Whitechapel Gallery

This weathervane is on top of the newly refurbished Whitechapel Gallery. There were plans to put a weathervane on top of the original building -it's taken over 100 years to realise that. The figure is, I believe, Erasmus and the artist is a Canadian, Rodney Graham.


I'm away for a few weeks, daily photos will continue to appear courtesy of Blogger's automated feature - as long as it is working.

Whitechapel Week - Day 10 - None so blind

Was there ever a pub better named? The Blind Beggar is notorious for being where Ronnie Kray shot George Cornell in cold blood. Walked in and shot him in front of everyone, and nobody saw a thing. Read the story on Diamond Geezer.


I'm away on holiday but daily posting will continue over the holiday period (you get good value weeks round here!)

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Whitechapel Week - Day 9 - Ideas are free

I saw a sign that said "Ideas Store" and went in to investigate. It turns out that it is a re-branded library - they are trying to encourage local people that might not normally go into a library. I love libraries, so I hope they succeed.


I'm away on holiday but daily posting will continue over the holiday period (you get good value weeks round here!)

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Whitechapel Week - Day 8 - The Market

The market in Whitechapel sometimes seems like a giant table, piled higher than you would think possible. Quality is variable, but there is some good stuff to be had.


I'm away on holiday but daily posting will continue over the holiday period.

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Whitechapel Week - Day 7 - No Junks

The East End has always been home to the latest wave of immigrant. These days, life is probably a little more complicated.


I'm away on holiday but daily posting will continue over the holiday period.

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Whitechapel Week - Day 6 - An angel's wings

Just outside the underground station is a memorial with an angel on the top with wings outstretched protectively. This was put there in 1911 "In grateful and loyal memory of Edward VII... erected from subscriptions raised by Jewish immigrants."

Classed as one of the finest monuments of the period, it reflects a subcurrent of anti-Semitism that was beginning to brew, fuelled by the wave of immigration over the turn of the century. These people were truly grateful to have found a safe haven.

So let me wish you all a Happy Christmas, and spare a thought for those in countries around the world where they don't take our freedom and wealth for granted.

And as I've found an Internet connection, here is a Christmas Card to all my readers, from Les Houches ( Chamonix).

I'm away on holiday but daily posting will continue over the holiday period.

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Whitechapel Week - Day 5 - Christmas Cheer

One of the perennial features of the area is the number of homeless and drunks that litter the streets. Although it was about 10 in the morning, this group was feeling no pain and carol singing for entertainment. I was going to reject this shot on the grounds that it is slightly out of focus, but then I decided that was quite appropriate.

I'm away on holiday but daily posting will continue over the holiday period.

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Whitechapel Week - Day 4 - Can you tell what it is yet?

I consider myself to be pretty informed about food but I found myself amazed that, of the 24 different foods that you can see in this photo, I could only name and use 12 of them.


I'm away on holiday but daily posting will continue over the holiday period.

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Whitechapel Week - Day 3 - No Class

Am I the only one that finds the idea of two classes of post very strange? What do they do with second class that makes it cheaper ? It still goes from the same place to the same place, they must just chuck it into a corner for a while to serve you right for being such a cheapskate. I can't recall seeing anything this bizarre in any other country.


I'm on holiday but daily posting will continue over the holiday period.

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Whitechapel Week - Day 2 - Urban Jungle

I don't know anything about the quality of the food and drink here, but I do like the colour scheme, that and the idea of a salsa class in a pub. I hope they practice their fancy footwork at the beginning of the sessions.


Daily posting will continue over the holiday period.

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Whitechapel Week - Day 1 - The Towers of Babel

This week while I'm on holiday, the photos will all be from Whitechapel High Street. It is a curious place, a true melting pot.

Let's set the scene - this is what the street looks like looking west. I rather like the way the Gherkin and Tower 42 are lost in a city-soup of mist and pollution - a modern day confusion of Babel. On your left, London Hospital, on your right, the underground station and a market.


Daily posting will continue over the holiday period.

See where on the London Daily Photo Map