Tower Bridge after dark
ADMIRAL NELSON
The Tower of London proudly overlooks a meandering River Thames that has witnessed many of the World's most famous Statesmen, Kings, Queens, and Seamen. from here ventured forth Sir Francis Drake, Martin Frobisher, Captain Cook, Admiral Nelson, and many others.
LONDON'S IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM
SPIRIT OF EAST LONDON
From 1939 to 1945, this stretch of River played a major role in helping to liberate Europe from Hitler's tyrannical and oppressive regime, in the 1940s Tilbury saw the early construction of huge sections of floating 'Mulberry' harbours without which, the landing of allied Troops on the beaches of Normandy in France could well have ended in total disaster, these cleverly contrived harbours helped to ensure the liberation of Europe and ultimate victory over Hitler fascism.
An indomitable spirit was shown by the people of East London during Hitler's prolonged blitz on their City, Her Majesty, the Queen Mother singled out the brave people of East London for special mention after Buckingham Palace was bombed, she praised their qualities of spirit and endurance, and said: 'now I can look the East End straight in the eye'.
AFTER WW2
People of Britain had spent the years of Warin dingy and darkly lit Air-Raid Shelters, so when the lights came on again it was a breath of fresh air as happy crowds thronged the streets greeting and embracing each another, many relieved to still be alive, try to imagine what it had been like to live underground for such long periods in underground shelters while being constantly bombed from the air in those dark days of war, so imagine the relief and exhilaration to be out on the streets once more in bright sunlight.
Public Transport was state controlled, it was cheap and plentiful and very punctual, this made for reliability and people used it knowing they could turn up to an appointment on time.
CINEMAS and DANCE HALLS
cinemas were packed to capacity showing the latest holywood films, no TV then to distract the masses, one would get a bus or tube train to the West End for little more than a '4 penny one' in old money,
Entertainment up West attracted the youngsters to dance halls, dancing to the rythms of famous Big Bands like Joe Loss at the Hammersmith 'Palais de Dance', Oscar Rabin at the 'Lyceum' in the Strand, and Harry Leader's Orchestra at the 'Astoria', The 'Cafe De Paris', in Piccadilly was where upper and lower classes mingled to find romance while dancing the night away.
THE 'COFFEE BAR KIDS'
Italian and Continental style coffee bars became very popular after the war, for the price of a cappuchino one could spend an entire evening wooing the girls strumming a cheap guitar, Tommy Steele, was a regular at the '2Is' little realising he was destined to become a star.
Another star in the making was Harry Webb, he changed his name to 'Cliff Richard' after he met up with Jack Good over a cup of coffee off Regent street, together they were to introduce 'Rock and Roll' to Britain. Jack Good started his career at drama evening classes at Toynbee Hall, under Marrianne Watson of 'Old Vic' fame, he soon found he had talent, and was offered a plum presenter's job at the BBC launching 'Rock and Roll' in the UK, and Cliff Richard's career as his Manager.
JAZZ CLUBS
Jazz clubs around Soho were blossoming, young people danced the night away at the 'Marquee' entertained by Chris Barber, Acka Bilk, etc. the 'Ronnie Scott Club' had become a venue for World famous visiting jazz musicians, and Humphrey Littleton and Johny Dankworth played at the '100' Club' in Oxford Street regularly.
THE SWINGIN' 60s
The 50s had started liberating young spirits, it was followed by the 'swingin' sixties', 'mods and rockers' turned on the fashion of Carnaby Street, and soon It was the time of 'Flower Power', 'beatniks' with long hair, the 'Rolling Stones', and all night parties, the arrival of 'the Beattles'sound from Liverpool seemed even more exciting. The Cafe's and Coffee Bars of Soho and Chelsea's Kings Road thronged with young people, romantic affairs shocked the upper classes as pretty young debutants crossed the social spectrum to elope to Gretna Green with their partners in order to marry, being hurriedly made 'wards of court' to prevent this.
NIGHT LIFE
London docks was thriving, bringing Ships and Sailors from many Lands to these shores, East London was a popular venue with many, there was always plenty going on here, when Tony Armstrong Jones began courting Princess Margaret, the couple stayed here to escape the attention of the media. Cable Street had become a notorious 'red light' district after dark, its seedy cafe's opened until dawn and Prostitution was rife on local streets. with women and girls being allowed to ply their age old trade, there were no legal restrictions in those days, it was then an accepted part of East End Life after World War Two.
