East End Photographs and Drawings

[Sam Flynn]

I hope they do something positive with that tower, Phil. Not far from where I live there was a similar edifice, which was once an enormous "camera obscura", built in the mid C19th. The original owners would use it to show off views of Swansea Bay and the surrounding area to their guests.

Anyhow, this was derelict for years, before being rescued and converted into a hotel/spa and restaurant. They've made a really good job of it, too - it's very popular for weddings and honeymoons. The photo below doesn't do it justice, but there's more info and pics on this link

[Simon Wood]

Hi All,

Just before I left Wales for California's sunnier climes the old asylum/hospital in Caersws was being transformed into luxury apartments. One of its features was a tower—a ventilation shaft as I recall. The developers refused to tear it down because they would never have been permitted to build anything as tall in its place.

What a piece of forward thinking. It now serves as a mobile phone mast and all the old features have been preserved.

Regards,

Simon

[Monty]

Excellent work Philip,

Thank you.

Monty

[Septic Blue]

Since towers seem to be in vogue ...


Bryant & May Match Factory, Fairfield Road, St. Mary Stratford Bow, October 2007
from west




Bryant & May Match Factory, Fairfield Road, St. Mary Stratford Bow, October 2007
interior, from southwest






Bryant & May Match Factory, Fairfield Road, St. Mary Stratford Bow, October 2007
from southeast


Google Earth Aerial, 2006
Bryant & May Match Factory, Fairfield Road, St. Mary Stratford Bow


Colin

[m_w_r]

I take it most of us know that Polly Nichols spent a lot of time in her final years at the Lambeth Workhouse. Did you know, though, that some of it still stands?

Hi Philip,

Great photos. Out of interest, how do we know that Nichols was at the workhouse on Renfrew Road, and not the one on Black Prince Road (Princes Road)?

Regards,

Mark

[chrisjd]

Hi,
Charlie Chaplin, his brother and I think his mum spent time in the workhouse as well.
At one time they lived in close by "West Square".

Also close by is the imperial war museum, the former Bedlam asylum. Traces of that can be found in this plaques on a wall outside the park of the museum.

Christian

[chrisjd]

and here the wall with the plaques.

[George Hutchinson]

Mark, you make a fair point. I was aware of another workhouse in Lambeth but I had never researched it and I assumed the building of the new one had superceded it. I didn't realise they co-existed.

However, though we can't be sure that Polly was at Renfrew Road, I would say it is more likely than not as in 1887-8 Prince's Road was undergoing a lot of building work and I think Renfrew Road had a larger capacity anyway. Does anyone (Chris Scott?) have the official records?

Incidentally, the one and only time I lived in London (five weeks of Hell doing a tour of deprived schools in 1999 I think) I was actually living in Black Prince Road itself. It's a horrible area!

PHILIP

[Natalie Severn]

Thanks for these great photos---see you tomorrow Chris ,Philip and those going to the WS meeting.
Cheers

[m_w_r]

However, though we can't be sure that Polly was at Renfrew Road, I would say it is more likely than not as in 1887-8 Prince's Road was undergoing a lot of building work and I think Renfrew Road had a larger capacity anyway.

Hi Philip,

Agreed - I have no further information, but I would think that Renfrew Road is more likely for exactly the reasons you provide.

Thanks for your response.

Mark

[Chris Scott]

Workhouses in Lambeth

Prince's Road: originally called Workhouse Lane and later Black Prince Road. The Poor Law Parish of Lambeth was formed in 1834 but the workhouse in Prince's Road predated this. In 1887 the site was converted to a workhouse for the able bodied, with the elderly and the infirm being housed at Renfrew Road.
Renfrew Road: The workhouse at this site was built from 1871 to 1873. An infirmary and casual wards were added in the late 1870s.

It was the Prince's Road workhouse that was used to help identify Nichols as the following passage from Sugden makes clear:
"The real breakthrough occurred when the police examined the dead woman's petticoats and found the mark "Lambeth Workhouse, P.R." (i.e. Prince's Road) upon them."

[George Hutchinson]

So a totally wasted journey then. Thanks, nevertheless, Chris. Clarity is always better. Not pleased, though.

PHILIP

[Chris Scott]

Hi Philip
Certainly not a wasted journey! This is a fascinating site in its own right and the pics were great - thanks for posting them
Chris

[John Bennett]

I received a book today which some of you may be familiar with. It's called 'Say Goodbye: You May Never See Them Again' by Arnold Wesker and John Allin, published in 1974 (this copy belonged to my late grandparents).

It is illustrated with Allin's paintings from the early 1970's and obviously the book celebrates the old East End at a time when redevelopment was in full swing.

Here are some examples of his entertaining, Lowry-esque work. Enjoy.

Whitechapel Road showing the entrance to Black Lion Yard


Fashion Street


Brick Lane, at the junction with Old Montague Street. The pub on the right is now called The Archer's.


Wentworth Street - this looks like the north side, ie Strafford Houses


And one that you may be familiar with from the cover of Jerry White's book, Rothschild Buildings.

[Rob Clack]

Some photos I've across recently:

Cannon Street Road 1910


Chigwell Hill 1950


Leman Street 1963


Entrance to the London Docks 1964


Wellclose Square 1944


Rob