Give this man his own television series. As always, thanks so much for all your hard work.

I remember London before it was gentrified & i miss it. I'm so grateful for historians. 🙏❤

Goodness that took me back. My husband and I had coffee somewhere around there when we were on our honeymoon. I hadn't remembered it in years! I have a photo of him somewhere. It was a really good photo. I'll have to dig it out.

Out of the frying pan and into one of Rob’s splendid documentaries… 🍳🍳🍳 You bring the streets of London to life every time 👌👌👌

Fascinating documentary Rob. The diversity of your productions never ceases to amaze me. Your research library appears to be endless. Thanks for such interesting content. Lance

Ah! Bennett’s of Frying Pan Alley, I’d forgotten Mr Bennett. His adverts used to appear every month in ‘Angling’ magazine - a far better journal than anything published today. And Bennett’s adverts were equally tasteful and filled with gentle humour. Thanks for a very interesting video. Les

This content is far superior to anything I've ever seen in the mainstream media. Please keep up the good work. This sort of well-researched content is needed to educate future generations and help them avoid repeating the mistakes of the past.

Rob, there are so many channels on KZfaq that are complete rubbish . Yours will never fall into that category . Yet again, another feast of interest with amazing detail, Only a week ago, I was wandering the streets and passage ways of the city out as far as Liverpool Street Station so close yet so far away from this excellent video

I've been watching your vids for some years. I'm a NE lad, now returned to my home town, but I spent a lot of time in London, living in Pimlico, working as a taxi dispatcher in Hammersmith, and other jobs elsewhere. I know London probably as well as a Londoner half my age of 71. So much for history: I've subscribed - long overdue, I concede - because of a continuing fascination with our capital city. Thanx for what you do; long may you do it ❤

As I was weeding my garden yesterday, I thought it would be cool if someone posted videos about their town. London was the first place I thought of. And voila, here we are. New subscriber.

Love the endless stories of the history of our city London. Oh to have a time machine and just go back for a day to experience.

It’s good to have such a balance of subjects - your videos zip by because they’re so interesting and absorbing.

That was an emotional journey Rob and I agree, so glad to be living in the relative comfort of the present. Thank you, this is a gem.

I live in the US now, but my roots are from the ration-era of1950's Manchester. Thank you very much for your excellent videos. With gratitude and love ❤

Rob your videos are so interesting. You are definitely one of the best social historians on KZfaq by a country mile. ❤

Wow! Amazing video. I lived in Frying Pan Alley Spitalfields for a brief period several years ago. Given it was so close to Liverpool street, it was pretty quiet really, the only footfall was for the Hummingbird Bakery! To think of all that had happened there, fascinating and disconcerting all at once!

Don't think I have ever caught one of your videos before. I really enjoyed this. Your diction is clear, you enunciated your words, didn't rush the subject. Accent is lovely. Thank you x

Just love these stories of old London! An amazing city. Thanks again Rob and please do keep them coming,

Really fascinating. Hours of research must have gone into that video so thank you.

Lovely stuff Rob. I knew of Frying Pan Alley, from my Jack the Ripper readings, but bever knew there was so many of them. The new buildings in Spitalfields, have definitely taken a lot of the old east end charm.

Thanks for the videos, a lot of fascinating facts about London

Thanks Rob for another great video on London Town! London is one of my favorite towns but sadly I've only been there though various authors like Dickens, Doyle, and Arronnovitch. One of the reasons I love your channel because your videos bring these places to life. It's also sad to think of the living conditions our ancestors went through, just to repeat and do it all over again. I'm fairly certain most of us couldn't live that same life today.

First time viewer, here in Texas USA. Fascinating story telling! Thanks ❤

Cheers Rob for another informative slice of Londons history. Keep up the great work

A bit of History with a coffee, perfect Sunday evening pass time, thanks Rob 🙂

I used to work 2 minutes walk from the extant Frying Pan Alley, and had previously worked 5 minutes walk from the lost Frying Pan Alley in Clerkenwell.

Another brilliant film. Having researched my family history in the years circa 1980- 2000 I've had glimpses of the sort of research you've done to make these films and I appreciate how much work goes in. I don't know how much of your sources is now online and available digitally but the searching is still time consuming. In my experience you always found that tiny but highly significant detail on the last page you looked at! I have The Abyss on my Kindle but I stoped reading it halfway. I CANT READ any more. It hurts TOO MUCH. There is an interesting story in my family history,I mean a London one,a chap called William Roupell is in my family history but not a direct ancestor. I am descended from,or my line you could say from his grandfather + mother. My gt gt grandfather William Henry Brand was first cousin to his father Richard Palmer Roupell. I'll stop there or I'll lose the plot! Thanks for yet another enlightening video and London scenes of today.

