Historic Whitechapel Walking Tour: Uncovering the Hidden Gems of East London (4K)

Join me on a journey through the streets of Whitechapel, one of London's most vibrant and storied areas. Our East London walking tour begins at Petticoat Lane, a bustling market dating back to the 1600s now known for its lively atmosphere and diverse range of goods. From there, we'll make our way to Wentworth Street once the heart of the Jewish East End and still a weekday market and centre of textile shops.
As we continue our walk, we'll visit Commercial Street, where we'll see Toynbee Hall, a social reform centre that has played a crucial role in the development of the area. From there, we'll head to East Tenter Street, where we'll see the impressive St George's German Church dating from 1720.
Next, we'll make our way to Commercial Road then to the site of the original White Church that gives Whitechapel its name. From there, we'll visit the iconic Whitechapel Bell Foundry, a historic business that has been casting bells since the 1570s and the site of Whitechapel Fort, one of London's Civil War defences. Finally, we'll end our tour at the Whitechapel Mount, located next to the London Hospital.
Throughout our walk, we'll delve into the rich history and culture of Whitechapel, learning about the fascinating sites and stories that have shaped this vibrant neighbourhood.
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Music
Endurance - Aerian
Of Virtue - Christoffer Moe Ditlevsen
The Dawning - Anna Dager
The Haunted Concert Hall - Luella Gren
Why Is She Crying_ - Luella Gren
from Epidemic Sound
Image credits
The newly built London Hospital in 1753, showing part of Whitechapel Mount to the west with trees and a house
The London Hospital, Whitechapel: seen from the northern side of the Whitechapel Road. Wood engraving, after an engraving of c.1753. Iconographic Collections Keywords: Institutions
wellcomeimages.org/indexplus/... Gallery: wellcomeimages.org/indexplus/... Wellcome Collection gallery (2018-04-05): wellcomecollection.org/works/... CC-BY-4.0
The London Hospital, Whitechapel: seen from the northern side of the Whitechapel Road. Wood engraving, after an engraving of c.1753. Iconographic Collections Keywords: Institutions
Whitechapel Mount according to an 1801 drawing,[1] with the London Hospital to the left
Unknown author - Illustrated London News, 28 April 1862
Maps:
Open Street Map “© OpenStreetMap contributors” using data available under the Open Database Licence
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[@danspencer862]

John. I only discovered this channel about five months ago and I’ve had so much pleasure watching the back catalogue. I’ve been through some hard times lately and these films just take me away from all worries and troubles and transform me to another world, there so calming and engaging and walking has now become one of my best hobbies, thank you so much John.

[@welshhibby]

Hope you have a great 2023 Dan !

[@JW-yt7lr]

Sunday mornings down Petticoat Lane and onto Brick Lane with my Dad . He bred and sold Canaries down there , a family hobby going back to the Hugenot silk weavers of the East End from who we descend . In the winter it was so cold we used to get hot Sarspirella from a coffee stall on the market . John , you never disappoint . Thanks for the memories.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks so much for sharing that

[@missj.d9187]

Me too but with my Nan. The rest of my family run market stalls down Roman Road market. We originate from the Hugenots too so you never know we could be distant relatives. Sad how it's changed so much I'm grateful we got to see it in it's heyday. We were all mainly from Stepney but moved over to Bow. Lots of love to any true East Londoner's out there we are a dying breed ❤

[@brendawordsworth9232]

I was at the London Hospital from 1969 to 1973 training as a nurse and living in the nurses homes in the streets behind the hospital. We used to pop across the Whitechapel Road to Kossof's bakery for fresh poppy seed bread, which we would demolish with half a pound of butter! Oh, and their cheescake too! Fantastic! Brings back many memories, although a lot of the streets I used to walk arond look unrecognisable, interesting to see the Outpatients' Department looks unchanged though, at least from the outside!

[@jasonantigua6825]

That’s a lovely story Brenda!

