The origins of the East End textile industry can be traced to the 14th century when Flemish artisans set up dye works on the River Lea. In the late 17th century the Huguenots arrived in Spitalfields bringing their skills with silk-weaving, lace-making, fan-making, etc. Then the Jewish tailors arrived and enriched the area further.
This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
garment and textile industries in the East End
Commemorated ati
Bowler plaque - Scissors and Buttons - Brick Lane north
We failed to find this plaque in Dec-Jan 2017, but it is identical to that fu...
Bowler plaque - Scissors and Buttons - Brick Lane south
There is meant to be another identical plaque further north in Brick Lane but...
Bowler plaque - Shuttle and Bobbins
The plaque shows a shuttle and two bobbins, representing the local weaving tr...
Whitechapel Threads sculpture
The artists worked with the Rope Makers Guild to produce this image of two sk...
Other Subjects
John Courage
Born Aberdeen. Came to London in 1780 as a shipping agent. He bought the Private House and Old Brewhouse at Horselydown in 1787 and developed it into a thriving business. Died London.
1 memorial
Brilliant Sign Company
Signage company. It was named after their concept called the 'brilliant letter'. This comprised a pressed copper sheet with a v-shaped cross section so as to imitate the classic incised wooden fasc...
2 memorials
June Aylward
Established the first antique shop on Portobello Road according to the plaque but we can find no corroborating evidence.
1 memorial
1 memorial
Smith, Elder & Co.
Publishers at 65 Cornhill (the picture) until 1868. Also at 15 Waterloo Place. Their first big success was Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. They also published: Thackeray, Darwin, Ruskin, Browning...
1 memorial
Previously viewed
District Railway / Metropolitan District Railway
Formed to complete the 'inner circle' of the tube in London. This was effectively the southern section: Mansion House to Earl's Court and beyond. The tunnels were formed using the 'cut and cover'...
6 memorials
Incorporated Society of Musicians - London Section
Installers of very attractive plaques.
2 memorials
Princess Royal, Princess Mary, Countess of Harewood, Viscountess Lascelles
Third child and only daughter of King George V and Queen Mary. Born York Cottage, Sandringham Estate. Her elder brothers became, in quick succession, Edward VIII and George VI. She married the sixt...
4 memorials
British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection / Cruelty Free International
Founded in Bristol by Frances Power Cobbe, who had earlier founded the NAVS. 2012 it joined another organisation and rebranded as Cruelty Free International. For completeness we should mention the...
1 memorial
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