I say again, you sure know how to hold an audience. really enjoyed this area with it's magnificent buildings. my favourite was the elaborate drinking fountain with the wooden door above, cheers John.
The Ten Bells was a pub that was frequented by Mary Kelly one of Jack the Rippers victims. She was last seen leaving the pub before her murder. Back in the 70s and 80s it was called Jack the Ripper pub, but a campaign group successfully got it's named changed back to The Ten Bells.
The Ten Bells pub was renamed in about 1991 when I worked in the area, its name at that time being the Jack the Ripper, It had or maybe still has some JTR memorabilia. It couldn't really keep that name after all. A Fantastic area, even in 1991 when it was completely deserted. Have some great memories of the Commercial Tavern and working above a veg market shop in Folgate Street (probably luxury flats now) There used to be a 1950's style aluminium coach on bishopsgate that was a cafe, right about where that Nat West is now. And the dil chad, legendary curry after one too many in Dirty Dicks. Another great walkabout John, many thanks. London is a great place. Love it.
Denis Severs house is amazing, the idea is that the hugenot owners have gone out for a short while , leaving you to take a sneaky peak ,it's like stepping back in time , definitely recommend it .
I used to be an antique textile dealer specialising in 18th and early 19th century textiles and sold quite a few interesting bits and bobs to the Dennis Severs House museum. I've had quite some amazing pieces of early Spitalfields silk too so I was especially interested in this one! Thanks so much John one of my favourite urban walks :-)
I love how bands like Madness and Saint Etienne kept themselves relevant & interesting by making London the subject matter of their music. So important now that the Western world is in such a period of capitalist monoculture.
"Wherever that may be"....I do hope that your videos, eventually, get recognised, and classified, as "Important work" by historians. as they should be.
Always very timely John. The Liberty of Norton Folgate came up in conversation at a garden party on Saturday. All the London fruit and veg markets got moved with Covent Garden and Borough got repurposed . The Western International market is the only really functional wholesale F&V. The dispersed markets were all a planning disasters. The Parisians got it right with Fungus fish , meat and produce from Les Halles. Thank goodness Covent Garden Piazza was saved for Chanel & Applestore
Hi John... watching this, your latest video. Funny you should say that the "boundary of the City of London ends, and the rest of the country runs through here" is so apt, because the City isnt part of the UK. Another great video from you. Love these!!!
Thank you John for another lovely walk. I have known and loved that area for many years, in its previous incarnation and as it is today. It's getting a bit Kings Cross for me now, too much glass and steel; I loved the old industrial landscape. I think the Ten Bells is notorious because some of the poor women that Jack the Ripper despoiled frequented that tavern. Dennis Siever's house is well worth a visit for anyone who wants to see a relatively authentic 18th century interior. I was being smart when I visited there, and having pulled the bell handle I turned to my friends saying: I don't know whether I've rung the bell or flushed every toilet in the house... The mad thespian who was on guide duty threw open the door. TOILET!!! he boomed. My dear, we threw our piss out of the window! Frightened the friggin' life out of me!
The Ten Bells pub was a notorious pub in the Victorian era, can't remember her name but Jack The Rippers last victim drank in there before she met her death at the hands of Jack The Ripper in Miter Square 9n the boundaries of the City of London.... If he walked past the pub he would definently recognise it, who knows, he may have even drank in the Ten Bells pub.
This popped up in my recommended list, watched and expected 500k+ views. Brilliant camera work, quality narration and a huge amount of knowledge. Cheers!
A massive thank you I know the area quite well yet again I learnt so much more from your video.. never knew the story of the Lion’s or the gondolas story.. thank you
I used to work at the tall office building at the Old Street roundabout 25 years ago, and spent many a lunchtime exploring this area. Thank you John, I learned so much from this video, but everything has changed so much since my lunchtime sojourns. Since then we have discovered that one branch of our family settled in Spitalfields in the 1580s as asylum seekers from religious persecution from the city of Liile in Northern France, and their descendants later returned to live in Old Nicholl.
Pre pandemic I worked in the city and walked from Liverpool St Station every day. Sometimes I stayed over in Shoreditch and use to run or walk around the streets you’ve described. So much richness and juxtaposition to take in. Another top top video John, thank you so much for sharing.
Wow that brought back some memories. All my family including mum and dad, aunts, uncles, even nan & grandad worked for the Godfrey Phillips Tobacco Company, the building of which still stands just off Commercial Street. So your walk felt like it took me back home to my childhood, as I spent so much time in and around that building and the local streets . Incidentally my mum and dad had a flat in Brick Lane immediately after the war, so all in all your walk felt like I was touching base so to speak. Great job John as always. Top of the class etc.
