The Villages of Stepney (1995 documentary)

A consideration of the old borough of Stepney before its absorption into the new borough of Tower Hamlets. Still photographs and illustrations are used to re-evoke the Stepney of the past, with special attention to the area's Jewish history. The video makes a sweep from Bow in the East, where Burdett Road meets the Mile End Road through Wapping, Shadwell, Limehouse and Spitalfields to Middlesex Street in the west where Stepney met the City. Along the way it reflects on the Royal London Hospital, Stepney Green, the Commercial Road, Beaumont Grove, the Dunstan Houses, the London Jewish Hospital, the Bricklayer's Arms public house, Montagu Street and the London Yiddish Theatre. Synagogues still standing and those gone are given particular attention, from the Stepney Orthodox Synagogue (now Rosalind Green Hall), the East London United Synagogue, the Philpot Street Synagogue and the Congregation of Jacob synagogue on Commercial Road. Raines Grammar School on Arbour Square and the Talmud Torah School on Redman's Road provide jumping off points for reflections on Jewish education. The Zionist movement and anti-fascist action are remembered with reference to the Association of Jewish Youth. Jubilee Street provides a place to reflect on the Bangladeshi community that now dominates the area. The narrators commentary is supported by the words of historian Dr Gerry Black and the recollections of a number of local residents: Woofy Shaw, Sylvia Schneider, Frieda Hewson, Harry Borkin, Monty Goldstein and Monty Richardson.
Credits: Director, Aumie Shapiro; writer, Aumie Shapiro; editor, Michael Shapiro; photography, Henry Jacobs; photography, Bill Storey; photography, Albert Marchant; sound, Warren Recordings; music, Giora Feidman; sponsor, Sinclair Montrose Trust Ltd; sponsor, The National Heritage Arts Sponsorship Scheme.
Copyright: Springboard Education Trust, 1995.
Tower Hamlets Local History and Archives reference number: LC15077.

[@jasonparfitt5936]

I live in Buckinghamshire now ,but the one thing I am proud of is being born in Stepney Green .

[@derin111]

Really enjoy this.

[@aceshahriyar8291]

Lived in Stepney all my life.. this is so cool to see 👌🏻

[@leepowis5215]

Born in vallance rd 61 lived and grew up there until the mid nineties drive thru there sometimes now sad to see what its become 😔

[@remrettgorden2566]

This is a very informative and fantastic video! Thank you for uploading it!

[@rogersingh3031]

Was aged 9, admitted to the London Jewish hospital in February 1962. Spent months very I'll. The good staff and care I received lives with me still. I remember the names of the nursing staff. How disappointing to hear its been pulled down. We lived a few minutes away in Copley street.

[@dodgydruid]

I used to go to school with two brother's who hailed from Stepney, John and Tony Gold who I fell out of contact with as the years lengthened, my daughter's mother's family all hail from Bethnal Green, Stepney and Hoxton part of the once huge Hanmore family of which my daughter's maternal grandfather was one of 13 siblings (and two doors down from Lenny McLean) living in the equivalent of a tiny two up two down O.o I think my daughters great grandfather was a proper Stepney lad, all the siblings born in Bethnal Green and the kiddies hospital in Hackney if a bed was available then I think they moved south of the water when the old slums and tenements were being levelled.

[@elizabethferrier6429]

Just enjoyed learning about that time snd the community .

[@graceproby2662]

I lived in Stepney until 1970 then moved to Bow until 1977. Moved out of London completely then. I would still go back to King John Street even as it was then, I loved it. Not the same now. Only 2 people I know still live in the area. I lived around the corner, literally, from the Jewish Hospital. I spent four days there in 1964 when I fractured a bone in my arm. It was Passover so certain things I couldn’t eat. At 11 years old and not jewish there wasn’t much I liked. I would eat them now but as a child…. It brought many happy memories flooding back from when I lived there,

[@freddyashton2361]

Born and bred in Stepney and still here

[@Hamjaz]

Interesting piece of history. It would be better to rename the video 'Jewish history in Stepney'.

[@boyblunder8889]

Lived in Stepney as a small child , from about 1962 - 1968 , St Paul’s way in a pre-fab house.

[@diane5891]

I was brought up in Stepney, early years a large Jewish presence, later years Bangladesh. East End people were finally pushed out

[@gillscott4721]

My dad taught at Raine's Foundation from 1947 to 1977.

[@cecilefox9136]

MY FATHER TAUGHT IN THE 80'S AT HACKNEY AND STOKE NEWINGTON COLLEGE.!

[@TheRedPeril]

This makes me sad. A great country, handed over to people who won’t fight for their own. We will be condemned by future historians.

[@sue3119]

Really enjoyed watching this ❤️

[@michaelleiper]

The centre at Beaumont Grove at the end of the video closed earlier this year.

[@abigailpowlesland4796]

How interesting I went with my brother's to Stepney Jewish my brother's teacher was Mr Balkin we also lived in the flats opposite the school

[@manofweed1]

I'm interested in the villages of Peckham 2012.