Page 175 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - London

SMITHFIELD AND SPIT ALFIELDS  173

principles, has columns made atmosphere is noisy and cheerful,
from ships’ masts. Baroness with Cockney stallholders
Thatcher, the first female British making use of their wit to attract
prime minister (1979–90), was custom. There are scores of snack
married here. Beneath the chapel bars for pitstops.
is a small museum devoted to the
history of Methodism. e Whitechapel
Gallery
w Petticoat Lane 77–82 Whitechapel High St E1. Map 16
E1. Tel 020 7522 7888. 1 Aldgate East,
Middlesex St E1. Map 16 D1. Aldgate. Open 11am–6pm Tue–Sun,
1 Aldgate East, Aldgate, Liverpool St. (to 9pm Thu). Closed 1 Jan, 24–26
Open Main market 9am–2pm Sun; Dec. & occasionally for exhibitions.
smaller market on Wentworth St 7 8 - = Wide range of talks &
8am–4pm Mon–Fri. See Shops and events. ∑ whitechapelgallery.org
Markets p337.
A striking Art Nouveau façade
In Queen Victoria’s prudish reign, by C Harrison Townsend fronts Whitechapel Gallery, expanded to include
the name of this street, long this light, airy gallery, founded the former library next door
famous for its market, was in 1901 and expanded in the
changed to the respectable 1980s and again in 2007–9. Hockney’s first exhibition was
but colourless Middlesex Street. Situated close to Brick Lane held here. The gallery has a
That is still its official designation, and the area’s burgeoning art well-stocked arts bookshop and
but the old name, derived from scene, this independent gallery a relaxed café-bar.
the petticoats and lace sold was founded with the aim of
here by the Huguenots who bringing great art to the people
came from France, has stuck, of East London. Today it enjoys r Old Spitalfields
and is now applied to the market an international reputation for Market
held every Sunday morning in high-quality shows of major
this and the surrounding streets. contemporary artists and for Commercial St E1. Map 8 D5. 1 Liver-
Numerous attempts were made events, talks, live performances, pool St, Aldgate. Open General market
to stop the market, but it was films and art-themed evenings stalls: 10am–5pm Sun–Wed (from 9am
allowed by Act of Parliament (especially on the first Thursday Sun); antiques & vintage: 9am–5pm
in 1936. Though the street is of each month, when many Thu; fashion & art: 10am–4pm Fri.
Regular themed market days including
not particularly attractive, having galleries in the area open late). record fairs: 11am–5pm Sat (check
suffered wartime bomb damage, In the 1950s and 1960s, the website listings). See Shops and Markets
the lively market creates plenty likes of Jackson Pollock, p337. ∑ oldspitalfieldsmarket.com
of atmosphere. A great variety Anthony Caro, Robert
of goods is sold but there is Rauschenberg and John Produce has been traded at
still a bias towards clothing, Hoyland all displayed their Spitalfields market since 1682.
especially leather coats. The work here. In 1970 David In 1887 the original covered
market buildings were
completed, later expanded in
the 1920s. The vegetable market
moved out in 1991, after which
today’s version of the market –
known for antiques, fashion, bric-
a-brac and craft stalls – started
to take shape. In the early 2000s,
the 1920s western extension
made way for offices and the rest
was renovated and redeveloped.
Now the market space is a mix
of new units housing restaurants
and shops and traditional market
space. It’s open during the week,
but it is on Sundays that crowds
come in search of vintage
clothing and unique items. More
new designers and unusual stalls
abound in other nearby Sunday
markets, particularly in the Old
Truman Brewery off Brick Lane
Bustling Petticoat Lane Market (see p174).

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