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'.
Yes, in world war two, the people of East London stood firm against Fascism, making huge sacrifices to help liberate Europe and the World from racial and religious intolerance, hatred, and persecution, they stoutly defended freedom and democracy, the right of all people to live in Peace with dignity, no matter what their race, creed, or colour. In war or in peace this great City has been a beacon of hope for the oppressed everywhere and must always remain so.
AFTER WW2
When the war finally ended everybody was glad to be out of the air-raid shelters where many had spent the years in dingy and dark corners, the lights came on again everywhere, people were very happy, they thronged the streets, greeting each another, imagine, just having spent long periods in those darkly lit underground shelters, they were so relieved and exhilarated to be out into the day light once more and free.
Public Transport was state controlled, it was cheap and plentiful, and very punctial, it made for reliability and people used it knowing they could turn up to an appointment on time.
CINEMAS and DANCE HALLS
The East End had many cinemas Hollywood films were very popular, packing the Cinemas to capacity, no TV then to distract the masses attention. Taking a bus or tube would get you up West for 4pence. Dance halls with famous Big Bands like Joe Loss at the 'Palais de Dance', Oscar Rabin at the 'Lyceum' or Harry Leader at the 'Astoria', were very popular, and one could wine and dine or romance at the famous 'Cafe De Paris' affordably.
JAZZ CLUBS
Young people just loved Jazz clubs such as the 'Marquee' Soho teenagers danced the night away to the sounds of famous jazz bands like Chris Barber and Acka Bilk, Humphrey Littleton was playing at the '100' Club in Oxford Street, and many others brought their sound to the Soho Clubs, the Ronnie Scott Club becoming World famous as a venue for great Jazz musicians.
THE COFFEE BAR KIDS
Italian and Continental style coffee bars became very popular with young people, for the price of a cuppachino one could spend the entire evening strumming a guitar and chatting up girls. Tommy Steele was always at the '2Is' strumming away, little realising he was destined for stardom, as the girl's oogled at him.
Another star in the making was Harry Webb who met Jack Good the BBC producer over a coffee off Regent street and changed his name to 'Cliff Richard', they were to introduce 'Rock and Roll' to Britain. Jack Good had spent his youth studying drama at Toynbee Hall evening classes under Marianne Watson of the 'Old Vic' Theatre. He was very talented , soon managing to get a plum job at the BBC to launch his 'Rock and Roll' career.
THE SWINGIN' 60s
The 50s had started liberating young spirits, it was followed by the 'swingin' sixties' with 'mods and rockers' turned on by the fashion of Carnaby Street., and soon the 'Rolling Stones', It was now the time of 'Flower Power' and 'beatniks' with long hair, and all night parties, the arrival of the Beattles sound from Liverpool was even more exciting. The Coffee Bars of Soho and Chelsea's Kings Road were full of young people, romantic affairs shocked the upper classes as pretty young debutants crossed the social spectrum to elope to Gretna Green with their partners to marry, they were hurriedly made 'wards of court'.
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.
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.
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.
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, for 'teatotalers' new italian Cafes now supply traditional fare along the 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 EXPERIENCE
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.
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 baptised there. The fascinating history, diversity, and cultural heritage of East london never ceases to amaze our visitors.
The International Port of London has always sought skilled craftsmen and tradesmen from abroad and welcomed genuine immigrants to these shores, there was a demand to fill the many vacancies and Immigrants had many skills to offer, their contribution helped to make East London a leading centre of innovation in Business, the Arts, Carpentry, and design. The Whitechapel Art Gallery (see below) has become World famous for putting on challenging exhibitions:
The record clearly shows that past immigrants, despite difficulties, became integrated and made a huge economic contribution to Britain, most having arrived here with little or nothing, they persevered against all the odds to establish major British Companies that became famous throughout the World providing many jobs.
'Tesco'
'Marks & Spencer'
'Sassoons'
'Amstrad'
'Sainsbury's'
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 are bringing 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 a new and challenging phenomena of our time and is likely to shape the Global economy for many years to come.
WHITECHAPEL ART GALLERY
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'. 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.
FAMOUS STREET MARKETS
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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