And yet, another walk.....

We have three walks left in our London Hidden walks book. That is, after today. This one was Spitalfields and Whitechapel, in east London, just east of the City. We both found it fascinating with all the late 18th century and Georgian architecture in this area. In a nutshell, this area has been inhabited by immigrants of which ever era ( Huguenots, Jews, Bangladeshi). And since being an immigrant area, it goes through the throws of starting off impoverished, then gaining respectability each time till the next wave of new nationals come to take hold in the area.

Transom of Dennis Severs' House

Elder Street

Old vs. New

56 Artillery Lane, built 1705

Tenter Ground - old Huguenot silk weaver's building, now owned by a local artist

18th Century home which looks new. But look closely at the brick ( lower left)

Moorish Market, now a fashion college

Just bopping down these little streets and alleys are so fun. But there is also a darker side. This is the part of town where the Whitechapel murders took place in the 1880s. Never heard of them? Oh yes you have. They were done by Jack the Ripper. At certain places along our tour we were reminded of the grisly crimes. Luckily most of the sites/building have been demolished. but onto Brick Lane. Portobello Road has nothing on this street market!!

Original 1880s milliner sign above shop, near Spitalfield Market

Artillery Passage, looking as it did 200 years ago.

Bottom of Brick Lane

street sign in Bangladeshi

Old Jewish shop sign - Fournier St

Fire protection badge on a house

Real cool Arts & Crafts tiles in a pub.

We then worked ourselves eastward along Whitechapel Road to where the "whitechapel" once stood. Sadly, no pictures, as it is now a park. The original church, St Mary Matfelon with it's lime washed walls, hence Whitechapel, was destroyed in the Blitz. There are a few gravestones scattered in the park as well as a water fountain from 1879, a reminder of when the area was plagued by cholera.
Then onto the Whitechapel Bell Foundry. All Americans should know, or at least heard of this place ( I actually had). It is the birthplace of the Liberty bell ( as well as Big Ben).

Some more walking took us through the alleys and passages which over the years have made street markets famous. Spitalfields Market and Petticoat Lane have become institutions in their own rights. Hubby wasn't too thrilled, by I enjoyed the view.