The People’s Panorama is an ambitious project to create a community heritage resource recording and documenting the six-kilometre stretch of road from Aldgate to Stratford in East London. The project will celebrate the High Street at this historic point in its development and act as a record of the route from central London to the 2012 Olympic Park.

Friday 16 March 2012

More discoveries by the project volunteers

 'When I first visited Whitechapel High Street and discovered Black Lion House was in my section, I didn't think much of it. Then I started researching the building and I was very pleasantly surprised. 

Black Lion Yard, 1961. Photographer unknown
Black Lion House stands near the now demolished Black Lion Yard which used to be described as the ‘Hatton Garden of the East End’ due to its 18 jewellery shops. Black Lion Yard was a narrow passage that ran from Old Montague Street to Whitechapel Road. Before it became known for its jewellers it was known for its kosher dairy. Until 1902, The Jewish Soup Kitchen was based here and even had its own heard of cows. Despite petitions and media coverage Black Lion Yard was demolished in 1975.'
Niamh Linnane
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2 comments:

  1. Levrant8 July 2012 at 17:24

    The shop shown on the extreme right is my father's Jewellery shop and workshops. Moses Levrant, known throughout the area as Mossy. He had the premises from the late 1940s until its demolition. He was one of the most vociferous objectors and was responsible for organising much media coverage to prevent compulsory purchase and the destruction of a piece of east End Heritage. He originally had the ground floor only, shop in front workshop behind, with a yard at the rear, the upper floors being occupied by a family. He eventually took over the entire building with additional workshops above. It was an amazing community of jewellery shops, with some very colourful owners.

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  2. The Building Exploratory9 July 2012 at 02:28

    Hi Levrant - that is absolutely fascinating! We would love to hear more about your father's workshop or any other memories you have of the area - please do contact the project coordinator Lizzie Edwards if you would be happy to tell us any more.
    Our contact details are here: http://bit.ly/6dBEZi
    Many thanks and best wishes
    The Building Exploratory

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