The Godfrey Phillips Tobacco Company building only just still stands I'm afraid. I drove past it this morning and although the outer facade still survives the evil wicked developers have completely gutted the internals and are building inside it. The police station next door has become flats as has the Bacon Factory on the next block
Great vid great walk, i actually did some work in Spitalfields in the 70s when it was a functioning market, terrible access, vans and lorry's everywhere and you wouldn't believe the litter that was created daily from packing boxes and crates, having said all that, it had a vibrant lively feel and a character all of its own, it just oozed history and life, loved it shame it moved but it was a victim of its own success, brought back memories thanks John, Dave in Thailand.
Really loved this one John. It is one of my favourite parts of the London! My parents used to take me to Brick Lane Market to buy tropical fish which were sold in the street from huge tanks that were set up on a Sunday morning. They to me as a small child were the most exotic things I had ever seen and so my love of this part of London has always remained and I have loved exploring where you went on this particular walk.
Funny how people change over time . I have met Russel a few times and he has been sober for a number of years now He has spoken about some of his troubled times and experiences. But I can honestly say he is a nice guy Thanks John for another great walk👍🏻 Just seen an old clip of Russel at spittlefields. And there was a chap in a red wig that looked a little like yourself John ??
Another great and interesting walk , delighted to tell you I have received a copy your book This Other London here in South Africa , my daughter managed to have a copy sent over on line for my birthday today. I look forward to many more walks with you in the future . Thank you for so richly informing and entertaining me of the areas of my early childhood in NE London
Thank you John👍I hope to make it over there🇬🇧someday once covid is under control! I want to see the land of my great great grandfather❤💙and 3 places I've always wanted to see most is London,Stonehenge and Glastonbury tor.. I had the opportunity to make the trip in 2016 but in November of that year my father passed away from a stroke😢and just couldn't make the journey.
Lovely video and walk John, my workplace. I remember the brilliant Suggs TV programme about disapperaing London. So much has changed since that was aired. Cheers mate - Dave.
The Water Poet pub closed down on the 29th March 2019 for good, due to the sprawling spitalfields bulldozers but promised to reopen elsewhere at some later date. Its sister pub The crown and shuttle is unaffected up the road and has a nice beer garden.
Great one John....I'm very familiar with the area also. I recall a walk you did taking the likes of Sun St, Worship Street etc. when I worked on the street lighting department of Hackney Council in the 80's/early 90's in my cherry picker and it was always muddy and sodden, perhaps an indication of some lost river perhaps? Keep up the fantastic work, you're easily one of the very best YT bloggers there is!
Another fascinating walk. I've not explored this area even though Liverpool St Station is my "home" station. Will definitely made a trip asap. Love the older architecture.
Fascinating. Nice one John. I was at Liverpool Street last week. It’s changed a lot. Have you seen those strange, abandoned bits of architecture next to the overground train track, just to the right as the train pulls out heading to Stratford, Romford etc?
@@JohnRogersWalks just looked it up John as I wasn’t sure what they are. They are architectural salvage from a building, Harwich House, that was demolished when Liverpool Street Station was restored and extended 1985-92. Bit weird they got dumped there, but weird can be good sometimes.
The city, A.K.A. the Square Mile, is part of London, which is a large enough place to have thousands of versions. Live the London you want to live; there is a place for everything 💕
@@taniamenendez6786 .. One square mile is hardly considered big. I can only imagine all the historic buildings that were knocked down to accommodate these monstrosities
@@phillipgraves4721 actually the City of London Corporation has a dedicated officer whose job it is to protect anything historic etc. I think he did a documentary with Jeremy Vine some years ago
thanks john i really found that walk very interesting as my ancesters were french weavers from that area, i live in millicent s.a but i love my homeland and history excuse spelling i have just had a couple of sherbets thank mate
Great little journey around Spitalfields, John. I worked nearby in the early 90s and I remember the project to turn the vacant market site into a craft and collectables market. It was very successful and and great place to come on a Sunday, combined with a trip to Petticoat Lane and Club Row markets! I can heartily recommend the Spitalfields Life blog! I've been a subscriber for about four years and every morning there is a wonderful, beautifully written and photographed snapshot of life of the area, whether it's historical, or of the present day. The "Gentle Author" works very hard to keep it interesting and fresh. Also, can I recommend this little film from the mid eighties called "Ours To Keep" about the battle to preserve the historical architecture of Norton Folgate, and it features input from Dan Cruikshank, and the late Dennis Severs, with his remarkable house.
Interesting part of London John . Spitalfields used to be the best flea market in London and Brick Lane also had a brilliant street market back in the day . 😊👍
You wont believe it, John, but in a year 2000 or 2001 I was working for several days in Dirty Dicks` basement helping to dig out the small canal/ditch so pub is connected with the main city`s sewerage. I also worked opposite the pub in an natwest bank building at bishopsgate 123, it was royal bank of scotland then.
