Comments on: Typefounders Of East London

By: achim

achim — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 12:59:56 +0000

You sit in front of your computer screen and read a text set in the Georgia typeface as if it were the most natural thing in the world. You hardly give a thought to why this is possible. The fact that, in centuries past, resourceful people – including designers – went to great lengths to achieve this result is completely overlooked.

When I was studying industrial design, one of the basic exercises involved creating our own small posters in the typesetting workshop using movable type and lines. — That was one of the ways in which I developed my typographical skills.

Love & Peace
ACHIM

By: the gentle author

the gentle author — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 10:55:42 +0000

In reply to Caroline Murray. Good afternoon Caroline, These sites are too far flung around the City fringes to be included in my walking tour but Figgins' Typefoundry in Ray St, Clerkenwell, and the Caslon tomb in the churchyard of St Luke's, Old St, are easily accessible.

By: Caroline Murray

Caroline Murray — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 09:21:55 +0000

Wonderful piece, thank you! Do you include these sites in your city tours?

By: Eileen Brewster (nee Lowrie)

Eileen Brewster (nee Lowrie) — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 08:48:04 +0000

I found this article so interesting and relevant.
On researching my family history I discovered my paternal great grandfather – Henry Lowrie was a typefounder and living in Portpool Lane. I believe he may have worked for V J Figgins.

Born 1835
Died 1890c
Married to Susannah Perrin on 25/12/1861 at St Lukes

My Granfather Edward Lowrie, was a compositor
He worked for a company called Truscotts in Cannon Street

Born 1872
Died 1951