The London Walker

This is the corner of Wilkes Street a stones throw from trendy Spitalfields Market and in the other direction the clamour of Brick Lane. It has a rich history dating back to the 1720’s with the arrival of French Huguenot refugees and their silk-weaving industry. As Calvinist Protestants the Huguenots often faced severe persecution in Catholic France and by the late 1600’s as many as 50,000 had settled in England, the majority setting up businesses in the east end, especially around Spitalfields, Shoreditch and Bethnal Green.

The Huguenots brought advanced silk-weaving techniques to London, transforming Spitalfields and the nearby areas into a hub for luxury goods and silk production. Their expertise made the east end a prominent center for textile manufacturing in Europe, making Spitalfields silk highly desirable and the area flourished. Their legacy remains in the distinctive Georgian architecture of the streets surrounding Spitlafields. Few other places in London have complete streets unaltered. The houses were built to accommodate weaving workshops and small factories, with large windows and spacious rooms. By the early 1800’s the silk industry in the area began to decline due to competition from cheaper imported fabrics and the reduction of tariffs. Many of the Huguenot community moved elsewhere, and Irish and later Jewish immigrants moved into the area. The distinctive Georgian houses were divided into apartments, which soon led to chronic overcrowding, and the new residences followed trades such as tailoring and clothing manufacture, similar to the predecessors.

However the area was severely impacted by overcrowding and social and economic upheavals during the Victorian and modern period, many of its historic buildings falling into disrepair. Today Spitalfields and the east end is experiencing a new wave of optimism and investment. The market nearby is a thriving hub of people, visitors and Londoners alike, the area around Brick Lane is filled with street art and venues, bookshops and cafes, brewers and fashion retailers.

This street and a few others around have somehow survived unscathed and its easy to see and convey what it once must have been like. Its a brilliant place to visit and explore and let your mind wonder.