Thanks Rob. I always appreciate your interesting and well narrated videos. Grim reality is best not swept under the carpet.

Cheers mate! It's just mad what people went through on those streets I'm passing by now and then. Absolutely mad.

Absolutely brilliant & enlightening. Those poor people. Very well narrated. You bet I'm subscribing !

Another Sunday night made, thanks 😊

Absolutely interesting. I love hearing about the street names and I hope you continue to do more of them! Thanks Rob

I have lived near London (Crawley) for over 15 years and only now am I really getting a closer insight into the city - thank you very much 👍👍!

Used to live a short distance away in Vallance Rd and walked through the alley when it was fairly nondescript mainly in the 70s. Also worked fairly close almost opposite Aldgate tube as a post room assistant. Needless to say, its changed almost beyond recognition even in the last 25-30 years. Yet another case of the City invading this corner of the East End

So much fun to watch and recognize areas.

I hugely enjoyed this. I work on Middlesex Street, right accross Frying Pan Alley which in fact many a colleague and I frequently walk through to reach the backstreets or the Market at lunchtime. Amazing to learn so much about an area I find so fascinating in just one 16 minute video! I have subscribed! 👏

Thanks for a fascinating, although quite sad, video. I love all the history in London. You do a great job bringing it to your subscribers.

Thanks for a wonderful story of lost London streets 🎉

Hi Rob! I have missed one or two due to study but latched onto this one and pleased to be yet again educated in a most interesting and friendly way! Brilliant!Thank you. Rob

Have to wonder if the US term "Tin Pan Alley" originates from similar. It's mostly associated with a type of music, but maybe it was likely music that would be found in a tin pan alley. I have a hard time believing "tin pan alley" just came from nothing to describe a type of music, despite what a google search turns up.

If anyone could write a historical book on London it would be you Rob and make a series of them I am sure anyone of us would buy them :) So well researched as you usually are would make interesting reading :) Award winning stuff even for a topic such as this sadly the same people exist today are homeless and in the same predicaments as the people featured sadly though we are in a modern world poverty still exists without a street name. Is interesting over time how London has changed to hide such a history I am glad you have brought it back up to discussion. Thanks Rob :)

Very well done. Thank you for the Jack London information. May they all rest in peace.

Sat down to dinner this evening and we said: what shall we watch and lo and behold Rob had posted his new video! Great always interesting, this one being a very sad one.. This is such a London story. and i know ! such funny strange street names! bit scarey too...Not long ago i found out about how the Salvation army was wonderfully and really actively helping the poor under William Booth all over England and Scotland in the 1800s, really changing peoples lives. He wrote a book called: Deepest darkest England' to highlight to others the harsh lives of the poor during the 1800's even though England boasted of being a wealthy nation. Any way we always love watching your films Rob and im always impressed with the background music you pick. Great stuff.

Nice work! Very thorough, informative, and interesting. I also enjoy your voice. Keep up the good work, and thanks!

The amazing thing is that none of your rivals on here has found this fascinating subject before.

Hi Rob, Hope you are keeping well, Great video subject, The production values are excellent, And I am continuing to enjoy your fantastic content, Thank you

Thank you Rob, once again you have brought to life a piece of London history. Looking forward to the next one.

Exceptional work Rob, brilliant video. Absolutely loved it, thanks once again.

Another great video Rob. It's always great to no about old london days gone by. 👍👍👍👍

Another great video Rob, top class.

New Rob’s!Im so exited!!

Great video Rob! From Brooklyn, NY.

Great stuff as always Rob, thanks for your hard work uploading this. Cheers, Robert.

I've just been in town for the BAFTAs. I watch this, and I want to go back! As much time as I've spent in London, I still don't feel like I know the town. Thanks for the guided tour! Cheers!

Very interesting and informative glimpse of history. You've clearly done your homework well. Many thanks!

