19 Princelet Street
19 Princelet Street in Spitalfields is a magical unrestored Huguenot master silk weaver's home, whose shabby frontage conceals a rare surviving synagogue built over its garden.
As most Huguenots moved on, the elegant Georgian houses were sub-divided into lodgings and workshops. At 19 Princelet Street the attic windows were altered to let in more light for weavers to work, but later occupants of the house followed other trades and professions, including Mrs Mary Ellen Hawkins who used it as an industrial school, and Isaiah Woodcock who was a carver and gilder.
The Irish came, and later the Jewish emigrants from Eastern Europe. One little group of early arrivals, mostly from Poland, formed the Loyal United Friends Friendly Society to help newcomers, just as the Huguenots had pioneered such self-help groups in the late 17th and 18th centuries. They took a lease on 19 Princelet Street.
In the garden where the Ogier children once played, in 1869 the Jews erected a synagogue. Underneath the synagogue, they created a place where people came together, and - much later - prepared to fight together, against intolerance and fascism.
And 100 years later, up in the third floor attics, in 1969 a recluse, David Rodinsky, locked his door and … disappeared.
Address
19 Princelet Street
London E1 6QH
020 7247 5352
information@19princeletstreet.org.ukBuilt in 1719 this 'brick messuage' became the home of the Ogier family, who had escaped from persecution in France. They entered the silk weaving trade and prospered mightily.
Visit the Website
The Irish came, and later the Jewish emigrants from Eastern Europe. One little group of early arrivals, mostly from Poland, formed the Loyal United Friends Friendly Society to help newcomers, just as the Huguenots had pioneered such self-help groups in the late 17th and 18th centuries. They took a lease on 19 Princelet Street.
In the garden where the Ogier children once played, in 1869 the Jews erected a synagogue. Underneath the synagogue, they created a place where people came together, and - much later - prepared to fight together, against intolerance and fascism.
And 100 years later, up in the third floor attics, in 1969 a recluse, David Rodinsky, locked his door and … disappeared.
Address
19 Princelet Street
London E1 6QH
020 7247 5352
information@19princeletstreet.org.ukBuilt in 1719 this 'brick messuage' became the home of the Ogier family, who had escaped from persecution in France. They entered the silk weaving trade and prospered mightily.
Visit the Website
As the main topic for the presentation at the Annual Meeting of AEMI (29 September-3 October 2010, Bilbao, Spain) “Migration Studies and ICTs” has been proposed for the call of papers. Deadline: May 25, 2010.
The Histories of Home Subject Specialist Network’s Second Annual Conference, Multiple Belongings: Diaspora and Transnational Homes will take place on Friday 21 May at the British Library Conference Centre in London and will bring together academics, museum professionals, librarians and archivists. Booking deadline: Friday 14th May.
