East End indoor market.
The old market ran off High St East and was opened in 1830. The result of packing meat, vegetable and old clothes stalls in an enclosed space in the days of open drains and cess pits can only be imagined and even in the 1930s a walk through the market gave some impression of health problems. Perhaps helped by the depression the market remained very popular but it was eventually demolished during slum clearances in the 1950s.
Information from Len Charlton. Photograph from Ally
There were no First World War victory celebrations when the fighting stopped in November 1918 because it was only an armistice. The official 'Peace Processions' were held in July 1919 and this photograph is of the East End procession in Prospect Row. The photographer is standing at an upstairs window of the 'Welcome Tavern' at the south end of Barrack Street and looking down the Prospect Row towards the Quadrant. The Corporation tramlines and overhead wires lead off to the right towards the Docks terminus. This tram route did not make a profit and was abandoned in 1928.
The fire brigade's extending ladder unit provides a very exciting sight for the many children who roamed the East-End streets. The Ship Inn was No1 Sans St although the entrance is in HighSt.
Photograph Norman Kirtlan, information from Len Charlton.
Prospect Row/Silver St.
In the 1800s every midsummer night was the excuse for a strange annual Druidic ceremony in Silver St with food and drink laid out round bonfires through which residents sang and danced to cleanse themselves of evil . For many years this was a very wild East-End occasion These buildings are clearly of much later period but still include the usual charitable institute as well as the inevitable pub.
Photograph Norman Kirtlan, information from Len Charlton.
The Ship Inn is at the junction with Sans St. which is where HighSt East becomes HighSt West In the distance ahead is the old town and the docks. Caslaw Hayter and Tate were soon to move to larger premises close to MacKies corner and become specialists in school uniforms.
Photograph Norman Kirtlan, information from Len Charlton.