John Rogers video or the England come dancing team, no contest really. Your video brought back so many memories for me and also (for different reasons) for my (long long long suffering) wife. She was born in Nathaniel Dwellings (now gone) which was in Flower And Dean Street (now gone) which was between Fashion Street and Thrawl Street. Watching this video had her jumping up and down as she saw places from her early years that she remembered. Her family later moved across the street to Charlotte De Rothschilds Dwellings where each "apartment" (cough) consisted of just 2 rooms. My wifes family rented 2 of these side by side. One was the front room and kitchen, the other was the 2 bedrooms The Ten Bells pub gained a reputation when it briefly changed its name to The Jack the Ripper. The name change was short lived however following protests from women's groups etc. "The King of the Ghetto" was also well worth watch again if only for Ian Drury This video could have so easily run to several hours in length if you did just 10% of what my wife remembered, but she only remembered it all because of this video. Thank you
Hello John, have you read Rothschild Buildings: Life in an East-End Tenement Block 1887 - 1920 by Jerry White? It's all about them, a brilliant, interesting read
@@justgnatjones I bought this book for my wife and she remembers so much from the pictures, especially a shop called "Kitty's" and so many others things about the area of Flower and Dean Street. She hasn't put the book down. Thank you for the suggestion
Hi John! My mum and her family lived in Nathaniel Dwellings - 'C' block, probably around 1950 - 1963, that sort of time. Have read your comment out to my mum, she remembers the place very well. And we've also read the Rothschild Buildings book, and it too brought back memories. :-)
Another excellent video - my dad used to drive us through the 'post' road of Liverpool Street station and then up out of the station turning right to Norton Folgate. on the way to school in Bethnal Green.
As a former worker in Devonshire Sq., I'm amazed (and saddened) at the changes to Bishopsgate, the market and Norton Folgate since I left there just before lockdown in 03-2020. We used to sneak to the Water Poet to avoid our bosses - I do hope it gets re-opened. Steel and glass is replacing my memories...
Only just discovered your wonderful videos John, and look forward to watching more. I'm an expat living in Australia since i was 6, but my roots are in London. Could you recommend books or more links on the Hugenot weavers please as one side of my family tree leads here, to Spitalfields. Lovely to see churches where my ancestors were baptised, married and were buried. Life hasn't given me the opportunity (yet) to return and explore myself but i could watch your videos for hours. I live in a town called Tenterfield in Australia, settled in the 1850s, and no one knows the origin of the name. Maybe it refers to weaving, although theres never been weaving here (sheep farming). It's the only place in the world with that name, I believe.
Great video John, thank you. I used to work for a Swiss bank (Credit Suisse) in Austin Friars in the early to mid seventies. The Ten Bells was frequented by prostitutes two of which were murdered by Jack the Ripper, Annie Chapman and Mary Kelly, one of Jamie Oliver's very distant relative ran the pub.
Ten Bells is of Jack the Ripper fame - I had a friend take me there once as a wander around Ripper locations. Earlier that day, I'd taken her to a pub in St Martin's Lane (The Salisbury) which was said to be where Dennis Nilsen was said to have met some of his victims. This didn't go down well! Obviously time blurs the horror of these acts for some.... great video :-)
John. Loved this. Some of my family lived around here in the 1850's. Today I heard Jon Sopel talking about his family at the Bernhard Baron Social Club around there, somewhere. Have you covered this in past?
That was so interesting - as always. One lot of my ancestors,a Brand family lived at Bishopsgate c.1750- 1850 but they also lived at Hoxton,Shoreditch and Finsbury,they moved around a bit. A man called David Kossoff used to be on tv when I was a kid,he must've been of that family,sad that his son died. Dreadful things happen to nice people. Some of it sounded like in Sparrows Can't Sing where Barbara Windsor works in the bakery. And that film feels like a real life documentary even though it's a made up story. It was great to get to "walk around " this area but with you telling us the stories about it.
Another fascinating walk with some beautiful architecture. Can we assume by the lack of footage at the end that you didn't visit the Bagel Bakery after all? 😬
Another great walk John. Another part of London I never really knew that much about. I wonder, have you ever done an episode on Lincolns Inn and that legal enclave - would love to experience your insight on that area.
Thanks Martin. I walked around the inns of court in an early episode of the series but not really a full episode in the manner I do them now th-cam.com/video/Zscc-1RtLpk/w-d-xo.html
@@JohnRogersWalks thanks John I will look at that. I went for a wander of my own today traversing over the M1 just south of Watford Gap services and down the towpath of the Grand Union. At one point about 200 yards separated the West Coast mainline, the canal and the M1.... three eras of transport cheek by jowl. Fascinating.
That bank used to be an RBS. A big focus for demonstrations in the banking crisis. Gilbert and George live in Fournier Street. When I heard a big section of Norton Folgate at Blossom Street was being demolished. I went over to paint it before it went. Down Elder Street and asked this fella where it was. He turned around and it was Dan Cruikshank. After a brief chat, he was good enough to give me a whole tour of the area. It was like being inside BBC4! A really nice fella.
