SPITALFIELDS

Spitalfields: the fields to the east of medieval priory and hospital of St. Mary Spital. A mainly rural area up to the beginning of the 17th century but by 1640 there had been some building along the southern and eastern fringes spreading from Whitechapel and the City. Rapid development in the next three decades brought the number of houses to about 1300, mostly small tenements crowded into narrow streets and alleyways. Christ Church Spitalfields was erected in 1714-1729 to cater for the rapidly growing population and as an attempt to combat the nonconformity of the area that had existed from 1612 with the first Baptist church in England.

Many foreigners, including French weavers, were already present by the time of the large influx of Huguenot refugees from France after the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685. Spitalfields gained the reputation in the 18th century as the centre of production of fine silks and in 1807 the population had reached over 15,000.

The slum buildings were being replaced by blocks of artisans' dwellings beginning with the first Peabody Buildings in Commercial Street in 1864. The new buildings were mainly occupied by Jewish immigrants who came into the area in increasing numbers from the 1880's, the weaving trade being replaced by small furriers' and clothing workshops. One building at the corner of Fournier Street and Brick Lane reflects the social changes that have occurred in Spitalfields. Built as a Huguenot chapel in 1743, it later became a Wesleyan chapel, a synagogue and is now a mosque.

Christ Church
from an original photograph by Betty Lewis

Greenwood's Maps 1827:

Spitalfields and surrounding area [343 Kbytes]

Church Records:

• Christ Church, Commercial St
  Baptisms 1729-1961, Marriages 1729-1964, Burials 1729-1859 : LMA
  Index to Banns Registers 1833-1861 : EoLFHS Publications
• St. Stephen, Commercial St
  Baptisms 1861-1930, Marriages 1862-1929 : LMA
• St. Anne (Roman Catholic), Underwood Rd
  Baptisms 1848- date, Marriages 1848- date : Not deposited
• Baptist Chapel, Church St
  Births 1772-1826 : PRO
• Church of the Artillery (French Church), Artillery Lane
  Baptisms 1691-1786, Marriages 1691-1754, Banns 1713-1733 : PRO
• Whites Row Chapel
  Baptisms 1756-1837 : PRO
  Baptisms 1756-1908 : LMA
• Eglise Neuve (French Church), Church Street
  Baptisms 1753-1809 : PRO
• French Church, Crispin Street
  Baptisms 1694-1716, Marriages 1694-1716 : PRO
• French Church, Pearl Street
  Baptisms 1698-1701, Marriages 1698-1701 : PRO
• French Church, Wheeler Street
  Baptisms 1703-1741, Marriages 1704-1741 : PRO
• Independent Chapel, Hope St
  Baptisms 1830-1836 : PRO
• La Patente de Spitalfields or La Nouvelle Patente (French Church),
  Paternoster Row /Brown's Lane
  Baptisms 1689-1785, Marriages 1689-1753 : PRO
• Methodist Chapel, Church St
  Baptisms 1836-1890 : LMA
• Répertoire Générale (Huguenot community general register),
  Baptisms 1689-1774 (La Patente) : PRO
  Baptisms 1695-1715 (Crispin Street) : PRO
  Baptisms 1703-1742 (Wheeler Street) : PRO
  Baptisms 1719 (Le Marché) : PRO
  Baptisms 1709-1716 (Bell Lane) : PRO
  Baptisms 1719-1740 (Brown's Lane) : PRO
• St. Jean (French Church), John Street
  Baptisms 1687-1823, Marriages 1687-1751 : PRO
• Wesleyan Chapel, Church St
  Baptisms 1815-1837 : PRO
  Baptisms 1838-1890 : LMA