[@davidsmith2356]

Great blog John, My distant family spent around 200 years in the Whitechapel/Hoxton area and gradually moved east to Bow, Mile End, Forest Gate, and eventually Woodford and Chigwell . My mother died in the Royal London Hospital in Decmber 1958. I have a very strong draw to that area, I didn't know why until I researched my family history. My Great Grandfather had a workshop in Shoreditch New Inns Street EC2 he was a member of a livery company and had the freedom, he was a Drawing Room cabinet maker as were several generations, My Greeat Great Great Grandmother had a music business in the Bow Road.. Its changed so much from when I was a kid, it used to have its own smell like the tube trains.

[@jog1546]

Oh my word, the excitement of getting a tiny glimpse of Ann’s Place, off Wentworth Street, where my great great grandmother Alice was born in 1889 ❤❤❤

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Fantastic Jo!!

[@AliBees]

Thank you John. I love this series of walks where you bring the old London back to life. Wishing you health, happiness, good luck and great walks in 2023!

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Many thanks Ali

[@RedcoatsReturn]

The Bell Foundry was marvellous… I hope the building is rescued…its part of history 🙏🏻 Happy New Year John 😊

[@MartinJames389]

I hope so, too, but not as a "bijou hotel". A museum would be a better use for the building.

[@moisturisedgnome1181]

@@MartinJames389 more like more tenements for immigrants

[@MartinJames389]

@@moisturisedgnome1181 Since it's Grade II listed it can't be what you call, in quaint old language, "tenements". Who do you mean by "immigrants"? Are you denigrating refugees from horrors you've never seen and can't imagine?

[@moisturisedgnome1181]

@@MartinJames389 haha didn't take long did it

[@jasonantigua6825]

@@moisturisedgnome1181never does! Haha

[@andrewhead6267]

Brings back memories of Sundays before Christmas visiting the area. Dad worked for the Electricity generating Board and had keys to substations. So we parked up in one and walked from Liverpool Street station to Petticoat Lane, the markets, Kossofs for bundles of rolls and bread. Club Row market to see the animals for sale. Walking around the remains of my Grandfathers beloved Bishopsgate Goods Railway Station. No visit would be complete without popping into to the Houndsditch Warehouse - The Selfridges of the East End.

[@brianjrichman]

My Dad was born and raise during the 1920's in Welclose Square when it was a Jewish Tenement. My mother was a little girl living above her fathers Tobacconist shop on the south side of Southwark Bridge all until WWII and the blitz. What you say about change and new sights is especially true and for London.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks for sharing that Brian - I’ll be going back down there soon

[@LordMayorOfStepney]

Still home to the famous Wilton’s music hall. My mum grew up in neighbouring Swedenborg Square in the 40s. I myself also grew up ‘in the manor’.

[@brianjrichman]

@@LordMayorOfStepney Outstanding.

[@jamesjameson4566]

"change" I can thing of a few phrases to better describe this gentle unassuming word

[@arriesone1]

@@jamesjameson4566 It saddens me so much what London has lost.

[@stephanbach1652]

I took a tour of the Whitechapel Bell Foundry in about 2005. I’m so glad I did.

[@malcolmwinter6797]

The shop that John Merrick ( The Elephant Man ) was exhibited still exists in Whitechapel Road. It's number was 123, now renumbered 259..

[@LTMM_]

I work in Whitechapel. I rode near the Tower of London and the old Roman Wall. Instantly thought of you and this channel. Happy New Year.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Happy New Year Letago

[@gaylereid8264]

@@JohnRogersWalks Happy, Prosperous, Enlightening New Year, John ❣️🫵🤟🙌

[@bobbybigboyyes]

Do you remember the great old English actor David Kossof, or his son Paul Kossof who was in the band 'Free' who had lots of hits in the 70's. ? Gotta love Will Self with his dry humour. Do you remember seeing him in the many great 'Grumpy Old Men' tv series that the BBC did for years ? I was watching some of them yesterday. The actor John Stride is a family relation. Petticoat Lane was one of my favourite haunts to visit every Sunday morning as a 16 year old back in 1969, and Aldegate East Station. They should preserve the bell foundry as a museum. It's part of London's history. Interesting video John, Happy New Year mate! 😊

[@catieoates1726]

What a stellar walk, I look forward to more in this series. Absolute tragedy that the bell factory closed!

