Comments on: Conditions Of Living

By: Neil Clements

Neil Clements — Wed, 05 Jul 2023 09:29:30 +0000

Re the second photo, of the family in LISBON STREET BUILDINGS. My grandparents lived in these flats for some years and my mother was born there in 1928. I think the flats were demolished in the late 1930’s. They were situated behind the Blind Beggar and a Sainsbury’s supermarket was on the site the last time I was there. I may be mistaken but I think the Whitechapel station on the new Elizabethan Line may have replaced the supermarket. Thank you, GA, for the wonderful Spitalfields Life.

By: Cherub

Cherub — Sun, 02 Jul 2023 11:48:40 +0000

I have seen the second photo a number of times (it’s been in a number of books I have read on poverty over the years). I always hope the family in it were able to move to better housing and a better life. My Scottish grandparents were from small mining and fishing villages, they brought up a family of 9 in one of those old houses that had box beds in the main room and a blackleaded hob grate for heating and cooking.

By: Maggie

Maggie — Sun, 02 Jul 2023 09:30:34 +0000

Gosh! These photographs are so emotive. Each tells a story.

By: Mark

Mark — Sat, 01 Jul 2023 12:46:18 +0000

Excellent pictures, not a duff’un amongst them, several quiet poignant.

By: Mathilde Grange

Mathilde Grange — Sat, 01 Jul 2023 09:43:12 +0000

Some are absolutely heart-rending.

By: the gentle author

the gentle author — Sat, 01 Jul 2023 07:56:26 +0000

In reply to Philip Mernick. Christ Church, Spitalfields, is just visible in the background, so it is the churchyard and there must have been a duck pond once..

By: Philip Mernick

Philip Mernick — Sat, 01 Jul 2023 07:42:15 +0000

The Jack London picture is described as “Spitalfields Gardens” but where is it actually? I don’t think there was a park with a lake in Spitalfields and the houses seem too close for it to be Victoria Park. Maybe it is the park that was near Stepney Way and is now covered by the London Hospital.