This was a area i work in for around 15/20 years, used to meet Denis Sever as he was carrying pallets back from the market for his fires. On the opposite of the road to his house was a fur dealers. My nose would itch for hours after being in there. Also where the sign for Noton Folgate was an small factory doing Silver plating. I looked at buying one of the houses in Elder St., but my friends talked me out of it because it needed a lot of work and was to dear at £15,000!!!. This was in the early 1980s. Where was my bagel at the end.
One of my favourite walks, all my family worked in the market from the early 19th century, a shame it moved and even more a pity they are now knocking that one down to build flats. Always connected the Ten Bells with Jack the Ripper, think it lives on folklore more then anything. The stomping ground of the wonderful Dan Cruickshank who I believe still lives there.
The Spitafields Trust ( Mike Palin's son ) are doing sterling work preserving a wonderful regency / Georgian small nugget of an area associated with Sheerness dockyard . It was part of the Royal Navy estate - the navy pulling out in the early 60's . The dockyard was laid out by Samuel Pepys . The Spitafields Trust are just finishing restoring the Dockyard Church which will become a heritage centre - so well done to them .ps the walls of that dockyard area are famous for hosting a colony of scorpions ( which must have come in on cargo boats ) .✌️☮️
John, Sorry if I appear to be 'stalking' you, it's just that I've been revisiting your work and have been catching up with many of your vids. (Have been checking out Iain's work as well.) We've had a lot of loss in our family recently, and I find your walks strangely and rather narcotically comforting. In a good way!!
I say again, you sure know how to hold an audience. really enjoyed this area with it's magnificent buildings. my favourite was the elaborate drinking fountain with the wooden door above, cheers John.
The Ten Bells was a pub that was frequented by Mary Kelly one of Jack the Rippers victims. She was last seen leaving the pub before her murder. Back in the 70s and 80s it was called Jack the Ripper pub, but a campaign group successfully got it's named changed back to The Ten Bells.
The Ten Bells pub was renamed in about 1991 when I worked in the area, its name at that time being the Jack the Ripper, It had or maybe still has some JTR memorabilia. It couldn't really keep that name after all. A Fantastic area, even in 1991 when it was completely deserted. Have some great memories of the Commercial Tavern and working above a veg market shop in Folgate Street (probably luxury flats now) There used to be a 1950's style aluminium coach on bishopsgate that was a cafe, right about where that Nat West is now. And the dil chad, legendary curry after one too many in Dirty Dicks. Another great walkabout John, many thanks. London is a great place. Love it.
Remember the dill chad! Good times for city boys...ex Tullets etc
Denis Severs house is amazing, the idea is that the hugenot owners have gone out for a short while , leaving you to take a sneaky peak ,it's like stepping back in time , definitely recommend it .
Goodness, yes! There’s something very special about that spot.
I used to be an antique textile dealer specialising in 18th and early 19th century textiles and sold quite a few interesting bits and bobs to the Dennis Severs House museum. I've had quite some amazing pieces of early Spitalfields silk too so I was especially interested in this one! Thanks so much John one of my favourite urban walks :-)
that's fascinating Lois - I bet you have some interesting records of those artefacts
That sounds hugely interesting
I love how bands like Madness and Saint Etienne kept themselves relevant & interesting by making London the subject matter of their music. So important now that the Western world is in such a period of capitalist monoculture.
"Wherever that may be"....I do hope that your videos, eventually, get recognised, and classified, as "Important work" by historians. as they should be.
Always very timely John. The Liberty of Norton Folgate came up in conversation at a garden party on Saturday. All the London fruit and veg markets got moved with Covent Garden and Borough got repurposed . The Western International market is the only really functional wholesale F&V. The dispersed markets were all a planning disasters. The Parisians got it right with Fungus fish , meat and produce from Les Halles. Thank goodness Covent Garden Piazza was saved for Chanel & Applestore
Hey John the Tim Roth drama is called King of the Ghetto from 1986. thank you Squire for ALL you do!
Evening complete, watching now.
hope you enjoyed it Cyprus Insight
Really enjoyed this walk, John. That part of London has its own unique atmosphere and you capture it so well.
Hi John... watching this, your latest video.
Funny you should say that the "boundary of the City of London ends, and the rest of the country runs through here" is so apt, because the City isnt part of the UK.
Another great video from you.
Love these!!!
Essential Sunday viewing, Another fine video.
Thank you John for another lovely walk. I have known and loved that area for many years, in its previous incarnation and as it is today. It's getting a bit Kings Cross for me now, too much glass and steel; I loved the old industrial landscape.
I think the Ten Bells is notorious because some of the poor women that Jack the Ripper despoiled frequented that tavern.
