Comments on: The Coalholes Of Spitalfields https://spitalfieldslife.com/2026/02/24/the-manholes-of-spitalfields-ooo/ In the midst of life I woke to find myself living in an old house beside Brick Lane in the East End of London Sat, 07 Mar 2026 18:56:27 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.1 By: Marcia Howard https://spitalfieldslife.com/2026/02/24/the-manholes-of-spitalfields-ooo/#comment-1956019 Sat, 07 Mar 2026 18:56:27 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=206278#comment-1956019 I was fortunate to have a wonderful holiday in Russia a few years ago, and was amazed at the variety of manhole covers in the cities, every one of them seemingly different from the next, and some of them very ornate looking. I took photos of them all. However, I wasn’t aware that so many interesting ones also existed in London, so must look out for them on my next visit to the area.

]]> By: Richard Howland-Bolton https://spitalfieldslife.com/2026/02/24/the-manholes-of-spitalfields-ooo/#comment-1943976 Wed, 25 Feb 2026 09:55:43 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=206278#comment-1943976 Fascinating article.
I have had an interest in what I call “Real Street Photography” for a long time, mostly in the states.
Here’s one of my favourites:
http://howlandbolton.com/images/Austin.jpg
(or at least a link to it)

]]> By: Lynne Perrella https://spitalfieldslife.com/2026/02/24/the-manholes-of-spitalfields-ooo/#comment-1942993 Tue, 24 Feb 2026 12:59:19 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=206278#comment-1942993 “Shone brightly like medals” — a perfect tribute to these wonderful examples of Form and Function. Thank you for always upholding the art of “noticing”. In these dark times, we need ideas and images that spark our curiosity and fill our need for optimism.

I am unable to look at a manhole cover without thinking of the childhood stories of my husband who grew up in Hell’s Kitchen in Manhattan. Manhole covers were essential to many of their
streetside games. They were the kings of “requisitioning” everything in the neighborhood including janitor’s broom handles, used as stickball bats. Well, really, they were Kings in every sense of the word. Glorious childhood.

Onward and upward.

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