Spitalfields, East London

Walking Tour Around Spitalfields In The East End Of London

Mary Shelley was born here, in her grandfather's house on Primrose Street. The busy environment and her father's silk weaving business shaped her early experiences. 

In the late 1700s, Spitalfields in East London was a vibrant and diverse area, known for its bustling markets and a significant community of silk weavers. Spitalfields was renowned for its silk weaving industry, largely driven by the Huguenots, French Protestant refugees who settled in the area in the late 17th century.  The area was characterized by its distinctive Georgian architecture. Many of the houses built during this period were designed to accommodate the looms used by the weavers. These buildings often had large windows to maximize natural light for the intricate work. 

The area was home to a mix of different communities, including the Huguenots, Irish immigrants, and later, Jewish refugees. This diversity contributed to the rich cultural tapestry of Spitalfields. Despite its vibrancy, Spitalfields also faced economic challenges. The silk industry experienced fluctuations, and many weavers struggled with poverty and harsh working conditions. 

“Life and Death in Spitalfields 1700 to 1850.” Archaeologydataservice.ac.uk, 2025, archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/library/browse/issue.xhtml?recordId=1069867. Accessed 4 May 2025.

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Parent Map

Echoes of Empowerment: Women’s Journey Through British Literary History-KW

Coordinates

Latitude: 51.518926300000
Longitude: -0.074847800000

Timeline of Events Associated with Spitalfields, East London

Date Event Manage
27 Apr 1759

Birth of Mary Wollstonecraft

Mary Wollstonecraft was a pioneering English writer and philosopher, best known for her advocacy of women's rights.  Wollstonecraft worked as a schoolteacher and governess, experiences that inspired her views on education. In 1788, she began working as a translator for the London publisher James Johnson, who published several of her works. Wollstonecraft had several unconventional relationships. She had a daughter, Fanny Imlay, with Gilbert Imlay. Later, she married the philosopher William Godwin in 1797. Wollstonecraft's second daughter, Mary Shelley, born shortly before her death, became an accomplished writer known for Frankenstein. Mary Wollstonecraft died on September 10, 1797, in London, just days after giving birth to Mary Shelley. She was 38 years old. Wollstonecraft is regarded as one of the founding feminist philosophers. Her works, particularly A Vindication of the Rights of Men, are considered classics of feminist literature. 

The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. “Mary Wollstonecraft.” Encyclopædia Britannica, 11 Mar. 2025, www.britannica.com/biography/Mary-Wollstonecraft.

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