[@WOLFROY47]

they can use the scrap waste from the bell casting, and call it, a henry moor statue, you could add, an unmade bed, a wire basket for paper waste, and, any left over paint slung at a large piece of canvas ? that they are calling art these days ? ? ? my hero is the guy that put different sorts of excrement, into glass cases, and when he won the first prize from the arts council, he then, released a statement to the press, that said ? i told you that they wouldn't know the difference between art and shit. the connection ? they take the oldest continualy running business inthe city of london and just dispose of it, and what will they use the factory space for ? another towering termites building ? more profi9t for someone, and screw peoples jobs and history. yep i am expressing IRONY

[@lizstevenson7801]

Its been many years since I walked down these streets and I must admit I never recognised Petticoat Lane as it is now. I can remember stopping at Tubby Issacs on many occations for jellied eels or bowl of cockles in my younger time. It all looks so different with all the glass skyscraper buildings. The history of this area is amazing, I never tire of listening to the stories. Thank you so much. Wishing you and your family a wonderful healthy, happy new year. 💕🇦🇺

[@jamesjameson4566]

We've been replaced, that's what you can't put your finger on

[@TracyPicabia]

It is a memory lane for me too. I found John's images of it now, the street furniture and traffic signage, quite painful to look at

[@jamesjameson4566]

@@TracyPicabia the street furniture and the traffic signage? nothing else a bit amiss

[@wasATsea]

@@jamesjameson4566 everything is amiss. The double yellow line, the towering modern architecture in the background, the crude signage between the shops and the rooms above them, the depopulated atmosphere of christmas eve....

[@jamesjameson4566]

@@wasATsea Christmas doesn't live around there

[@williamrobinson7435]

Happy New Year to you and all your family and team, John. I recall a chat many years ago with a gent who was a retired town planner, I would bump into him in S. Ken and we'd have a pint. He was of the opinion that the nature of the substrate in Whitechapel was such that the bomb damage suffered there went further than was superficially apparent, and that many buildings had to be demolished because thier footings had been undermined, leading to the perhaps greater changes to the area than one might expect.. I do hope the bell foundry site can be preserved in some form. Thanks for another fascinating film, a great start to 2023!🌟👍🎉

[@keithdart9254]

Hi John, my dad worked as a tea blender in John fisher Street in the 60s and on Saturday's he used to take me with him to work from Battersea to aldgate East and then walking down towards the river and under the railway to John fisher Street. Brings back so many memories thank you

[@jasonantigua6825]

My friends uncle was a caretaker in some flats on John Fisher Street

[@bnpandsc]

Fascinating walk to end 2022 and kick off the 2023 season, this area simply oozes history..I look forward to your next walk(s) regaling tales from the Whitechapel streets. Thank you John !

[@davy2022]

Although I live in Glasgow I’ve always had a fascination for East London. Such an interesting video!

[@glenbooth-martin7722]

In the mid eighties I worked in East Mount Street which is to the left of the front of The London Hospital. The company I worked for was a bespoke shoemakers that had previously been located a few doors away from the half moon theatre in Stepney and moved onto an old egg processing building at the end of east mount street which at that time led into the London Hospitals consultants carpark. The private post office underground line runs underneath East mount street although I’m not sure if it is still in use.

[@AnthonyHatfull]

The deli` in Wentworth Street was I think Marks Deli`. In the 60`s and early 70`s we would queue on Sunday morning for freshly cooked lutkas. In Wentworth St was Jackie Braffmans dress shop. He made a fortune in the Rag Trade, but loved to hold court Sunday mornings, and auction of unsold stock. Other traders would buy from him. He craved publicity, and featured in the film A Kid For Two Farthings. He would "obtain" tickets to posh events, and have a photographer on hand then he would go up and put his arm round an unsuspecting celeb` then the snapper would do his stuff. The photos would be plastered all over the walls of his shop. I remember a snap of him with Mohamed Ali who looked as surprised as he did when Our `Enery knocked him down.

[@MrBestfootforward]

You look so excited by everything around you. What a treat to start my year watching you in Whitechapel. And yes Lord Profumo did indeed volunteer at Toynbee......my brother David was doing legal advice for Peckham Citizens Advice Bureau and Citizens Advice at Toynbee all on top his regular legal work in Shipping Litigation and had meetings with him throught the 1980s , he told me at first he had no idea who Lord Profumo was. David died in 2021 such a loss for us all. He helped so many Londoners with his legal advice .