Dennis Siever's house is well worth a visit for anyone who wants to see a relatively authentic 18th century interior. I was being smart when I visited there, and having pulled the bell handle I turned to my friends saying: I don't know whether I've rung the bell or flushed every toilet in the house... The mad thespian who was on guide duty threw open the door. TOILET!!! he boomed. My dear, we threw our piss out of the window! Frightened the friggin' life out of me!
Great story!
Indeed the Ten Bells was called the Jack the Ripper for a number of years before the grown ups took ownership back and restored the original name
@@kestrel230 Thanks, I never knew that
I have always loved this area. It has changed so much since I was young but not all bad. As always I still learn something new from your walks.
The Ten Bells pub was a notorious pub in the Victorian era, can't remember her name but Jack The Rippers last victim drank in there before she met her death at the hands of Jack The Ripper in Miter Square 9n the boundaries of the City of London.... If he walked past the pub he would definently recognise it, who knows, he may have even drank in the Ten Bells pub.
had a few pints in there
Fascinating. Love the old architecture of Spitalfields.
Your company on an evening walk is most relaxing and informative as smooth as a much needed pint ! Cheers .
Cheers Levi
Thanks again John for bringing us along on another fascinating walk.
cheers Alex
I have a memory of the fight to save the Fruit And Veg Market. Once more a fragment of Lost London comes into bas-relief. Great stuff, John. 🇯🇪
This popped up in my recommended list, watched and expected 500k+ views. Brilliant camera work, quality narration and a huge amount of knowledge. Cheers!
Many thanks Ryo
A massive thank you I know the area quite well yet again I learnt so much more from your video.. never knew the story of the Lion’s or the gondolas story.. thank you
I remember Spitalfields Market when it was interesting. Loved going there on a Sunday.
In years to come... these video's will be see as important historical works. Brilliant
Great part of town for a ramble. Love the history of this area. Thank you.
These walks are starting to become addictive. Subscribed.
Many thanks
I used to work at the tall office building at the Old Street roundabout 25 years ago, and spent many a lunchtime exploring this area. Thank you John, I learned so much from this video, but everything has changed so much since my lunchtime sojourns. Since then we have discovered that one branch of our family settled in Spitalfields in the 1580s as asylum seekers from religious persecution from the city of Liile in Northern France, and their descendants later returned to live in Old Nicholl.
Pre pandemic I worked in the city and walked from Liverpool St Station every day. Sometimes I stayed over in Shoreditch and use to run or walk around the streets you’ve described. So much richness and juxtaposition to take in. Another top top video John, thank you so much for sharing.
Thanks for that John
As Paul O'Grady is still not back on BBC Radio 2 (5-7pm), we get to watch this walk earlier than usual.
London keeps on changing...not necessarily for the best. Great video John. Thanks.
You are a diamond John. Thank you for doing this. It will be shared on Mad Chat.
Thanks Rob - glad you enjoyed it and thanks for sharing
Fascinating walk packed with visual delights and information. Thank you.
Wow that brought back some memories. All my family including mum and dad, aunts, uncles, even nan & grandad worked for the Godfrey Phillips Tobacco Company, the building of which still stands just off Commercial Street. So your walk felt like it took me back home to my childhood, as I spent so much time in and around that building and the local streets . Incidentally my mum and dad had a flat in Brick Lane immediately after the war, so all in all your walk felt like I was touching base so to speak. Great job John as always. Top of the class etc.
The Godfrey Phillips Tobacco Company building only just still stands I'm afraid. I drove past it this morning and although the outer facade still survives the evil wicked developers have completely gutted the internals and are building inside it.
The police station next door has become flats as has the Bacon Factory on the next block
@@bakerloobadboy Thanks update John..
Progress...sometimes I wonder if it really is!
One of my favourite areas of London John. Lots of history and so many wonderful old streets and buildings to admire. Thanks and best wishes.
thanks Keith
Great vid great walk, i actually did some work in Spitalfields in the 70s when it was a functioning market, terrible access, vans and lorry's everywhere and you wouldn't believe the litter that was created daily from packing boxes and crates, having said all that, it had a vibrant lively feel and a character all of its own, it just oozed history and life, loved it shame it moved but it was a victim of its own success, brought back memories thanks John, Dave in Thailand.
Just around the corner from me but great to walk Norton Folgate/Spitalfields with you John. Thanks for this.
London when ive ever been makes me lonely but when i watch it on here i can enjoy it.
Really loved this one John. It is one of my favourite parts of the London! My parents used to take me to Brick Lane Market to buy tropical fish which were sold in the street from huge tanks that were set up on a Sunday morning. They to me as a small child were the most exotic things I had ever seen and so my love of this part of London has always remained and I have loved exploring where you went on this particular walk.
