East End Photographs and Drawings

[Sam Flynn]

it strikes me how incredibly common it appears to have been to whitewash the ground floor. Does anyone know the real purpose of this? After all, the lower section of the building would also have been the dirtiest

Indeed, Glenn - that's probably why whitewash was employed, on a regular basis, to cover up the dirt and make the houses look a bit "cleaner". True, the wall would soon get mottled by mould, mud and other unmentionable fallout, but it was cheap enough to give it another splash of whitewash - and much quicker than scrubbing the wall.

[Glenn Lauritz Andersson]

Good point, Gareth. That's probably it.
Interesting how it seems to have been a very frequent and often used procedure, almost becoming something of a tradition.

All the best

[Stephen Thomas]

This is back of Berner Street, not sure where, the caption just says 'Berner Street School c192-?'

Dontcha luv them chimlies, Rob?

[Limehouse]

I noticed the chimmneys too! I wonder why they are wonky? Is it a design feature or is there a reason?

[Rob Clack]

Dontcha luv them chimlies, Rob?

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Great aren't they. Don't know the reason for the design. But I don't think it's unusual.

Rob

[Glenn Lauritz Andersson]

I blame the nearest public house.

All the best

[George Hutchinson]

I noticed the chimmneys too! I wonder why they are wonky? Is it a design feature or is there a reason?

I'm sure I read somewhere once that it was to prevent heavy rain falling right into a fireplace (or whatever was being cooked on it) and it would hit the bricks and either evaporate before it reached the fireplace or run into the sides and evaporate shortly afterwards. I think the kink is slight so as not to deter the flow of the smoke.

PHILIP

[Sam Flynn]

I'm sure I read somewhere once that it was to prevent heavy rain falling right into a fireplace... it would hit the bricks and either evaporate before it reached the fireplace or run into the sides and evaporate shortly afterwards.

Yup - I've heard that too, Phil. Makes eminent sense when you think about it.

[Celesta]

Look at the photos from 1911 of the Chester Street court, with ground floor whitewashed buildings - and naturally with an arched entrance from the street! Gives us a great image of what Miller's Court would have looked like.

All the best

Yes! My thoughts exactly, Glenn. Bloom Ct, as well!

[Celesta]

Hi Celesta

Yes, indeed. I've seen loads of photos showing the North of England in Victorian times but nothing like this lot.

Hi Stephen,

Like everyone else, I've poured over the internet looking for precisely this sort of site. I used the wrong phrases for my search, limiting myself to the London area.

Take care,

Cel

[Chris Scott]

The Blue Coat Boy

[George Hutchinson]

Oh my word!

Is this our one? I don't get it if so - I see 1960s cars and the London Fruit Exchange went up on this site in 1929, surely?

PHILIP

[Rob Clack]

It's Norton Folgate if I'm not mistaken.

Rob

[carol smith]

Celesta, Glenn and Stephen

I'm glad you liked the photos...I found them researching my geneaology (which includes Russian Jewish immigrants, a victorian public house and boarding house...I also used to work at 77 Mount Pleasant in Liverpool, Maybricks childhood/teenage home...and recently worked in Slkhouse Court where his business premises were...weird huh), so some of the people in the photos could have been my great great grandfathers customers.
If you have any questions regarding the photos dont hesitate to ask.

regards

carol x

[Chris Scott]

"Blue Coat Boy, 5 Norton Folgate, Spitalfields
An old form of the address is 5 High Street, Spitalfields. The pub was established by 1760, was still present in 1968, but was gone before 1983."