Comments on: Henry Croft, Road Sweeper https://spitalfieldslife.com/2024/05/09/henry-croft-road-sweeper-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 Thu, 09 May 2024 13:01:10 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: Lynne Perrella https://spitalfieldslife.com/2024/05/09/henry-croft-road-sweeper-i/#comment-1571689 Thu, 09 May 2024 13:01:10 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=199667#comment-1571689 Surely, the stories behind the “pearly” garments are some of the most charming of all British Folk traditions. (and you’ve got a zillion of ’em…………) And I love the idea of the modest little shirt buttons as embellishments. I envision a heavily-festooned pearly suit hanging quietly at the back of a closet, just “waiting” for an occasion to strut and pose.

A good friend of mine once gifted me with his mother’s button box and mending basket. Inside was a foot-long garland of old white shirt buttons, on a strand. Better than Tiffanys!

Long live the Pearly royalty!

]]> By: Ste_12 https://spitalfieldslife.com/2024/05/09/henry-croft-road-sweeper-i/#comment-1571658 Thu, 09 May 2024 09:42:17 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=199667#comment-1571658 Thank you Gentle Author,
A reason to visit St Martins and pay one’s respect and thanks to Henry.
I understand it’s tradition to leave a single flower with a couple of pearly buttons attached.

]]> By: Marcia Howard https://spitalfieldslife.com/2024/05/09/henry-croft-road-sweeper-i/#comment-1571647 Thu, 09 May 2024 07:54:18 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=199667#comment-1571647 I went to a concert at St Martin’s in the Fields in January 2010, but on arrival, we started off with a hot drink down in the Crypt. I don’t recall seeing Henry Croft at all sadly, probably because we were more concerned about the mice running up and down the walls there (which almost made me freak out!). I must return at the earliest opportunity and pay my respects to Henry!

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