Through the window, London & Paris
Hanbury Street through the window of Rossi's Cafe. London 1998
The landscape of the East End is changing continuously. It is no longer possible to stare out of Rossi’s window as it has been turned into a trendy fish & chip.
Restaurant window. Paris 2010
The Erasure of Wheler Street
Until recently Wheler Street was where you could catch the train from Shoreditch Station. At least the street where the new station now is was always called Wheler Street.
Tower Hamlets Council Road Sign. 'Braithwaite Street', London 2012
Imagine my confusion when I discovered last week that Wheler Street no longer exists! Part of the Council’s ill founded efforts to ‘upgrade’ the area was to change the street name to ‘Braithwaite Street’. Someone or some PR person thought that the name change was appropriate in order to give the area a ‘prestige’ worthy of the Shoreditch tag. Dreadful. I thought I was seeing things when I saw the twisted cheap new sign that has replaced the cast iron Wheler Street sign which had survived decades.
Tower Hamlets Council Road Sign. "Braithwaite Street', London 2012
Its as if the name has been changed as a message to local people letting them know that the space is no longer for them. Wheler Street had its own special vibe deriving from the industrial Victorian architecture that enveloped the area and loyal residents who used it; old ladies would push their shopping trollies through the street between different markets. They have now been driven away and replaced by ‘Shoreditch types’, fashion conscious and aloof.
Outside Shoreditch station. London 2012
They emerge from the station oblivious to anything that is not prescribed by their iphones. I recall with fondness the Wheler Street of old: it was so much better than the polished corporate hub that has replaced it.
Woman in Wheler Street before gentrification. London 1989
Demolition. Wheler Street 2010
Conversation near Wheler Street. London 1985
Wheler Street. London 1989
Street Vibes
Woman in colourful dress. Brick Lane 2012
Woman with shopping trolley. Commercial Street, London 1985
Ice Cream on the Street
Man with Ice Cream. Sclater Street, London 2012
Woman with Ice Cream. Whitechapel Road, 1983
Clothes Market
Man looking for clothes. Sclater Street, London 2012
Second hand clothes and books. Cheshire Street, London 1984
