eastlondonhistory.com

Are there any lists of stall holders in the 1940s?

I used to be in touch with Jo Barnett deceased [son of Harry] who was ”

“Barnett of Frying Pan Alley” with his cousin Morris (mermaid topped blue vans) since 1975 part of Associated Fisheries; then with H.Foreman & Sons, salmon curers.”

I have just received this from another Barnett in a different branch:

“I vaguely recall that in Petticoat Lane (where my Great-uncles Harry and Louis Barnett had the smoked-salmon business- a very small shop where they smoked salmon in the back-yard -  no ‘elf & Safety then! )  and  a few yards further on there was another Barnett deli  where people would buy their  meat & salt-beef sandwiches.   This was also a well-known and a favourite Jewish food as were smoked-salmon sandwiches on rye sold by H & L  and even today both are a mainstay of Jewish delis.  In America salt beef  is called Pastrami.  Salt beef has to be hot, served on rye bread and accompanied by a pickled gherkin.

The only thing that comes to mind now is that the ‘other ‘ Barnett was a half-brother or even a cousin, and   didn’t get on with H and  L.    As it was  and still is, customary for a husband to go out on Sunday morning and buy one or the other for lunch for the family, so the wife has a rest (those who could afford it, that is)  they were competing for customers.    Or  maybe some animosity  was due to their relationship with H & L.

A very distant memory thinks that there was a Louis there or maybe a Michael - or maybe my mind is playing tricks. but as I never went there I cannot tell you more.   Have you ever contacted the local history museum and/or the library of the borough of Tower Hamlets as I remember that they have records of the Lane  and may be of use especially as the smoked-salmon business became well known enough to eventually supply the Royal Family and were allowed to put  the royal coat of arms up outside”purveyors  to Their Majesties Queen Elizabeth 11 and King George V1″ I still have newspaper cuttings referring to H & L ”

Anybody who can help, contact annchiswell@yahoo.co.uk

This blog started out as an online presence for the pieces I’ve been writing for East End Life for the last 13 years. Those features go out now (as back then) to the ‘lucky’ folk of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, who get a free copy posted through their door each week (actually it’s not free as they pay for it through their Council Tax but let’s not get too semantic about this). The wonderful thing is, though, that the website has mutated far beyond the few miles bounded by the City of London, the borough of Hackney, the River Lea and the River Thames. I’m increasingly getting emails from people all over the planet, who have family connections with the East End and want to retrace their roots.

Now I’m not a genealogist, and I haven’t the time to help people with their family trees (though I wish you disparate Australians, New Zealanders, South Africans, Americans and Canadians, for that’s largely who gets in touch, the best of luck). I CAN however, post your requests for info in a dedicated section on the site, within which this is the first entry. The idea is that you can ask … and the helpful readers within the blogosphere will respond. Well it’s a theory. From time to time I’ll also post any useful information on where to look, who to contact, and other resources as they come my way.

So come on down. If you are trying to retrace your East End roots, or you just have a letter or story to share with us, let me know. It doesn’t have to be a response to another post, you can just drop me an email at eastlondonhistory@googlemail.com. Look forward to hearing from you.