[@indepthcardetailing2254]

Great Video as always. I used to live at Denning Point until 1995, backs onto old castle street. I often go back to take a look around the old place. Great memories.

[@highpath4776]

Always felt like I would not have minded living there, but were the bins always full of old tellies in the 1980s !

[@kyran333]

@@highpath4776 I live at denning point, it has greatly improved since then lol, the bins have some modern tvs occasionally 😂

[@shaunjeffries2628]

The Whitechapel Bell Foundry tour was one of London's finest and its closure and broken historic links has left the city a less rich place. Luckily, we have your videos to plug the cultural gaps. Looking forward to your 2023 output.

[@glenharrison987]

Many happy memories of my old dad who worked for watneys at the man and crossman brewery where sainsbury is now

[@truebrit3578]

Interesting to see how Whitechapel continues to ‘develop’ - it really is something of a jumble of different buildings and commerce. Back in the late 1980s I was working for an American Bank who occupied 25 Cannon Street, a lovely place to work with St. Paul’s on one side, the Financial Times across the road and on the other side Bank of England offices. It even had a pub on one side of the building (the ‘Dandy Roll’). But as part of a cost saving exercise everyone was moved to a building at 1 Alie Street. That provided quite an experience for City Bankers because at that time it was rather an island of Finance in the middle of the traditional East End. I doubt that anyone considered it a success, other than the Finance people. Eventually a further move was made to Canary Wharf. But with hindsight it was one of the precursors of the City’s move east.

[@markriley4665]

My home turf John. I look forward to more fantastic videos in 2023. Happy New Year!

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Happy New Year Mark

[@effyleven]

《 What a lovely guy, isn't he? I'd love to spend an afternoon, or rather, a whole day, wandering the streets with him. I am sure I am not the only one. Happy New Year to you, John.... and thanks for what you do here.》

[@JohnRogersWalks]

many thanks Effy - Happy New Year

[@sandypearce7302]

Loved watching this video. How times have changed the face of this area where I lived, played and worked. I live abroad now but look forward to seeing more of your historical walks.

[@mungmungie]

It is fascinating to get a visual sense of this area of London. My family lived farther west, but an unfortunate ancestor, Richard Finch, died in the area and was immediately buried at St. Mary's Whitechapel in 1707. Like almost all of my family who lived and died in London, all trace of their final resting places was erased by the Luftewaffe. The neighbourhood in which I live in Vancouver BC has a tiny high street called Commercial St. I suspect that early settlers may have come from the east end of London, as other street names suggest. One of the streets that intersected Commercial St. was once known as Montegue, and there are a couple of other names in common as well.

[@GWJUK]

We also have the Rack and Tenter pub at Moorgate I was in The Bell the other week, it would seem the6 don’t switch the heating on so you have to drink with your coat on 😂

[@Jpkjr52]

Been to London 19 times directly from Chicago Love it John in Chicago

[@jchanning72]

I worked on Aldgate High Street between 2014-19 and spent many lunchtimes wandering the streets and marveling at the history. As you know there are so many things to cover, including a lot of buildings demonstrating Victorian philanthropy.

[@jamesjameson4566]

Did you marvel at the lack of English people, or was your head in the clouds

[@ShotOnDigital]

I lived in Spellman Street in 91, and it is shocking to see how the area has changed. Thanks, John. Lovely work again!

[@christopherbutler7588]

Thank you so interesting I work with a chap Mr Harry Brown Who worked in the Whitechapel Bell foundry when he was a young man. His skills came in very handy when he was in the army and had to cast some metal work for a bridge they had Cross a river. One of his stories he told me was saw Gandhi on one of his marches and talking in the park. Happy New year 🎉

[@user-xc8pv4ip2f]

This place has an outstanding atmosphere !

[@daveconyard8946]

Happy new Year, have A Good 2023. Thank's For all Wonderful The Post's. "keep safe"

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Many thanks Dave - really looking forward to 2023

[@markturner1970]

An area I know well, I once lived in a block close to Sainsburys and my daughter was born in London Hospital and its now an area I deliver around. Happy New Year John.

