Brick Lane is a street in the Borough of Tower Hamlets, in the East End of London (England). Today, it is the heart of the Bangladeshi community of the UK. Its name comes from the brick and tile manufacture in the area in the 15th century. In the 17th century, it was settled in by the French Huguenots, who were known as master weavers in the Spitalfields area.  In the 19th century, the area experienced an influx of Irish migrants and Ashkenazi Jews. In the 20th century, Bangladeshi Bengalis were the major group of settlers in the area.

In London Labour and the London Poor edition: 

Phase 1

Of the Publishers and Authors of Street-Literature. (Volume 1): "The present street literature printers and publishers are, Mrs. Ryle (Catnach’s niece and successor), Mr. Birt, and Mr. Paul (formerly with Catnach), all of the Seven Dials; Mr. Powell (formerly of Lloyd’s), Brick-lane, Whitechapel; and Mr. Good, Aylesbury-street, Clerkenwell. Mr. Phairs, of Westminster; Mr. Taylor, of the Waterloo-road; and Mr. Sharp, of Kent-street, Borough, have discontinued street printing. One man greatly regretted Mr. Taylor’s discontinuing the business; 'he was so handy for the New-cut, when it was the New-cut.'"

Of the Low Lodging-Houses. (Volume 1): "I have slept in a room in Brick-lane, Whitechapel, in which were fourteen beds. In the next bed to me, on the one side, was a man, his wife, and three children, and a man and his wife on the other. They were Irish people, and I believe the women were the men’s wives—as the Irish women generally are. Of all the women that resort to these places the Irish are far the best for chastity. All the beds were occupied, single men being mixed with the married couples. The question is never asked, when a man and woman go to a lodging-house, if they are man and wife."