Page 176 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - London

174  L ONDON AREA B Y AREA

t Christ Church, within, epitomizes the area’s
Spitalfields multicultural history. Now it
exists as a museum of
Commercial St E1. Map 8 E5. Tel 020 immigration, with exhibitions
7377 6793. 1 Liverpool St. Open celebrating the Jewish and
10am–4pm Mon–Fri (unless in use as other peoples who arrived
venue), 1–4pm Sun. 5 1:10pm Tue, and settled in London’s East
8:30am, 10:30am & 5pm Sun. 7
8 book ahead. Concerts. End. It is hoped that, with
∑ ccspitalfields.org funding this historic gem
can be developed into a
The finest of Nicholas Hawks­ permanent centre.
moor’s six churches, Christ
Church was commissioned by
parliament in the Fifty New o Brick Lane
Churches Act of 1711, aimed E1. Map 8 E5. 1 Liverpool St, Aldgate
at combating the threat of East, Shoreditch. Market Open dawn–
Nonconformism. It was intended Beautifully preserved 18th-century houses noon Sun. See Shops and Markets p335.
to make a power ful statement on Fournier Street ∑ visitbricklane.org
in an area fast becoming a
Huguenot strong hold. (The y Fournier Street Once a lane running through
Protestant Huguenots had E1. Map 8 E5. 1 Aldgate East. brickfields, Brick Lane has long
fled from persecution in been synonymous with the
Catholic France and came to The 18th­century houses on the many curry houses that line
Spitalfields to work in the local north side of this street have it, and the British­Bangladeshi
silkweaving industry.) attics with broad windows that community that has long thrived
Completed in 1729, the were designed to give maximum here. Now the restaurants sit
build ing was mauled by alter­ light to the silk weaving French next to hip galleries and quirky
ations in the 1850s. By 1960 it Huguenot community who boutiques. Shops and houses,
was derelict, narrowly escaping lived here. While the textile some dating from the 18th
demolition. In 1976 the Friends trade lives on in the area, still century, have seen immigrants
of Christ Church Spitalfields dependent on immi grant of many nationalities, and ethnic
was formed to restore the labour, Fournier Street itself has foods, spices, silks and saree are
building to its former glory – become a smart address for the all on sale here. In the 19th
a goal achieved in 2004. The art crowd. century this was a predominantly
impression of size and strength Jewish quarter, and some Jewish
created by its portico and spire shops remain, including a
is continued inside by such u Brick Lane 24­hour bagel shop at No. 159.
features as the high ceiling and Jamme Masjid On Sundays, a large market is
the gallery. Now used for music held here and in the surrounding
events, it is one of the main 59 Brick Lane E1. Map 8 E5. streets. At the northern end of
venues for the Spitalfields music Tel 020 7247 6052. 1 Liverpool Brick Lane is the Old Truman
festivals in June and December. Street, Aldgate East. Brewery, a medley of 18th­
∑ bricklanejammemasjid.co.uk
and 19th­century industrial
architecture, now home to an
The history of this Grade II­listed eclectic mix of bars, shops and
building reflects centuries of markets: five separate markets
immigration in the area. Built at weekends sell food, vintage
in 1743 as a Huguenot chapel, it clothes and new fashions.
was a synagogue in the 19th
century, a Methodist chapel in
the early 20th century, and has
been a mosque since 1976.
i 19 Princelet
Street
19 Princelet St E1. Map 8 E5. Tel 020
7247 5352. 1 Liverpool St. Open
infrequently, check website for dates.
∑ 19princeletstreet.org.uk
This 1719 Huguenot silk
Christ Church, Spitalfields, dominates the merchant’s house, with a Authentic Indian pastries, biscuits and
surrounding streets Victorian synagogue hidden sweets for sale in Brick Lane

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