistol-i/#comment-1508296 Sat, 29 Apr 2023 07:11:45 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=195559#comment-1508296 This story gets more and more intriguing as it unfolds. May i suggest that you now use your undoubted gifts as a detective/historian to attempt to unearth the poetry Mr Hadfield wrote to his squirrels?

]]> By: Paul Loften https://spitalfieldslife.com/2023/04/29/the-tale-of-james-hadfields-pistol-i/#comment-1508291 Sat, 29 Apr 2023 06:29:32 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=195559#comment-1508291 Our history teacher at Parmiters School in Bethnal Green would walk in to the lesson The door would open with a mighty bang and shout “Right , You load of fuckers ! (indeed that is what we were) .Get out my book , Vernon Simms MA name was printed on the cover, Today it will be about George The Turd “ He always told it as it was.
Mr Simms was a legend amongst the boys . Some days the lesson would include discussions about the horse races , a few very good betting tips for the 2.30 , and the wonder of Lester Piggot as a jockey. He was the very best of history teachers . He did love the gee gees and it was truly an ironic stroke of fate that he met his end by being kicked by one .

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