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
Birchin Lane drapers
From Stow: "...Birchin Lane. . . . This lane, and the High Street, near adjoining, hath been inhabited for the most part with wealthy drapers; from Birchin Lane ... in the reign of Henry VI., had y...
Tea Trade in London
The following text is taken from the Shoreditch plaque: This plaque commemorates 350 years of the tea industry in the City of London. The industry was spread over Plantation House (now Plantation ...
National Westminster Bank
Usually referred to as the NatWest Bank. It was formed from the merger of the National Provincial and Westminster Banks. Since 2000 it has been part of the Royal Bank of Scotland group.