Comments on: Blackie, The Last Spitalfields Market Cat

By: Susan Neil

Susan Neil — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 19:36:46 +0000

My Dad, who would have been 105 on 1 September this year, was a banana merchant in the market, working for David Kira in Fournier Street, Spitalfields. He was there from the late 1940s until the closure in 1991. During the 1970s and 1980s they had a cat called Ethel to keep the rats away from the banana ripening rooms in the basement and I have vivid memories of going into the warehouse with Dad on Sundays to feed Ethel and play with her. Ethel was a friendly tabby, so not related to Blackie but she was a fearsome ratter too! She ruled the roost at No 1 Fournier Street but could never be persuaded to leave the building which was her home. Ethel’s name came from the ethylene gas that was used to ripen the bananas and which made the basement lovely and warm. Unsurprisingly it was where Ethel liked to sleep. I don’t think she made it to 20, but she reached a ripe old age and was much loved by all at Kira’s and their customers.

By: Gail

Gail — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 18:06:34 +0000

It’s always very touching to read about how fond they became of their working cats …. they steal your hearts for sure

By: JerryW

JerryW — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 13:26:13 +0000

Cats are wonderful. Unlike dogs they are their own masters, and all we can do is feed them and worship, and if you are lucky, and deserving, be accepted. If a dog loves you, that’s good. If a cat loves you, that is a genuine compliment.

Get Paul Bommer to commemorate Blackie, by all means. I have his/Kit’s cat Jeoffrey on my wall, and I can confirm that he understands cats well.

And, gentle author, I have not forgot Mr Pussy .. and never will do.

By: Christine Swan

Christine Swan — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 12:37:22 +0000

I love a cat story, even if it has a sad but inevitable ending. It would be wonderful to hear about a current Spitalfields cat – hint, hint!

By: Paul Bommer

Paul Bommer — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 08:22:37 +0000

Blackie should be commemorated with a delft tile panel on the Market wall someplace (by me)! (Along with ones for the other noble felines of Old London – Hodge, Whittington’s Tommy, Schrodinger &c, &c.). There exists a long tradition in Dutch tiles of tegeltableaus (tile panels) honouring Nederlandish ratters and guard dogs that needs reviving!