Comments on: In Stepney, 1963

By: Stephen Barry

Stephen Barry — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 16:01:43 +0000

What a great series of photographs of a long-lost East End. One in particular jolted me right back to my schooldays 70 years ago at Davenant Foundation on Whitechapel Road. Jewish boys went to Toynbee Hall for our kosher lunches, often walking along Old Montague Street and spending our lunch money on sweets and comics in a small dingy shop, which could have been in your picture. It was what Americans call a ‘Mom & Pop’ store and the husband and wife who sat behind a wooden counter had strong ‘mittleeurope accents. I regret pinching the occasional chocolate bar without paying, as I don’t think the tiny shop could have been very profitable. Thanks for your continued posting of stories about a world that has disappeared.

By: Adele

Adele — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 12:07:36 +0000

Wonderful pictures of the East end I remember and loved! The bomb sites were the backdrop to our youth.

By: Bernie

Bernie — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 09:53:38 +0000

It’s a crying shame, that it is. My parents were brought up in this part of the world; my father in Jubilee Street, and they certainly had a rich family environment, with many friends & relations on hand, leading to a rich, communal life.

They moved out, or were moved out, either northward or eastward, into generally better accommodation, but the communal spirit and close family associations could never develop. My parents moved themselves from Stepney to Stoke Newington in the 1920’s and could buy their own home in the 1930’s. But as they became old, in need of close support, none was available because there was no family living in that area; they had gone elsewhere. As their children had to move away to follow employment chances their closing years were sad and lonely.

By: Wendy

Wendy — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 07:34:43 +0000

Although I’m a few years younger than this wonderful writer, and I grew up in Kent, I now live in east London near the flower market and therefore could easily picture myself in a self-made gingham dress (mine was in pale blue for my school uniform) walking these old streets full of homes. This article made me both mad and sad at the level of needless destruction by ‘planners’. I feel extremely fortunate to live in a little house that was saved from planners wanting to knock the whole area down for a massive road into central London in the 70s. I often think of those not so lucky who were ‘relocated’. And still this is happening all over London. Mad and sad.

By: marziale

marziale — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 07:08:49 +0000

What a touching reflection on times gone by. The assertion regarding the greater culpability of the postwar planners than the German bombers could not be more apposite. And not only in the East End. How many towns and citiies up and down the country were disembowelled in the same manner, always on the altar of Progress?
I smiled at the refrain alluded to of: “but now I’m on me owney-oh…” Who would know today that it references the old music hall song concerning an abandoned lover, probably arrived on these shores from Italy: “Antonio, Antionio, left me me on me owney-oh…”

By: ANDY STROWMAN

ANDY STROWMAN — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 05:56:52 +0000

I remember all this as I grew up with this .
The Club Row market U knew has been destroyed .
Too much yuppies !

By: Dave Phillips

Dave Phillips — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 03:44:16 +0000

Some very poignant commentary… We currently live in interesting times but it’s good to harken back to the past. I just Love this blog; for the Human Element! Thank You so Very Much. Cheers.