Altab Ali Park and St Boniface Church Tower

Altab Ali Park and St Boniface Church Tower, originally uploaded by louisberk.

Abandoned building Gt Eastern Street

Abandoned building Gt Eastern Street, originally uploaded by louisberk.

This building always fascinates me when I am on my way from Old Street to Whitechapel. It is abandoned and the only tenants are the pigeons that inhabit the floors and sit in the windows watching the world pass by.

Footbridge to Pedley Street, E1

Nikon FE, XP2 400, Nikkor 2.8/AiS

Life Imitating Art

This picture was taken some time in May of 2008 in Hanbury Street close to the crossroads with Brick Lane. Initially, I actually thought the random placing of discarded drink cans and food containers was an installation exhibit for the art exhibition. It certainly looks like something an admirer of Tracey Emin would come up with. But then it dawned on me, it was only the detritus left over from the opening night of the exhibition. I wish I'd had time to go inside and see the real exhibits!

TV Dinner in Hanbury Street

I walked past this discarded TV for about two weeks watching it slowly fill up as if it were a rubbish bin. Several times I stopped and photographed it. People passing me by must have thought I had a screw loose or was from the council. I thought it said something about our society. Firstly, why would anyone just throw such a thing in a street? Then, what kind of mind would see the opportunity to use it for their rubbish?

Hanbury Street cycle lane, E1

Hanbury Street is a well known thoroughfare linking Spitalfields with Whitechapel. At the Whitechapel end it becomes a cycle lane connecting to Valance Road. Near the Spitalfields end is the place where the second Jack the Ripper victim was found in 1888.

This is the spot in Whitechapel where the first victim of the Whitchapel Murders (aka 'Jack the Ripper' murders) was found, on the 31st Agust 1886. The School Board of London building which dominates Durward Street is the only artifact remaining of the time and remains a brooding presence in Whitechapel. This picture can be found in my book "Walk to Work: from the City to Whitechapel"