[@calvinmarkpayne]

I went to City of London Poly at the same site as you John in the early 90s. John Profumo could sometimes be seen in a local pub (I forget which one) having a quiet drink after work, which as a Politics student was a strange experience...

[@JohnRogersWalks]

That’s brilliant Calvin - gutted I didn’t know that at the time, my Dad did some work at Clivenden at the time of the scandal. Also studied Politics at City Poly btw

[@shikunbinui]

My Great Grandparents owned a Shoe Shop (H.L Cohen) on 59 Wentworth st. Kosoff's actually rented their shop from them. Our shoe shop moved later on to Middlesex St. Closed down in the nineties. Thanks for the walks. Wishing you a very Happy New year!

[@johnreynolds5103]

As a former student at Sir John Cass ISchoo of Art, 've always loved that area, I was lucky enough to be there when it went gentrified.

[@carolives7977]

I've just discovered your vlogs. I started my career at the royal docks working for a ship's stores in Silvertown called international Watts Fincham and finished my career at the London Metropolitan university, initially the London Guildhall when I started at Goulston street. I'm really enjoying binge watching having been born in Stratford and till 2017 still living there. You have opened my eyes to so much that I didn't realise was on my doorstep. Thank you

[@billford5395]

Happy new year to you and the rest of your family how are you celebrating your holidays so far?

[@pedallinraw]

These are my top favourite videos John,capturing that older era ....love the old taverns ....🙂👍🏻

[@hondohsv]

Thank you for this amazing walk! This is my fave area of London, I spend svereal weekend trips there with my Dad until 2017 where we went to London for the last time. Interesting history lesson and images of a quite changing area.

[@santorini8423]

@World_official64GFY

[@ckSport3000]

Cool video.. ! I'm finally coming to live in the UK. (My #1 life-long bucket list) Curtis, 56, recently retired US Navy. .. Flying next week.. Portsmouth this month, Coventry next month, up to Edinburgh for a month then 3 MONTH walking around London. LOVE your videos John.. thanks.

[@highpath4776]

enjoy your time. we are not much bigger than some US states but a lot packed in.

[@glennparfitt8068]

Great Video John - since my son moved to Wapping a couple of years ago I’ve been exploring the area east of Liverpool st - there is so much history in the area - and once again you’ve helped bring it alive for me.

[@Soul_For_A_Soul]

I was searching for Jack, and this video was recommended by KZbin.

[@Nick-mq9on]

Wow you have a knack for taking me back in time John. Back in the seventies in my Hippy days I squatted in Fieldgate Mansions for a while the whole area was like a bomb site, hard for me to envision it these days now I'm in my comfortable retirement. Good work.

[@cheekyllamacreations]

This was amazing John, I thoroughly enjoyed it. So great to see Whitechapel again. Some of my family managed the Whitechapel Bell Foundry for many years. They lived above it and it was so interesting to go there and see how the bells were made. I live in Western Australia now and coincidentally we visited a town here called York and their local church had the Whitechapel Bell Foundry bells and there were photos on the wall of when the bells were installed. I was born in London Hospital and lived in Cable Street, Stepney until I was 6 years old. My Dad had a grocery shop on the corner of Cable and Devonport Streets but sadly when all his customers were re-housed in new developments the people who owed him money “on the slate” moved away without paying him and he went bankrupt. Poor Dad passed away a couple of years later, I think it was the stress of it all.

[@brandondean8060]

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year John.. Cannot wait to walk through London 2023 with ya. 🤠

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Happy New Year Brandon - it’s going to be a great 2023

[@brandondean8060]

I'm in hospital now with pneumonia but should be home tomorrow and fighting fit 4 2023. Atleast I had a great view of Downtown Dallas to see our firework/Drone celebration to ring in the new year..

[@ronahart219]

Thanks for this, fascinating! My grandparents lived in Bearsted House Middlesex Street and later in Petticoat Tower. Amazing how the area has changed.

[@davidhumphrey1558]

Really great perspective John. A mix of the new with the history. Thank you for showing it!

[@JohnRogersWalks]

My pleasure David - glad you enjoyed it

[@rj4685]

Glad you emphasized the true East End...gets my goat the peeps living in leafy E postcodes claiming East end heritage...E1, E3. E2,E14 are the postcodes that matter end of.

