East End Photographs and Drawings

[Lechmere]

Phil
I couldn't help noticing the location of the street lights in your picture.
One was more or less opposite the murder scene (outsided Essex Wharf) and one a bit further down, probably outside where Schneider's used to be...

[Rob Clack]

Yes, New Cottage and at least 2 other houses next to it. About three houses altogether I believe. And the same amount in Winthrop Street, the ones that backed onto Durward Street.

Rob

[Phil H]

Wasn't the westernmost house in Buck's Row/Durward st ("something cottage"?) damaged in the Blitz c 1941? I seem to recall it was demolished as a result.

I suppose that may have necessitated the resetting of the paving if it had been affected by the blast.

Phil

[Rob Clack]

If I remember correctly there was a restaurant/cafe on the site in the 20s up to 1940/41? I just had a look at my Goads for 1923 and it's not on there, but it looks like it is there in Leonard Matters photo which is around 1926ish. So I presume the first sort of changes were made around then.

Rob

[Phil H]

Rb

Your pic is a close up and appears almost identical to the more distant image in my photo. Thanks for that.

I guess the ground must have changed entirely from August 1888, especially in 1920.

Phil

[Rob Clack]

The entrance to the stable yard had changed at least twice since 1888. Once around 1920 and again in the mid 1960s.
When I visited the site in 1986, this was what the site looked like.



Rob

[Phil H]

Thanks Y-P.

It would seem odd to me that the paving stones near the former stable entry would have been replaced, unless when the site was used as a garage.. You and others may know better though.

Thanks again,

Phil

[yen_powell]

I have often wondered whether the paving stones in my pics were still the ones on which Polly lay when found... anyone know for sure?

Those slabs in the photos of Durward Street look like ASP (artificial stone paving) in other words concrete, probably dating from the 60s/70s. More chance that the kerb stones are a lot older, they are granite and are re-used continually if undamaged and damaging them is quite difficult.

[Phil H]

The other photo I found of Hanbury St looking east - the brewery (site of No 29) is on the left where there is a boring concrete wall.

For those interested, and to explain the bit of drawing stuck over the photo, I attach the page from my old scrap book for context.

Phil

[Phil H]

I have been to the sites a few times since 1984 - though the changes meant that I found them less atmospheric. I also went first in the late 70s (when I moved to London in late 1975 I lived in Hackney for a while) but did not then have a camera alas.

29 Hanbury St had long gone by then (I do have a poor photo which I'll scan in and post), but I think I missed the houses in Durward St by only a few years. Essex Wharf was still there. I have often wondered whether the paving stones in my pics were still the ones on which Polly lay when found... anyone know for sure?

I moved from London to Birmingham in 1997 and have not visited the East End since then.

Phil

[WARSPITE]

superb photos Hutch. I dint even know about the Crossbones Graveyard! Whereabouts is it exactly?
Ive always been haunted passing Lolesworth Close; as if the end bit of Flowery Dean lingers on as a reminder of bygone days.
MJKs grave looks like its subsiding;is that new turf on the right?

[WARSPITE]

Those ones of Durward St are corkers Phil. Have you been exploring since 1984? This was just how I remember it in 1988, and preferred it then.

[Rob Clack]

Very nice Phil.

Rob

[Phil H]

During my absence from Casebook, I went through an old "scrapbook" I kept on JtR. I found these photos of Durward St/Bucks Row and Mitre Square which may be of interest to some. They are dated summer 1984 (so just prior to the centenary).

[Archaic]

4%

Hi Rob,

Thanks for that great link.

4% must have been considered a decent rate of interest throughout most of the 19th Century, because Jane Austen mentions that same rate of interest in books like 'Pride and Prejudice', which was written in 1797 and published in 1813.

Whereas in today's economy we often see an inflation rate of 3-4% over the course of a single year, so "4%" investments wouldn't leave much of a profit margin, would they?

Thanks Rob.
Archaic