Comments on: In Search Of The Rope Makers Of Stepney https://spitalfieldslife.com/2026/02/10/in-search-of-the-rope-makers-of-stepney-iii/ In the midst of life I woke to find myself living in an old house beside Brick Lane in the East End of London Wed, 11 Feb 2026 10:16:14 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: caroline Bousfield Gregory https://spitalfieldslife.com/2026/02/10/in-search-of-the-rope-makers-of-stepney-iii/#comment-1929325 Wed, 11 Feb 2026 10:16:14 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=206073#comment-1929325 there was a rope walk between Antill road and the railway line (Bow E3) with access from the east end at Coburn Road. Looks like it has now been built on and it is called Cherrywood Close. It had only recently close when I lived in Antill Rd in about 1972

]]> By: Marcia Howard https://spitalfieldslife.com/2026/02/10/in-search-of-the-rope-makers-of-stepney-iii/#comment-1928525 Tue, 10 Feb 2026 15:54:47 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=206073#comment-1928525 Great image of the map in order to give us viewers an idea of the rope length. There’s still a rope makers in upper Wensleydale in the Yorkshire Dales, although their main custom now are Bell Ropes – for the bell ringers of course.

]]> By: Lynne Perrella https://spitalfieldslife.com/2026/02/10/in-search-of-the-rope-makers-of-stepney-iii/#comment-1928462 Tue, 10 Feb 2026 14:05:19 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=206073#comment-1928462 You’ve taken us “in search” and even provided the treasure map. As soon as this group of 28
souls showed up on my screen, I was content to observe each face, all the clothing details, hands, equipment, surroundings, bales and more. After a careful inspection (and a leap of imagination) I’ve deduced that the two young women are sisters, (notice their eyes……..) and one sis is getting the full-on/hands-on-shoulders treatment from one of the men. However, this is all a ruse. HE is actually trying to attract the attention of the other sister, and his buddy nearby is observing this with an all-knowing grin. The boldness of draping his hands across the young woman is notable — and I suspect a complicated backstory was afoot.

This is an amazing photo/social document/narrative; and it invited speculation about the human stories behind each face. Thanks for the enlarged version. Remarkable.

]]> By: A Pilkington https://spitalfieldslife.com/2026/02/10/in-search-of-the-rope-makers-of-stepney-iii/#comment-1928332 Tue, 10 Feb 2026 10:40:56 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=206073#comment-1928332 Another fascinating glimpse into the lives of those working in old industries. The faces of the workers, men, boys and women, clearly show how hard their lives were.
One branch of my ancestors from Spitalfields were cigar makers, possibly as ‘piece workers’, and I would imagine their lives were similarly hard. My grandmother from that branch remembered going to the soup kitchens as a child.

]]> By: Su Mason https://spitalfieldslife.com/2026/02/10/in-search-of-the-rope-makers-of-stepney-iii/#comment-1928278 Tue, 10 Feb 2026 09:29:36 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=206073#comment-1928278 These pictures and their history is fascinating. I particularly love all the clothes worn then as I buy and sell French workwear at Portobello. I think
You must be right about the tall man with a bowler. He’s still wearing a knotted neckerchief.

]]> By: Milo https://spitalfieldslife.com/2026/02/10/in-search-of-the-rope-makers-of-stepney-iii/#comment-1928276 Tue, 10 Feb 2026 09:27:57 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=206073#comment-1928276 You’re absolutely right, they are fascinating photos and I think the moustachioed chap is undoubtedly the same person.

]]> By: Stephen Watts https://spitalfieldslife.com/2026/02/10/in-search-of-the-rope-makers-of-stepney-iii/#comment-1928241 Tue, 10 Feb 2026 08:39:45 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=206073#comment-1928241 Great photographs ! And surely all seven men in the second photograph are in the first one too ?

]]> By: Will Palin https://spitalfieldslife.com/2026/02/10/in-search-of-the-rope-makers-of-stepney-iii/#comment-1928206 Tue, 10 Feb 2026 07:58:24 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=206073#comment-1928206 Fascinating stuff. Were there two Frost Brothers roperies? The previous article shows an illustration of the ropery at the west end of Cable St which runs under the railway viaduct extending to the south side of Commercial Street. This is also shown on the 1890s OS map.

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