[@bertie4127]

Yes it's become common to see 'East End' used to describe the whole of east and north-east London or the E postcode. I moved from the East End to outer east London (E7) and then to outer north-east London on the E17/E18 borders. To consider these districts to be part of the 'East End' would be akin to saying Notting Hill, Acton, Kilburn and Cricklewood are the 'West End.'

[@charlesjames799]

John you were correct Tubby Isaac’s on one side and Barneys on the opposite side. I didn’t realise that he had died and the stall was no longer there. I’d not been back to London since 2016.

[@markmiwurdz2248]

@charlesjames799. You may already know this. Apparently the famous seafood stallhlolders Tubby Isaacs and Barney were brothers. There was some kind of falling out/family dispute many years ago. So - even in the same line of business, they traded separately - setting up their own stall opposite the other’s! And the story goes that they never ever spoke to each other again. And just to let you know, I was born and raised in Whitechapel. We lived in a block of council flats in Sidney Street, built on the site of No.100 where the famous “Seige Of Sidney St” took place. Stay safe and well.

[@ashleysgaze]

‘Ripper’ of a walk, John! Terrific insights. Cheers! ❤

[@BarryAllenMagic]

As a Shadwell E1 lad (born and bred) thank you so much John for covering Whitechapel, without the usual KZbin obsession to focus upon Jack The Ripper! Time wise, at the time of attending primary school in the late 60's/early 70's, many of my friends there (and also on our council estate) were of Bangladesh descent. Whilst there were still many Jewish businesses evident around Aldgate, Whitechapel and Commercial Road at that time, I believe that many Jewish folk had moved from the east end, to live around the Ilford and Seven Kings areas. To this end, the book you refer to (released I think you said in 1969?) was possibly during quite a transition period for the E1 area. As for Petticoat Lane Market - it was also famous for leather goods, in particular leather coats and jackets. Goulston Street (close to where you were standing at one point) was where, as kids, we'd go swimming at the public baths. I remember even back then, just how gloomy and dirty the place was. When the new, modern St. Georges Olympic Pool opened in The Highway (E1), it was as if we'd been transported to another planet! Really looking forward to any further E1 exploits - "wherever that may be". With every best wish for a happy, healthy 2023 mate and many thanks for your time and efforts producing these fascinating broadcasts.

[@sianwarwick633]

Agree with your first statement !

[@maurice8607]

What school did you go? I went to Robert Mont. Great days.

[@BarryAllenMagic]

@@maurice8607 Hi Maurice. Initially to Nicholas Gibson in The Highway; which became Blue Gate Fields, when the new school opened in Cable Street. Then onto Raines in Arbour Square for secondary.

[@maurice8607]

@@BarryAllenMagic Had mates that went to Raines but most were at my school and Daneford.

[@paulfitzpatrick3090]

Taught at City Poly in Moorgate in the 80s. Happy Times.

[@LauraValcarcelRodriguez]

Hi John, Happy New Year! Thanks for this video! I work in Aldgate Tower and go for walks at lunch time every day, I think you got the correct development where the remains of the theater were found, however they can be appreciated better from Middlesex St, there is a plaque and even an area on the pavement marking the layout, part of it can be seen through the new building's glass windows, probably entry is allowed too (I have not tried though)

[@billford5395]

Happy new year to you and the rest of your family how are you celebrating your holidays so far?

[@michaelwood3099]

Back in the real heartlands of London, got given your book for Christmas which I must confess I'd still not bought for myself.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Hope you enjoy it Michael

[@roba7345]

Hi John, just to say that I was really pleased that you focused on other aspects of Whitechapel rather than just the Ripper murders, thank you for another great video. I absolutely adore your channel and all the videos you create and share with us: fascinating and so detailed with little nuggets you simply couldn’t find elsewhere combined with your humour and warmth. Wishing you a very happy new year and I look forward to seeing you on the next walk, wherever that may be!

[@AnthonyHatfull]

My own thoughts about Jack The Ripper was that he was probably an insignificant nobody. After all who ever heard of Peter Sutcliffe, and he murdered twice as many, although people have made lots of money from Ripper theories.

