Thursday 8th March marked our final day of buying autumn/winter stock - the majority of which will arrive by the end of July! The beginning of the year is always busy with appointments, plus working in the shop six days leaves only Sunday for the more mundane chores. Having secured a morning appointment this left the afternoon free. Taking full advantage of this rare opportunity we headed over to Spitalfields, an area I haven’t visited for a long time. As a avid follower of the blog Spitalfields Life it was time to experience it for ourselves.
Parking in this area as you would expect is fairly restricted, after driving around we decided to opt for the NCP on Shoreditch High Street.. A rather novel experience as a lift takes your car up to the parking bays. As time was short this visit was going to be a whirlwind tour. With Hettie our Bearded Collie we headed over to Folgate Street and Dennis Severs House. He spent many years carefully restoring this once derelict property in to a time capsule of period rooms lit only by candle light. We didn’t have time for the guided tour, but will be going on our next visit.
Nearby on Elder Street stands the house of Dan Cruickshank, he bought the property some thirty years ago gradually restoring it to its former glory. Dan was one of the leading lights intent on saving this neglected area of London from the bulldozers and redevelopment. With a generous benefactor and a donation of £10,000 the Spitalfields Trust was formed. The trust was able to purchase these derelict unloved houses that were once occupied by French Huguenot silk weavers. Once restored the houses were sold to sympathetic purchasers - not speculators, mainly intellectuals & bohemians. As the city fringes grow this area is being sought after by city types with properties now fetching over two million! A far cry from the East End council tenants that used to live here. But having said that, walking around the area it still has a very exciting vibrancy.
Next port of call was Spitalfields Market until 1985 a fruit & vegatable market now bric-a-brac and antiques. The energy & vibe is delightful with lots of really interesting stalls & people milling around. I was surprised how reasonable items were priced. Found an amazing vintage hat stall - bought a like new German made olive green trilby for £20! We left the marker to head to Petticoat Lane - haven’t been here since I was a teenager. Its changed, not so divers - mainly devoted to the rag trade. From here we walked to Fournier Street, almost all the properties have been renovated - done so well it was like stepping back in time. While here you should visit the Town House Antique Shop. The shop occupies the ground floor of a carefully restored Georgian house. The stock is eclectic, chosen with a very discerning eye, it was here we bought a signed copy of the book Spitalfields Life by The Gentle Author - have to say its addictive reading and great value at £20. Above the shop is a very stylish two bedroom period flat available to rent for short city breaks Stay in Spitalfields.
Sadly it was getting late and mindful of the journey home we bid Spitalfields goodbye. The area has so much to offer if you enjoy city life - definitely going back very soon.
