Moving chairs
Man with chair, Brick Lane 1986
During the 1980’s you could find a wide range of furniture for sale in and around Brick Lane. The Sunday market could easily supply a house with all of its furniture needs. As the market closed it was even possible to find abandoned items that could be carried home and used. Much of the furniture you could find then would now be on sale at inflated prices in ‘retro’ shops.
Man moving a chair, Barcelona 2005
Where I live there is an unofficial but highly effective furniture recycling scheme in operation. If I want to get rid of a piece of furniture then I will just leave it on the landing outside my flat. After a few days it will disappear into a neighbours flat. I noticed recently that a cupboard I abandoned 10 years ago reappeared for a few days on the landing outside our flat.
Office chair on a mans head, Brick Lane 2008
If you move into an empty flat the three essentials you need are a bed, chairs and a cooker. Years ago it was possible to get all of these for very little or no money at all from the Sunday market in Spitalfields.
Man sitting on abandoned chair, off Brick Lane 1984
This man has found a comfortable abandoned chair from which to view the proceedings of the Sunday market. He is joined by a little girl holding an apple who has fixed her gaze in the same direction of the man. I recall they were watching two men arguing. The argument facilitated this photograph.
Woman seated at her market stall, Whitechapel c. 1985
Man with suitcase rests on steps, Brick Lane c. 1983
Man seated on a box, Whitechapel c. 1984
The Betting Shop
Two men outside a betting shop, Whitechapel 1986
I’ve never placed a bet in a betting shop. My only reason for being in one has been to photograph the customers. I’ve always been amazed at the way punters appear to be in a daze – oblivious to the world around them. Here the man wearing a hat stares into the distance but I feel that his mind is somewhere else. Has he lost all his money or is he contemplating a final bet?
Two men outside a betting shop, Whitechapel 1986
Its time for a cigarette and a discussion about the horse that should have won.
Woman at the entrance of a betting shop in Newham, 1988
The illustrations of footballers and race horses frame this lady as she emerges from the dark interior of the betting shop.
Outside a betting shop. Whitechapel 2009
Betting shop, Whitechapel c. 1987
Betting shop, Whitechapel c.1987
Placing a Bet
Lady with walking stick on Bethnal Green Road, 1990
I was entranced by this lady as soon as I saw her walking along Bethnal Green Road. I would imagine that she has probably spent most of her life living in the area and walked down this particular road thousands of times.
Lady in a betting shop on Bethnal Green Road, 1990
When I first saw her I thought she was going to buy something from a market stall. Seconds after I took the shot of her on Bethnal Green Road she disappeared into a betting shop. With little hesitation I followed her inside and photographed her walking to the counter to place her bet. She was probably in the shop for a minute. Clearly she new exactly what she was betting on and did not want to waste any time inside. Once she was back on Bethnal Green Road she did indeed buy some vegetables from a market stall. I remember thinking at the time that I shouldn’t make assumptions about people after seeing them for a few seconds.
Two ladies shopping on Bethnal Green Road, late 1980's
It was a pleasant surprise when my newly found subject diverted to place her bet. I wonder how many times the two ladies above have placed a bet in Bethnal Green Road?
Man in a betting shop, Whitechapel c. 1984
Betting shop, Whitechapel c. 1986
Newspapers
Whitechapel Station, newspaper sellers 1988
London used to be full of newspaper sellers. They were part of the fabric of every tube station. The woman wearing the glasses is selling copies of the Evening Standard at the entrance of Whitechapel tube station. She has been joined by two other women. They have broken off from their conversation to observe an argument further down Whitechapel Rd. As a boy I had a paper round so I’ve always considered myself to be a distant relative to the hardy newspaper sellers of London!
Aldgate East newspaper sellers, 1987
Its a great shame that the digital revolution has heralded the extinction of newspaper sellers. They added character and colour to the streets. Some sellers even had their own cry advertising the paper. Those who advertised their paper verbally seemed to have a secret language. You would never quite understand what they were saying but you knew they were selling newspapers.
Aldgate East newspaper seller, 1985
Newspaper seller, Aldgate East 1985
Newspaper seller, Aldgate East 1985
Newspaper seller, Birdcage pub Columbia Rd 1987
Reading a newspaper. Mile End underground, London c. 2000
Man reading a newspaper. Bishopsgate Goods Yard c. 2000
Man selling newspapers, Bishopsgate c. 1996
Newspapers on the wall, Dhaka Bangladesh c. 1996
Selling newspapers, Dhaka Bangladesh c. 1996
Cash And Carry On The Street
Fly pitch on Brick Lane, 1983
This enterprising man has set up a fly pitch at the junction of Brick Lane and Hanbury Street. The vegetables in the boxes are going cheap and will attract the attention of passers buy. Such behaviour today would risk the wrath of trading standards officers who would be allerted by CCTV.
Pineapples for sale in Dhaka, 1994
These pineapple sellers are unlikely to be asked to move on. The street floor is their shop.
Bishopsgate goods yard suitcase sale, 2001
An arch of the old Bishopsgate goods yard crowns this man’s suitcase. On offer is a clock, toys, story books and a shiny pair of black shoes.
Woman selling clothes on Brick Lane, 2009
Fly pitch on Brick Lane, 2009
Selling lighters on Brick Lane, c. 1984
Cash and carry, Commercial Street c. 1990