Thanks Lulu
There are many beautiful streets in this short film, thank you, John.
my pleasure Tony glad you enjoyed it
So many of these streets look the same as when they were built in 1700's, utterly fascinating
Funny how people change over time . I have met Russel a few times and he has been sober for a number of years now
He has spoken about some of his troubled times and experiences.
But I can honestly say he is a nice guy
Thanks John for another great walk👍🏻
Just seen an old clip of Russel at spittlefields. And there was a chap in a red wig that looked a little like yourself John ??
thanks for sharing that Ian
Another great and interesting walk , delighted to tell you I have received a copy your book This Other London here in South Africa , my daughter managed to have a copy sent over on line for my birthday today. I look forward to many more walks with you in the future . Thank you for so richly informing and entertaining me of the areas of my early childhood in NE London
Thank you John👍I hope to make it over there🇬🇧someday once covid is under control! I want to see the land of my great great grandfather❤💙and 3 places I've always wanted to see most is London,Stonehenge and Glastonbury tor.. I had the opportunity to make the trip in 2016 but in November of that year my father passed away from a stroke😢and just couldn't make the journey.
The Liberty of Norton Folgate is a great tune/album and this video is great too.
Lovely video and walk John, my workplace. I remember the brilliant Suggs TV programme about disapperaing London. So much has changed since that was aired. Cheers mate - Dave.
The Water Poet pub closed down on the 29th March 2019 for good, due to the sprawling spitalfields bulldozers but promised to reopen elsewhere at some later date.
Its sister pub The crown and shuttle is unaffected up the road and has a nice beer garden.
Such a shame - that was a good pub and strange lay out, the basement went down two levels
Great one John....I'm very familiar with the area also. I recall a walk you did taking the likes of Sun St, Worship Street etc. when I worked on the street lighting department of Hackney Council in the 80's/early 90's in my cherry picker and it was always muddy and sodden, perhaps an indication of some lost river perhaps? Keep up the fantastic work, you're easily one of the very best YT bloggers there is!
Another fascinating walk. I've not explored this area even though Liverpool St Station is my "home" station. Will definitely made a trip asap. Love the older architecture.
Fascinating walk. Thank you again.
Great video, which I watch with a mixture of elation at the old architecture, and despair at the new totems to the gods of money.
I just stumbled upon your channel by accident. I'm so glad I did. Thanks for this, I really enjoyed walking with you.
Cheers Alan
Fascinating. Nice one John. I was at Liverpool Street last week. It’s changed a lot. Have you seen those strange, abandoned bits of architecture next to the overground train track, just to the right as the train pulls out heading to Stratford, Romford etc?
Thanks Jay - I think I know where you mean, just trying to remember exactly what they are - something to do with the old station
@@JohnRogersWalks just looked it up John as I wasn’t sure what they are. They are architectural salvage from a building, Harwich House, that was demolished when Liverpool Street Station was restored and extended 1985-92. Bit weird they got dumped there, but weird can be good sometimes.
Very interesting walk around Spitalfields and the Origin of the Niorton Folgate.Another good one John!!!!
thanks for watching Mam
Love the old buildings around Spitalfields❤️❤️
What has happened to all the beautiful old buildings in London ? Those modern glass skyscrapers are really ugly.
I totally agree with you.
The city, A.K.A. the Square Mile, is part of London, which is a large enough place to have thousands of versions. Live the London you want to live; there is a place for everything 💕
@@taniamenendez6786 A place for everything & everyone in a square mile of English soil? I think this concept is flawed.
@@taniamenendez6786 .. One square mile is hardly considered big. I can only imagine all the historic buildings that were knocked down to accommodate these monstrosities
@@phillipgraves4721 actually the City of London Corporation has a dedicated officer whose job it is to protect anything historic etc. I think he did a documentary with Jeremy Vine some years ago
thanks john i really found that walk very interesting as my ancesters were french weavers from that area, i live in millicent s.a but i love my homeland and history excuse spelling i have just had a couple of sherbets thank mate
Great little journey around Spitalfields, John. I worked nearby in the early 90s and I remember the project to turn the vacant market site into a craft and collectables market. It was very successful and and great place to come on a Sunday, combined with a trip to Petticoat Lane and Club Row markets! I can heartily recommend the Spitalfields Life blog! I've been a subscriber for about four years and every morning there is a wonderful, beautifully written and photographed snapshot of life of the area, whether it's historical, or of the present day. The "Gentle Author" works very hard to keep it interesting and fresh. Also, can I recommend this little film from the mid eighties called "Ours To Keep" about the battle to preserve the historical architecture of Norton Folgate, and it features input from Dan Cruikshank, and the late Dennis Severs, with his remarkable house.
