East End Photographs and Drawings

[Mascara & Paranoia]

I frequently pray for one...

I lol'd. xD

Me too! I didn't get to bed until 2AM this morning, because the neighbours had a party going on. A comparatively civilised one, to be fair (they're really nice people, besides), but enough twangs and thuds insinuated their way through my double-glazing to keep me awake.

Yeah, even I get fed up when people have their music blaring through the night after a while. As for the not sleeping thing, I feel you, I didn't get to sleep till ten a.m. (but that's mostly due to an effed up body clock on my part ).

But back on topic, Andrew Firth, I've been meaning to comment on this for a while now, but your photography skills are mindblowing. All your shots are phenomenal and make me wanna go to Whitechapel someday!

[Jake L]

Are there any photos of the Great Synagogue on Duke Street ? I have not seen any (except for one interior shot... a painting I think). I find it hard to believe that no photos of this building exist...

Rob H

The only one currently known is this one from the Jewish Encyclopaedia (1906):


The view is from Duke Street & shows the corner of Church Passage at front left.

The pic is also featured in Rob & Philip's book.

/jake

[Limehouse]

I frequently pray for one...

B.

Me too. Don't you just hate it when those cars drive past full of 17 year olds going BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, JATTER, JATTER, BOOM!

[Jake L]

Those into local topography etc might find the following interesting.

It is a crop from a 1851 illustration, drawn from a balloon moored in Hampsted - in other words, we're looking South.

X marks St Botolphs



/jake

[Monty]

Now that is disorientating Jake,

Ooh look, I can see Finsbury Circus.

Monty

[Andrew Firth]

And you can see the Monument too!

Which these days, after a very expensive overhaul and restoration, looks like this.....

There's still only one Monument; they haven't gone and built another...


Looking east from the top, an opportunity for an arty shot presents itself..


All the best
Andrew

[Archaic]

Hi, Andrew.

I think if it were my photo I'd be inclined to name that last one 'Captive London'... I like that view through the wires.

Best regards, Archaic

[George Hutchinson]

You can get in it again? I've wanted to go in there for years!

PHILIP

[Jeff Leahy]

I love these shots, full of sexual tension I'd name them Boy meets girl.

No seriously I love these photographs

Pirate

[Andrew Firth]

Yes, it's been open since about March. They've rebuilt the cage at the top using a fine wire mesh, which compared to the old thick barred steel cage is a vast improvement. From a distance, the mesh can hardly be seen, and so the Monument looks as it did back in the 17th Century. (i.e. just railings to waist height with nothing overhead to stop suicidal people jumping off!)

A couple more arty ones taken from the top....





All the best
Andrew

[Limehouse]

Beautiful, Andrew

[John Bennett]

Here's a section of the map above with places noted. Commercial Road only goes as far as Backchurch Lane and Commercial Street as far as Christchurch, as they would have done in 1851.

[Sam Flynn]

It is a crop from a 1851 illustration, drawn from a balloon moored in Hampsted - in other words, we're looking South.

[ATTACH]6514[/ATTACH]

... looks like someone asked for directions from Maurice Escher

[Archaic]

That's funny Sam, I thought of Escher too.

But at first glance, I thought it was actually Ancient Rome, as I thought I saw the Coliseum!

Best regards, Archaic

[Andrew Firth]

The scale is rather out isn't it?

Looking again at the Monument, it's a well known fact that if the real column was laid down on it's side, the "flaming urn" at the top would rest in Pudding Lane where the fire of 1666 started. But on this map, the top of the Monument as shown would almost be touching the moat around the Tower of London!

Andrew