[@yorkyfozzy2867]

​@@AnthonyHatfullkzbin.info/www/bejne/jWmye5eaZ8l7gK8si=t7Wksz5Y5iHDYQzW

[@TodayFreedom]

The Whitechapel Murders are an absolutely crucial element in the history of London. They highlighted centuries of violent poverty and triggered national outrage at the disgusting conditions endured in what was the most powerful city on this planet. Every area “has more to it” than just one event, but there’s no point ignoring the absolutely colossal importance the autumn of 1888 played in London’s history. The tenement clearances in large part stemmed from memories of what happened to those poor women in Whitechapel.

[@highpath4776]

I heard Tony Benn speak in Calcutta House It was one of the student society events put on, he spoke a lot of sense in terms of UK and World affairs past and present at that time ( Met his son, Hilary, much later more recently at a Leeds charity he was a patron of )

[@classicraceruk1337]

I was born in the London Hospital Whitechapel, I know it well.

[@telemachus53]

Like you I did a great walk around Whitechapel, inspired partly by Stephen Berkoff (the actor!) and his Jewish-roots walks around Whitechapel, and also by the fact that my dad worked in Commercial Road. I looked for his office in the shop where he worked but it had long since gone. Highly recommend the Cable Street murals, the strange manhole covers I found and of course Kossov's bakery off Whitechapel road, not far from Stepney Green station. This of course in addition to the wonderful sights you pointed out in the vid. Thanks!

[@xian4616]

Love ds location ,walkable to all amenties !

[@briancox4339]

Great video to start the New year the many dark secrets of Whitechapel worked there for many years in cavel street converting a clothing factory in to offices and many different stories from local folks true or fantasy who knows , but well done John Rogers for another great video.

[@colinmorgan8624]

The P&0 bought a shirt factory off Middlesex street only after they got an agreement that if they turned the back of the building into the front ,as it faced Aldgate church ,it would be classed as EC1.This was necessary as messengers never left the City. When we first moved in whilst the building opposite Lloyds was being built there were still anchor point from the sewing machines in the floor

[@TXMEDRGR]

I appreciate the way your walks can be either country, city, or somewhere in between but all interesting and entertaining. Thank you for all the wonderful videos in 2022, I'm looking forward to your walks in 2023, where ever that may be.

[@user-oq2pl6xq7c]

My first teaching position was in Walthamstow and White Chapel was a frequent haunt. The difference in the area makes it unrecognisable from familiar streets that I saw in the 70s the station alone is so developed,back then there was a small sign and a very unprepossessing entrance.

[@richardsuperfine826]

Watching this video and seeing Aldgate East Tube station reminded me that I must take my American wife to Brick Lane for Indian food when we visit London.

[@terryblack2219]

Once again John outstanding …funny I grew up there in the 60s and was a motorcycle dispatched rider in the late 80s to mid 90s in London now it looks like another city! Though it looks even more built up there then I ever recall.

[@kiwicol7383]

Lived in Mile End in the late 90’s and spent many nights drinking in white Chapel

[@martaorduna7857]

An other amazing tour.Thank you so much to teach me about London,Im learning a lot with you,Happy new year from Argentina!!!

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Happy New Year Marta!!

[@ArthurStone]

Nice angles on the videography. Thanks John and best for 2023 :D

[@whyyoulidl]

Thank you John; it's always an absolute pleasure joining you virtually on your walks and delving into the local history; wish you a very happy and prosperous new year.

[@stanbewick2685]

I worked in Whitechapel for 3 years on the then Crossrail project. It was a joint venture and our offices were in the old Post Office building opposite the underground station. Happy days.

[@mokumhammer]

Thank you John - most enjoyable

[@QatarSandMan]

Great start to the year.

[@mharixx]

Can’t help but feel a deep underlying sadness watching these at the architectural atrocities we have committed over the centuries.

[@Tom_J23]

Happy New Year John!! Thanks for video!!

[@philipgallagher3234]

Having been a fellow student of City Poly, albeit a few years before you (81), I found this quite poignant. The landscape has changed so much, as have the communities. Was Whitechapel Baths still open when you were a student? We used it for its pool....the only users usually...delicious to be the first to dive in to glassy calm! And the park...rumoured to have been Itchycoo Park..as in the Small Faces song ... but might not be true. And of course Fieldgate St and it's squats...politically very important. I loved being in the area despite its clear deprivations seen every day when Booth House "turned out". But, pleasures too...running down the back stairs of Fairholt House to put a bet on in Corals bookies underneath!! My Geography studies were more "physical" than "human" but I'm sure we shared lecturers. Looking forward to your next video. Thanks.

