Comments on: In Search Of The Ropemakers Of Stepney https://spitalfieldslife.com/2024/05/26/in-search-of-the-ropemakers-of-stepney/ 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, 26 May 2024 16:45:43 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: Marcia Howard https://spitalfieldslife.com/2024/05/26/in-search-of-the-ropemakers-of-stepney/#comment-1576150 Sun, 26 May 2024 16:45:43 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=199811#comment-1576150 Fascinating history of the Ropemakers. There has been a Ropemaker in Wensleydale for many decades. First based at Hawes in the Upper Dale, but after the last remaining owner wanted to retire a couple of years ago, sold the business and machines to one of his workers, which is now based in a village 4 miles away. We often watched ropes being made while on holiday in the Yorkshire Dales, and it was mesmerising process.

]]> By: Lynne Perrella https://spitalfieldslife.com/2024/05/26/in-search-of-the-ropemakers-of-stepney/#comment-1576126 Sun, 26 May 2024 13:34:53 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=199811#comment-1576126 Thank you for supplying these photos, with enlargements! I love this series. I am speculating that two of the young women were sisters — their expressions are almost identical. I couldn’t avoid noticing their restrictive clothing — you can detect the corsets underneath the structured dresses.
A bonnet on one of them. A man’s hands on the other’s shoulders – holding her in place, or displaying his ownership? I loved the jaunty angle of the bowler — that fellow in the center. He looks roguish, confident, supremely cock-of-the-walk. The company braggart. And notice the facial hair on the men – quite varied, from chin whiskers to moustaches. I have made up a story about the gent in the lower right corner, front row. I propose that he is not part of this staff — but rather from a neighboring work place, down the lane. He’s just stopped in, during the photographic hub bub, and inserted himself right down FRONT, hoping the ladies will enjoy his swagger. Take a look at those eyes.

How wonderful that these photos have survived! Thank you, GA.

]]> By: Catherine https://spitalfieldslife.com/2024/05/26/in-search-of-the-ropemakers-of-stepney/#comment-1576098 Sun, 26 May 2024 11:13:29 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=199811#comment-1576098 What great photos – so much personality, particularly in the 1st one!
I assume they made rope there for the dockyards?

]]> By: Milo https://spitalfieldslife.com/2024/05/26/in-search-of-the-ropemakers-of-stepney/#comment-1576085 Sun, 26 May 2024 09:36:11 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=199811#comment-1576085 Great pictures. I don’t think there’s any question the chap with the moustache is the same one in both pictures. He’d barely changed expression.

]]> By: Hylary Kingham https://spitalfieldslife.com/2024/05/26/in-search-of-the-ropemakers-of-stepney/#comment-1576025 Sun, 26 May 2024 07:43:32 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=199811#comment-1576025 My great grandmother, Louisa Cable, 1860-1947, worked at the rope factory when she was 12.
On marrying Joseph Utting in 1879, they set up house in Commercial Road. They had 13 children.
There were a large number of Uttings living in this area. My father, son of Louisa’s youngest daughter, was born in Commercial Road, and reckoned he had 47 cousins.
Thanks for sharing this – and especially providing the answer to ‘How long is a piece of string?’!

]]> By: john Claridge https://spitalfieldslife.com/2024/05/26/in-search-of-the-ropemakers-of-stepney/#comment-1576024 Sun, 26 May 2024 07:29:02 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=199811#comment-1576024 Great Pictures.

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