Sorry, THIS little film...m.th-cam.com/video/QUnUcOUHQAU/w-d-xo.html
thanks Nellie and for the link
You have once again enhanced my knowledge of the City of London, very interesting video, thanks.
cheers William
Interesting part of London John . Spitalfields used to be the best flea market in London and Brick Lane also had a brilliant street market back in the day . 😊👍
You wont believe it, John, but in a year 2000 or 2001 I was working for several days in Dirty Dicks` basement helping to dig out the small canal/ditch so pub is connected with the main city`s sewerage. I also worked opposite the pub in an natwest bank building at bishopsgate 123, it was royal bank of scotland then.
Excellent stuff sir! Good to hear a mention of 'Rodinsky's Room' too, one of my favourite books...
thanks Phil
John Rogers video or the England come dancing team, no contest really.
Your video brought back so many memories for me and also (for different reasons) for my (long long long suffering) wife. She was born in Nathaniel Dwellings (now gone) which was in Flower And Dean Street (now gone) which was between Fashion Street and Thrawl Street. Watching this video had her jumping up and down as she saw places from her early years that she remembered. Her family later moved across the street to Charlotte De Rothschilds Dwellings where each "apartment" (cough) consisted of just 2 rooms. My wifes family rented 2 of these side by side. One was the front room and kitchen, the other was the 2 bedrooms
The Ten Bells pub gained a reputation when it briefly changed its name to The Jack the Ripper. The name change was short lived however following protests from women's groups etc.
"The King of the Ghetto" was also well worth watch again if only for Ian Drury
This video could have so easily run to several hours in length if you did just 10% of what my wife remembered, but she only remembered it all because of this video. Thank you
Hello John, have you read Rothschild Buildings: Life in an East-End Tenement Block 1887 - 1920 by Jerry White? It's all about them, a brilliant, interesting read
@@justgnatjones I bought this book for my wife and she remembers so much from the pictures, especially a shop called "Kitty's" and so many others things about the area of Flower and Dean Street. She hasn't put the book down. Thank you for the suggestion
Hi John! My mum and her family lived in Nathaniel Dwellings - 'C' block, probably around 1950 - 1963, that sort of time. Have read your comment out to my mum, she remembers the place very well. And we've also read the Rothschild Buildings book, and it too brought back memories. :-)
@@Amanda-gk4gn hi Amanda, my wife was born in 1954, so she lived there at the same time as your family
Recently discovered your walks around London and outskirts, fascinating stuff!
Thanks Chris
Funny enough I am reading Suggs in the City at the moment. Fantastic video as always.
Thanks Dave
I was in the area a week before you John, I even had a couple of beers in the 10 Bell's pub
Thank you i love watching your videos they are so interesting,cheers John 👏🏼👍🏼
Another excellent video - my dad used to drive us through the 'post' road of Liverpool Street station and then up out of the station turning right to Norton Folgate. on the way to school in Bethnal Green.
A pleasure to watch this, thank you.
thanks Alexis
Thanks John, I enjoyed seeing this area again.
My pleasure Diana glad you enjoyed the video
@@JohnRogersWalks Absolutely, most especially Fournier and Princelet streets. Cheers.
My patch, lovely to see. Great video.
Enjoyed this walk immensely, thanks
As a former worker in Devonshire Sq., I'm amazed (and saddened) at the changes to Bishopsgate, the market and Norton Folgate since I left there just before lockdown in 03-2020. We used to sneak to the Water Poet to avoid our bosses - I do hope it gets re-opened. Steel and glass is replacing my memories...
We did most of that walk today ... Coincidence...but have learnt some more facts .. interesting and good video !
Nice to learn about that area - it's referenced a lot by the novelist William Gibson. Thanks!
Only just discovered your wonderful videos John, and look forward to watching more. I'm an expat living in Australia since i was 6, but my roots are in London. Could you recommend books or more links on the Hugenot weavers please as one side of my family tree leads here, to Spitalfields. Lovely to see churches where my ancestors were baptised, married and were buried. Life hasn't given me the opportunity (yet) to return and explore myself but i could watch your videos for hours. I live in a town called Tenterfield in Australia, settled in the 1850s, and no one knows the origin of the name. Maybe it refers to weaving, although theres never been weaving here (sheep farming). It's the only place in the world with that name, I believe.
Great video John, thank you. I used to work for a Swiss bank (Credit Suisse) in Austin Friars in the early to mid seventies. The Ten Bells was frequented by prostitutes two of which were murdered by Jack the Ripper, Annie Chapman and Mary Kelly, one of Jamie Oliver's very distant relative ran the pub.
Exceptionally enjoyable.
Another great watch
Thank you 🤟🏼
Thanks Thomas
Ten Bells is of Jack the Ripper fame - I had a friend take me there once as a wander around Ripper locations. Earlier that day, I'd taken her to a pub in St Martin's Lane (The Salisbury) which was said to be where Dennis Nilsen was said to have met some of his victims. This didn't go down well! Obviously time blurs the horror of these acts for some.... great video :-)
Another great walk with so much history n information. Cheers 🍻
Thanks Jon
John. Loved this. Some of my family lived around here in the 1850's. Today I heard Jon Sopel talking about his family at the Bernhard Baron Social Club around there, somewhere. Have you covered this in past?