NEW IMMIGRANTS
People had already begun moving out of the City by the late 50s attracted to the new Towns and low rent homes, as a result many jobs in London became vacant, new immigrants from the West Indies helped to save the day by filling the growing vacancies, but cheap labour was effecting industrial relations which had deteriorated by the time a Labour Government led by Harold Wilson was returned to Power in 1964 by only 4 seats, it faced an immediate challenge from the Unions, strikes were damaging the economy, and the Dockers leader, Jack Dash, constantly clashed with his bosses over pay and the modernisation of the Docks.
HAROLD WILSON
It soon became clear that Harold Wilson needed a much bigger working majority to tackle Union unrest and poor industrial relations, he got this in 1966 when he went to the Country once more, but the race to bring new 'containerisation' to the London Docks was already lost to Rotterdam, this final blow signalled the beginning of the end of London Docks as a major port, and by the early 70s it began to close down leaving around eight square miles (21 kmē) of derelict land in East London. high unemployment, poverty and other social problems.
CULTURAL DIVERSITY
The diversity of this area has come from its mix of peoples and cultures over many Centuries, immigrants from all over the World have left their mark on the East End of London, many escaping persecution in their own Countries, they sought and found solace here and chose to make this their home and to live in that area bordering Spitalfields, Whitechapel and Brick Lane.
Religious persecution first brought the French Huguenots to Spitalfields, followed in the late 19th Century by
Jews fleeing from the Tsarist pogroms. many skilled in trades and professions soon prospered, later moving on to suburbia, this movement of populaion in the 1960s brought a new influx of immigrants from the West Indies and Asia and Muslims chose to settle Spitalfields where Hugenots and Jews had previously lived, there are many fine historic old Churches and Synagogues to see, and now, new Mosques have added to the remarkable diversity of East London. Check out the BBC Multifaith Calendar
PLACES OF WORSHIP
Since the movement of population in the 60s, the majority of East End Synagogues have closed, and new mosques have opened. many important old Churches steeped in significant local history have suffered from neglect. One such is St Pauls Church in Shadwell, its claim to fame is that American President Thomas Jefferon's Mother lived in Shadwell and often worshipped there with her Mother, on emigrating to America they named their home 'Shadwell'. St Paul's became known as 'the sea Captains Church' because many were buried there including Captain Cook's son having been been baptised there. The fascinating history, diversity, and cultural heritage of East london never ceases to amaze our visitors.
SETTING AN EXAMPLE FOR OTHERS TO FOLLOW
The International Port of London has always sought skilled craftsmen and tradesmen from abroad, they helped to fill many kinds of vacancy, it has welcomed genuine immigrants to these shores, those prepared to work and contribute to the British economy and way of life, most of the immigrants arrived with little or nothing, but bringing skills and innovation to these shores, their contribution helped to make East London a leading centre of World trade and Business, the record clearly shows that many overcame their difficulties and persevered, some to establish British Companies that prospered providing many jobs, and have since become household names across the World.
'Tesco'
'Marks & Spencer'
'Sassoons'
'Amstrad'
'Sainsbury's'
'EasyJet'
Today Britain is a part of a wider European Community within which people can travel freely to find work, London is the popular choice with many immigrants as it is a leading City in the Global economy, new immigrants from Eastern Europe and elsewhere bring much needed skills which can earn them far higher wages than at home, most are unlikely to stay as their own economies improve, the 'economic migrant' is a new and challenging phenomena of our time and is likely to shape the Global economy for many years to come.
THE TOWER OF LONDON
The Tower is on the North side of the Thames with Rotherhithe and Southwark on the South side, It is well worth taking a stroll South across remarkable Tower Bridge, the breathtaking views from the Bridge are a memorable experience that you will always cherish.
ABOUT THE RIVER
The River Thames has a proud record of ship building , once Peter The Great, Tsar of all Russia from 1672-1725, learnt ship-building skills at Boatyards in Deptford and Rotherhithe.
If you want to travel by river, Make sure you Book early with "City Cruises", especially for the Summer season.They are based at Rotherhithe and carry on a fine tradition with Gary Beckwith their Director, at the 'helm', they now have an impressive fleet of modern little ships on the Thames which will enhance your experience of river travel. Daily services run to and from Greenwich, the Tower, Westminster, and further.
