Building    From 1782  To 1852

Christ Church Charity School, Spitalfields

Categories: Children, Education

Building

From British History online (mainly): In 1708 a charity school started in Spitalfields, the boys somewhere in Brick Lane, the girls somewhere in what is now Princelet Street. In 1782-3 a new school was built on what was then Red Lion Street, immediately to the west of the church. See Spitalfields engine-house for our analysis of where exactly this was. This is the building that is illustrated on the relief plaque in Brick Lane. Due to the construction of Commercial Street this building had to be demolished in 1851-2. The pupils were moved to the Spitalfields National School on the south side of Quaker Street (still standing apparently but we can’t identify it).

In 1859 the churchyard was closed to burials and mainly dedicated as a ‘lawn or ornamental ground’. 1869-74 a new school was built at the east end, fronting Brick Lane, the building that still stands and carries the relief plaque of its predecessor. Designed by James Tolley and Daniel Robert Dale this is constructed on arches to avoid disturbing the graves. An interesting building; the ground floor was designed as covered playgrounds with classrooms above and the southern wing abutting Brick Lane was the headmaster house.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Christ Church Charity School, Spitalfields

Commemorated ati

Bowler plaque - Book, Children and Eight Pencils

The two figures are inspired by the figures shown on the wall relief. These d...

Read More

Marjorie Hewson

Marjorie 'Marge' Hewson (1943 - 2013) nursery nurse, worked for over 40 years...

Read More

School wall relief

The wall plaque has not only an ornate cartouche with the inscription but als...

Read More

Other Subjects

Alfred Bestall

Alfred Bestall

Author and illustrator. Born Alfred Edmeades Bestall in Mandalay, Burma. He served in the army during WW1, transporting troops in red double-decker buses. Following his studies at the L.C.C. Centra...

Person, Art, Children, Literature, Burma, Wales

1 memorial
David Copperfield Children's Library

David Copperfield Children's Library

Founded by the American Rev. J. Brett Langstaff.  The picture is from 1947. The New York Times, 19 March 1922 carries a letter reporting on a performance of a play for the benefit of this library....

Group, Children, Museums / Libraries

1 memorial
Geoffrey Faithful Fortescue

Geoffrey Faithful Fortescue

Died aged 9. We believe this was the 'beloved son' of Lady Emily Fortescue, commemorated on the clock tower. See her page for the evidence.

Person, Children, Friend / family

1 memorial
Coram's Fields

Coram's Fields

The memorial at the entrance to these fields tells how this playground came into existence. It is the only public space in London where adults are not allowed without children.

Place, Children, Gardens / Agriculture

3 memorials
Baroness Floella Benjamin, DBE, DL

Baroness Floella Benjamin, DBE, DL

Trinidadian-British actress, singer, presenter, author and politician. Known as presenter of children's programmes such as Play School, Play Away, Jamboree and Fast Forward. On 28 June 2010, Lady B...

Person, Children, Politics & Administration, Race Issues, TV & Radio, Caribbean Islands

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Woodstock Road Association

Woodstock Road Association

Woodstock Road is to the west of Finsbury Park, the other side of the railway line, to the south. We can find references to the Association in 2005 and 2011, but nothing more recent. However we mi...

Group, Community / Clubs

1 memorial
Rose Theatre

Rose Theatre

First Elizabethan theatre on Bankside and probably the first building dedicated to theatrical entertainment in London.  Built here because it was outside the jurisdiction of the City of London.  Ov...

Building, Theatre

1 memorial
mystery girl wall painting

mystery girl wall painting

NW3, Glenilla Road, 17-19

This very unusual wall painting was brought to our attention in July 2011 by the Camden History Society Newsletter.  There is a possible ...

1 subject commemorated
Queen Victoria

Queen Victoria

Reigned: 1837-1901, 64 years. Born Kensington Palace. Daughter of Edward, Duke of Kent and Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg. Niece of her predecessor, King William IV. Her first name was Alexandrin...

Person, Race Issues, Royalty, Seriously Famous

76 memorials
Westminster City Council

Westminster City Council

The ancient parish of St Margaret's was divided into St Margaret's and St John's in 1727 but it was still run as a single vestry. In 1855 the two parishes were reformed into the Westminster Distric...

Group, Politics & Administration

183 memorials