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
Stakis PLC
Hotel group founded in the 1960s by Reo Stakis. They bought Caxton Hall in 1986, intending to develop it as offices and flats, but by the time they were given approval, the property market had cras...
1 memorial
1 memorial
1 memorial
United Kingdom Temperance & General Provident Institution
A life insurance company. From FriendsLife: "The UK Total Abstinence Life was formed in London in 1840 and, as the name suggests, its products were aimed initially at teetotallers. The group grew ...
1 memorial
Reeves & Sons Ltd
Artists' colour manufacturer. Established by William Reeves (1739–1803). It has had a number of names, always including "Reeves" until ownership passed to Wilhelm Becker, through Colart Fine Art an...
1 memorial
Previously viewed
1 memorial
William Brannan Collins
Housing developer. Son of William Jefferies Collins. He and his brother Herbert designed the Rookfield Garden Estate - see there for more information. Local History has an 1975 interview with 'Bil...
1 memorial
Sir George Shearing
Pianist and composer. Born at 67 Arthur Street, Battersea, Blind from birth, he attended Linden Lodge School, where he received training in classical piano, and learned to read music by Braille. In...
1 memorial
Queen Elizabeth I
Daughter of King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. Born Greenwich Palace. Succeeded her half-sister Queen Mary I. Reigned: 1553 - 1603. Never married, no children, so followed by James I. Elizabeth I...
26 memorials
1 memorial