Walking East from the Tower through Wapping's cobbled high Street you will find the most famous Pubs in the Country, as well as some of the newest eating houses in London, follow the High Street along the River and you will tread the path of famous historic figures like Samuel Pepys. Captain Cook, Frobisher, Bligh and many others, you may still catch the scent of Cinnamon and spice from old converted warehouses along the route where famous celebrities now live, this part of London which once thrived as a centre for World trade is now a much sought after location.
The 'Captain Kidd' and 'Town of Ramsgate' are historic Pubs well worth a visit, quench your thirst or get a good meal at reasonable prices, "Ye Olde Pub Tour". As for 'teatotalers' new italian Cafes now supply traditional fare along this route, and just past the Metropolitan Wharf on the left is the award winning 'Women's Playhouse' Restaurant, established to conserve the original 'Pump House' building in Wapping, it serves high quality food and drink, just opposite is the oldest of all Public Houses, the famous 'Prospect of Whitby', (see below), once a notorious meeting place for seafarers and old tyme smugglers from across the World who met there to do their nifty trading:
THE PROSPECT OF WHITBY
THE MAP BELOW SHOWS WAPPING & SHADWELL:
CLICK to enlarge view
THE BRUNEL MUSEUM
ABOUT BRUNEL:
Isambard Kingdom Brunel was recently acclaimed Britain's greatest ever engineer, the son of French immigrant Marc Brunel, also an engineer of repute, he was voted only second to Sir Winston Churchill on TVs 'Greatest Briton'
EAST OF TOWER BRIDGE
Wapping East of Tower Bridge boasts a fine variety of top quality eating houses these days, offering an excellent choice of new restuarants for every taste, Crane Wharf', has the "River View" Chinese Restaurant, The chick Italian cafe 'el Bordello, is an outstanding Pizzeria' at 75-81 Wappping High Street, or turn left into 'Wapping Lane', to discover another Italian 'PizzaExpress' at no.70-80, where you can listen to live Jazz while dining, or further along the Lane on the right is a popular Indian Bengali Restuarant serving those who like spicier dishes.
Most are licenced to serve alcohol with food, but if you just desire the simple 'take away' on your travels, Wapping has good old cockney nosh too, Fish and Chip shops are a British tradition which began in London's East End in 1860, you can still find local shops open till late, and if you feel like walking an extra mile from Wapping to Aldgate High street, you will find Tubby Isaacs' famous jellied eel stall on the corner of Goulston street, (pictured below), recognised for serving the best cockles and whelks in Town.
Tobacco Dock is truly unique, two majestic old sailing ships, 'The Three Sisters' and 'Sea Lark', proudly proclaim you've arrived in Captain Bligh's Wapping. The original Tobacco Dock was imaginatively converted in the 80s. by an 'East End' Lad who had made good, he created an impressive new development of modern shops, Restaurants, bars and cafes, similar to 'Covent Garden', but this exciting venture failed to take off at that time, now, with the increasing appeal of Wapping, this part of East London.currently offers a potential investor the remarkable opportunity to share in the growing prosperity of Docklands.
FAMOUS STREET MARKETS
A variety of trades are on offer to attract visitors from across the World, so don't fail to visit the World famous Street market 'Petticoat Lane' adjoining Spitalfields Market. then Experience the delights of the East by taking a stroll down Brick Lane with its spice shops, Tandoori Restaurants and trades of every description. Adjoining is Club Row with its famous Columbia Road Flower Market All these Markets open early every Sunday Morning, you can haggle away there until closing time at 2pm. Visit the Street Markets
The old Spitalfields Fruit Exchange nearby was used as an underground air-raid shelter during ww2, London's original 'Spitalfields Fruit Exchange Market moved to Leyton with the closure of London's Docks, the large dealer's area left behind was imaginatively converted to a unique complex of small shops, restaurants and attractive stalls which has become very popular with visitors.
WHITECHAPEL ART GALLERY
RING OUT
The Whitechapel Bell Foundry is one of the oldest in the World, it has produced many
famous Bells including the 'Liberty Bell' and Big Ben which are still ringing out across the World.
FAMILY ROOTS? TRACE THEM HERE
Many World famous Entrepreneurs began their careers in the back street poverty of East London, aspiring Fashion designers, Hairdressers, Chefs, Writers, Artists, Actors, Actresses, and Musicians of every kind overcame an adverse start to life, many to reach the top of their trades and professions and become famous throughout the World.
Tower Hamlets has a remarkable history it is a memorable place that you will wish to return to again and again...........
LONDON IS EVERYON'E'S CITY
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