[@scratchchris]

Back in the late 60s the park was (known as) Itchy Park but I've heard the Small Faces one was a different one (said he muddying water again)

[@highpath4776]

I knew one Geog student at City Poly about that time (via one of the student societies) , cannot remember his name, I had a list but decided that going back over folk at their present age would not be a good idea , we have all moved on and the world became a big place.

[@ginnerthetosser]

Another diamond of a tour John.Thank you.👏👏👏

[@djpj9174]

Thank you John. A very happy and prosperous 2023

[@tbrown8342]

Very interesting video again and the centre of London can be a great place to walk or cycle on the 24, 25, 26 December as it is so empty! Fieldgate Street teems with history; the mansions were referred to by Jack London as a "monster doss house" in the People of the Abyss. I seem to remember reading that once Joseph Stalin stayed in the seamans mission now called Fieldgate House. But what I really remember from the 70s is the absolute poverty and roughness of the area, one can wax nostalgic about the place but oh boy it was pretty grim. When i was older and finding my way around the local pubs I seem to remember rather jolly live music nights, often of the folksy variety, in the little pub near Whitechapel station, the Lord Rodneys Head. E1 used to be packed with little boozers, some nice places with great atmosphere whereas others a tad seedy.

[@TimothyHalkowski]

Brilliant walk - bravo!! & happy new year!

[@littleacornslandscapes2935]

Thanks John, and a happy New Year.

[@LeeDannphotography]

Fantastic video as always.

[@Britaininformation]

Thanks for sharing this video! We also love our walks there.

[@danieladams9950]

Fascinating, particularly about the Civil War earth work..

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks Daniel

[@cdeldn2012]

Great video John!

[@michaelmiller641]

Happy new year to you, John, and thankyou so much for producing these videos! A modern Ian Nairne!

[@damedavidfrith55]

Thanks for another cracking trip around London’s history,very interesting 🧐

[@jenniferlevine5406]

Thank you for the wonderful Christmas eve walk! Bringing the past and present together on your walks is definitely one of my favourite aspects of your videos. Thanks also for a great year of videos! All the best to you in 2023!

[@iTomAnks]

So much to see in such a small area of Whitechapel. Happy new year John!

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Happy New Year Tom

[@Daisy-Routes]

Happy New Year to you Mr Rogers, and happy travels!

[@CaroleMora22]

A wonderful tour as always - Happy New Year!!!

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Happy New Year Carole

[@sr3d-microphones]

@@JohnRogersWalks Happy new year John, did you get my last email by any chance?

[@estherdoyle8175]

A very Happy New Year to you and the famalam, John, and thanks for another cracking walk. I'm fascinated by the Whitechapel area, you can feel the shawls of history around your shoulders. I have one dear friend whose Jewish family emigrated here after the pogroms, made their living from pickling cucumbers - the things they call Wallies in the chip shops. Another lovely lady I worked with back in the 90s was of an East End Jewish family, very frum. When her Mama came near her time to give birth in 1940, there was no such thing as going into the London Hospitall - oh no, Mama went off to Mother Cohen's lying in house on the Whitechapel Road. I'd love to know where that was. Can't wait for the next instalment. xxx

[@angelacasey8446]

We are now on the cusp of 2024, but thank you for this and the other videos I am about to discover.

[@markgreen6788]

Another awesome video John... Can't wait for the second part... Happy New Year!

[@williamross2579]

Always welcome, always good! Thankyou John, and Happy New Year fella!

[@TheCinderellaman10]

The Whitechapel mound sounds and looks fascinating. Would of loved to of seen it in the day. Some great insight as always 👍 looking forward to seeing more videos on Whitechapel and the East end

[@ralphwinter6421]

Thanks John, Happy New Year...

[@gwinniboots]

Fancy having a street named after you even though you are long gone! Amazing tribute. Love this walk, and the music is really lovely. 👍 Happy New Year, John. 🎉