It’s in the Bag
What would we do without bags! Many of us wouldn’t dream of going out without one ‘just in case’. In case of what I sometimes ask myself.
Lady with a large bag on Brick Lane, 2010
Art direction here (above) is by Brick Lane and a range of accidents on the brick wall in Brick Lane.
Two men exchanging stuff from their plastic shopping bags on Cheshire Street, 2010
A man carrying plastic bags on old Montague Street, 2010
Some pedestrians with bags Dhaka Bangladesh, 2009
For environmental reasons plastic bags have been eradicated through thoughtful legislation in Bangladesh.
Tower 42
For thirty years the National Westminster Tower was the tallest building in the City of London. From Spitalfields it dominated the skyline of the City.
The Nat West Tower viewed from the Chicksand Estate, 1985
Opened by the Queen in 1981 it cost £72 million (approximately £230 million today). Although it dominated the skyline from the Chicksand Estate it might as well have been a million miles away as no one from the Estate actually worked in the Tower in the 1980’s. The people from the Estate who work in the City now are mostly those who have bought the flats of residents who have moved out or are renting from former tenants.
Despite the iconic shadow of the tower over Spitalfields it has never been a symbol of opportunity for young people living on the estates in its shadow.
Heneage Street with the City on the horizon viewed from the Chicksand Estate, 1985
The sparse horizon (above) is very different today following the expansion of the City and the consequent explosion in land and property prices in Spitalfelds.
The Chicksand Estate with the City in the distance, 1985
When Richard Seifert designed the Tower (now called Tower 42) he could not have imagined the rapid change to the City skyline that was to occur in a few decades.
The City viewed from Spitalfields, 1987
Over the years St Paul’s disappeared and surfaced again according to the status of surrounding developments. Currently it is hidden and unlikely to resurface for this view for decades.
The City with St Pauls viewed from Spitalfields, 1985
Taken from Spitalfields Market this photograph shows the dereliction which surrounded the market up to the City itself. This space is now populated by banks, law firms and retailers.
A sweeper in the shadow of the 'Nat West' Tower, 1983
Tower 42 was the tallest building in the City for 30 years until it was surpassed by the Heron Tower in 2009.
Man on a Suitcase
Resting on a suitcase in Cheshire Street this man raises some questions for me. Does the suitcase contain stuff he’s been selling or does it contain all his worldly goods?
Man on a suitcase in Cheshire Street, 1985
Man on a suitcase, Cheshire Street 1985
Man on a suitcase, Cheshire Street 1985
Brick Lane and Dhaka cobbler
Cobblers shop on Brick Lane, 1983
The man seated in front of the shop is the proprietor of the Cobblers shop.
Cobblers shop on Brick Lane, 1983
Street cobbler, Dhaka 2009
Vinyl Heaven
Spitalfields markets were once a haven for record collectors. Even today you can find second hand records for sale at the Sunday market in and around Brick Lane.
Turntable playing an LP, 1983
Forgive me for the photograph of the record playing but it was with some amazement that I had to explain recently to a teenager what a record player was and how it worked. I love records with their analogue sound and covers with comprehensive notes and innovative art work. Seeing a record moving on a turntable is far more engaging than the flash of a digital light.
Record stall in Cheshire Street, 1985
The gentleman behind the man in the beret is Mr Spicer who, with his wife, ran a record stall every Sunday in Cheshire Street for decades. It catered for every musical taste and offered extraordinary bargains. Practically my entire collection was built from my Sunday browsing in Cheshire Street.
Record stall in Cheshire Street, 1985
The young girl reminds me of my own habit of looking at the box next to the one I was browsing. For some reason the adjoining box always seemed more interesting.
A man examining the condition of a LP. Sclater Street market, 1986
Has this man just found a deleted record which he’s been looking for for years? He went on to purchase the record for 20p and walked away with a smile of satisfaction.