That was so interesting - as always. One lot of my ancestors,a Brand family lived at Bishopsgate c.1750- 1850 but they also lived at Hoxton,Shoreditch and Finsbury,they moved around a bit. A man called David Kossoff used to be on tv when I was a kid,he must've been of that family,sad that his son died. Dreadful things happen to nice people. Some of it sounded like in Sparrows Can't Sing where Barbara Windsor works in the bakery. And that film feels like a real life documentary even though it's a made up story. It was great to get to "walk around " this area but with you telling us the stories about it.
Moved around a bit - those distances are about 1 mile apart - walkable with a handcart for moving.
I remember David Kossoff , he was Lemmy in 'Journey into Space in the early 1950's, had a unforgettable voice,
Another lovely pleasant walk around the city. Much enjoyed
thanks Maria
Late to the party this week, work commitments blah blah. Captivating video...2 more weeks and I'll be down
fantastiic stuff john, we do a lot of walking on the north west yorkshire moors etc but i do love a city walk sometimes.
Another fascinating walk with some beautiful architecture. Can we assume by the lack of footage at the end that you didn't visit the Bagel Bakery after all? 😬
sadly so Tony - I decided to end the walk at Liverpool Street so the bagel will have to wait
...but you never know! Another interesting video ,thanks John.
Another great walk John. Another part of London I never really knew that much about. I wonder, have you ever done an episode on Lincolns Inn and that legal enclave - would love to experience your insight on that area.
Thanks Martin. I walked around the inns of court in an early episode of the series but not really a full episode in the manner I do them now th-cam.com/video/Zscc-1RtLpk/w-d-xo.html
@@JohnRogersWalks thanks John I will look at that. I went for a wander of my own today traversing over the M1 just south of Watford Gap services and down the towpath of the Grand Union. At one point about 200 yards separated the West Coast mainline, the canal and the M1.... three eras of transport cheek by jowl. Fascinating.
Every victim of the ripper frequented the ten bells. Nice one John.
Thanks for that John
Been interested in Norton Folgate since noticing it empty years ago. Worth saving.
Enjoyed the video. Thanks for posting
That bank used to be an RBS. A big focus for demonstrations in the banking crisis.
Gilbert and George live in Fournier Street.
When I heard a big section of Norton Folgate at Blossom Street was being demolished. I went over to paint it before it went. Down Elder Street and asked this fella where it was. He turned around and it was Dan Cruikshank. After a brief chat, he was good enough to give me a whole tour of the area. It was like being inside BBC4! A really nice fella.
What a fantastic experience Liam
Been enjoying some of your videos today. Hope the leg is mending well after the fall at Harmondsworth.
Thanks Voxley - the leg is mostly ok for walking now, kicking a ball might be a stretch though
Love this, thank you
This was a area i work in for around 15/20 years, used to meet Denis Sever as he was carrying pallets back from the market for his fires. On the opposite of the road to his house was a fur dealers. My nose would itch for hours after being in there. Also where the sign for Noton Folgate was an small factory doing Silver plating. I looked at buying one of the houses in Elder St., but my friends talked me out of it because it needed a lot of work and was to dear at £15,000!!!. This was in the early 1980s. Where was my bagel at the end.
One of my favourite walks, all my family worked in the market from the early 19th century, a shame it moved and even more a pity they are now knocking that one down to build flats. Always connected the Ten Bells with Jack the Ripper, think it lives on folklore more then anything. The stomping ground of the wonderful Dan Cruickshank who I believe still lives there.
Thanks John, fascinating as always.
The Spitafields Trust ( Mike Palin's son ) are doing sterling work preserving a wonderful regency / Georgian small nugget of an area associated with Sheerness dockyard . It was part of the Royal Navy estate - the navy pulling out in the early 60's . The dockyard was laid out by Samuel Pepys . The Spitafields Trust are just finishing restoring the Dockyard Church which will become a heritage centre - so well done to them .ps the walls of that dockyard area are famous for hosting a colony of scorpions ( which must have come in on cargo boats ) .✌️☮️
The story of a drug addicted Russell Brand was too funny. Great video John thank you 👍
I think Russel is still slowly coming down from the "high" of all those drugs. One day hell wake up clean and wonder where the hell he is
@@bakerloobadboy haha years ago he would have been off his barnet still there in the same place high as Bazos
Had to pause this video to look for Russell Brand as the Elephant Man, and found it - quite funny. Now back to your video!
John,
Sorry if I appear to be 'stalking' you, it's just that I've been revisiting your work and have been catching up with many of your vids. (Have been checking out Iain's work as well.) We've had a lot of loss in our family recently, and I find your walks strangely and rather narcotically comforting. In a good way!!