INTRODUCTION
Growing up in and around Petticoat Lane was sometimes tough, sometimes fun, and sometimes children had to move away for a while. What they always had was a strong sense of community, and children learned from their parents that helping each other out and making time for friendships was the most important thing, even during the hardest days.
MARKET DAYS
Petticoat Lane contains market stalls on Sundays and Wentworth Street, adjoining Petticoat Lane, operates on weekdays. From the time of its earliest markets, probably in the late 16th century, Petticoat Lane market has been a huge part of local children’s lives. Children would have worked at the market and would have shopped there too. Many children would consider the market a social hub and a place to meet their friends, chat with the stallholders, and enjoy the entertainment the patter provided.
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The market evolved in line with the local cultural shifts while keeping some die-hard traditions along the way. Plenty of local celebrities added to the bustling market's vibrant, lively and colourful atmosphere.
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The researcher for this piece, Natalie, asked her mother Sally-Ann (1957-2024) about her memories of Petticoat Lane. She told her:
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"Mum and Dad were from the East End. They moved up to Hertfordshire before I was born, but they always considered Petticoat Lane the place to buy things like clothes and fabrics and bits for the house. Dad would drive us there from St. Albans sometimes for a day out.
My parents were familiar with Market culture because some of their family had been traders. Mum would get quite excited about taking me there before my birthday for a new dress, and I didn’t mind, but I was more excited to look around all the stalls selling everything from lampshades to pets! Best of all, was choosing something for lunch; we seldom ate out back then, so it was a real treat. I can remember the sounds, especially the patter very clearly and Mum gripping my hand or the neck of my jumper to make sure I didn’t wander off and get lost." – Sally-Ann
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Copyright Clara Ely & Tower Hamlets Local History Library & Archives
GEORGE YARD RAGGED SCHOOL
Founded by George Holland, a grocer from the nearby Minories, this Ragged School was set up in an old distillery on Gunthorpe Street which was called George Yard until 1912. The building was destroyed in WW2 and replaced by Nagpal House, a residential and office block.
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Ragged Schools were set up to offer education and welfare to the poorest children of the 19th century. These included orphans, those whose parents were too sick to support them or children whose parents were in prison. They were common all over the country until the Elementary Education Act in 1870 which began to provide state funded schools for poor children.
GROWING UP ON THE LANE
The streets of The Lane were often the best place to be. Children could use their imaginations, roaming freely with their friends and enjoying simple games like tag and hide and seek. Old prams could be repurposed into go-karts and boys who owned a proper football could be sure of a knock from the neighbourhood group.
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Childcare options could be limited, meaning older children would bring their younger siblings along to various activities or chores, it wasn’t at all uncommon to spot an infant in a pram in the capable hands of a sister of nine or ten.
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The decades that followed brought exciting additions for children’s street play. As the economy and industry recovered from the war, an increasing number of bicycles, trikes and fancy dolls prams appeared, many of which can be seen at The Young V&A in Bethnal Green today. As the use of plastics increased, toys could be made increasingly cheaply and summer favourites like water pistols and toy bow and arrows were available to most.
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The introduction of the National Health Service, vaccination programs, welfare benefits and education reform had brought a golden age for children. In the later 20th century, children were healthier and happier than ever before. For the first time, it was normal for the working-class children to enjoy extended time for leisure outside of school and few were employed until well into their adolescence when a weekend job would supplement the household income.
Copyright Clara Ely & Tower Hamlets Local History Library & Archives
We played Jacks on the steps, hop-scotch, two balls on the wall, French skipping, and Tin Tan Tommy. We would all hide and someone would be 'it' and had to call out if they found us before we could run home
Jacqui*
CALL FOR THE DOCTOR
There are many important events concerning children’s health around the Lane. Infections spread quickly and could be difficult to treat. Over time, important lessons were learned about hygiene and sanitation and things improved. The major outbreaks of disease and the poor conditions some people lived in had a lasting effect on local people, especially the children.
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Whitechapel was very badly affected by the plague outbreak in 1665-66. It was a serious infection which killed about 20% of Londoners. Many of those who were wealthy fled London (although often taking the infection with them), but the poor had to stay.
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There were several outbreaks of cholera across London in the 19th century. Makeshift hospitals were set up in the workhouses or private residences for cholera patients. A small hospital was set up in the parish of St George-in-the-East on Vinegar Lane which is now called Hardinge Street, near Shadwell.
Listen to June talking about activities for children at Whitechapel Art Gallery and her local library
HOME AND AWAY - EVACUATING CHILDREN FROM THE PETTICOAT LANE AREA
Many children from the Lane were included in the evacuations of 'Operation Pied Piper', which began on 1st September 1939 during World War II. Thousands of children from large cities such as London, Manchester and Birmingham were sent out into the British countryside for their own safety, and some sent abroad to other parts of the British Empire. It was mostly working-class children who were evacuated by the government as wealthier families usually made their own arrangements. While the government encouraged evacuation, it was voluntary, meaning some families chose not to send their children. Some children also decided to return to their home cities early, and many were in London when the Blitz started in September 1940. The government made posters to try and persuade families to keep their children out of London.
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Records show that most children taken from the Lane were sent to Wales, Devon, Cornwall and Cambridgeshire. Many of the evacuations were organised via schools, giving the child a good chance of being sent to a village with some of their friends. In many cases, the teachers would join evacuees. This wasn’t always the case though, and there are plenty of accounts from children who were lonely and frightened.
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The effects of evacuation lasted well after the war ended. By mixing the inner-city working classes and the wealthier homes they stayed in, it really highlighted the differences in lifestyles. Evacuees had lived quite differently to their parents. Sometimes, returning home was challenging for them.
[I] was never at home! We played football and cricket around the buildings. One neighbour used to tell us to 'sling our hook'...or worse! We played run outs, Tin Tan Tommy, British Bulldog and also went to the Brady Club.
Michael*
* In April 2025, Natalie, the researcher working on this theme, asked for memories of the Lane on the Facebook group 'Memories of Petticoat Lane and Surrounding Areas'. The quotes used on this page are taken from the responses, with permission from contributors.
Listen to Ian talking about the hustle and bustle of the Market when he was a child
Researched and written by Natalie​