Another great journey Thanks. I myself am just another LONDONER 🇬🇧💯🆘 With a HARDENED INDIFFERENCE 🤕🎬🙏👍 CHEERS MATE💪🤩🥇🇬🇧

Brilliant work as always rob keep up the good work 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

I’m a romantic at heart, I’ve worked in the city for years and always wanted Frying Pan Alley as my address. I still walk around it regularly just to remind myself how great a name it is. Never photographed a street name as much as this one. Lovely video, thank you!

Great video, I'm fascinated with how London streets were named. I'm looking forward to watching more of your videos! 😊

My my what a trip! Both geographical and chronological, how diligent thou art, thank you for all your efforts.

Little Dorit and in Oliver twist Charles Dickens has told us the dark ,slum and poverty .In 19th century he made a tour of London and saw poor areas where life was miserable,crime was rampant,I think frying pan alley of spittlefield and Lambeth might be those mentioned by Charles Dickens

Hi Rob, I live in Scotland and will probably never go back to London, haven't visited since the nineties, there's too many people. Thanks to your videos I can see so much of that grand city. I picture you spending hours researching in the British Library 💚

I worked in Rowell House alongside which was the Spitalfields Frying Pan Alley. Fond memories.

“Razor Blade Alley”- Madness 1983. 🥁🎤

Excellent as always my friend. Thankyou . You deserve more viewers and subs .

Love your video's, I've said it before, I was a cycle courier in London in the 80s and 90s, and the amazing changes since then( kind of sad ) great stuff learning about the streets that I knew so well, Nice one👌👍

9:13 "Who on earth was naming these places?" I imagine this was just a joke, but in case anyone's curious: The names on maps were usually taken from locals' names for them, they often didn't have official names. As an early part of the video alluded to, Frying Pan Alleys were usually named for ironmongers' shop signs, but what it didn't mention is probably that the reason these signs were taken as the name is because they were probably the best identifying mark for those particular alleys, perhaps visible from near the entrance to the alley. The various "Naked Boys" most likely referred to pub signs or other images of mythological/allegorical characters such as Cupid, Bacchus, or putti, a not uncommon sight on houses and pubs, their intended meaning opaque to the uneducated locals.

Very interesting and enjoyable!

Well researched - good stuff 👍

Nice work once again, Rob... Just love the phrase "Curious of prying into futurity"..!

Another great video my friend ❤️Thank you Thank you 😊

Thank you so much for your amazing research Rob! I enjoy these stories from London that I wouldn't normally know. I look forward to your next one

Another person from that area was Mickey Davis. He lived on the south east corner of the Spital Fields Marker. He was a local councilor, dentist and set up what was known as 'Mickey's Shelter', accross the street during the blitz. Appauled by the state of the place, he organised cleaning rosters, entertainment and tea. I think she should at least have a blue plaque.

Another fascinating video. Thanks!!

I have family who lived in similar places in the mid 1800s. Clerkenwell and Islington. St Pancras. Stepney. Some were in and out of the workhouse. This was very interesting.

Good job Rob, as ever :)

I love this guy’s adorable voice. He should narrate children’s books.

This was excellent! Thank you so much!

Hello Rob Another excellent researched and edit video. Love old maps of London. Thanks for the video. Take care Chris and Sandra of Canada.

Blimey, what a brilliant video! I was about to ignore it… gladly I didn’t. New subscriber, most certainly! 😃

Amazing video Rob, thank you. I am re publishing my story The Old Man and the Jackal, which appeared in Katt of Ten Tales in a separate volume with another, The Price of Shoes. Both have a strong message about social conditions in 100 years ago. I wrote The Price of Shoes after discovering the Victorian court system where families would live in a small number of houses arranged in a courtyard and having just one outside toilet and one cold water tap for everyone to use. At the same time, mill owners were throwing up huge mansions with every conceivable comfort. Thank you for high-lighting how ordinary people are constantly failed, even today.

Worked near Spitalfields for four years in the early 1990s. Used to take long walks around the area at lunchtimes, fascinating history, as everyone probably knows it's also Jack the Ripper territory. You could feel the history oozing out of every brick & cobble. When I started there it was the last days of the fruit & veg market and I watched several entrepreneurs turn it into something more like Camden Market. Great film, you made me nostalgic for London, but I wouldn't want to live there now - too old!

Really interesting, thanks Rob

So educational. Well done

Thanks, Rob.

Thank you for this fascinating video.

Another excellent Sunday evening video.

Wow, this unique video really shows how lucky we are today.

Surprise, it’s not about cooking! This episode was very interesting. I don’t suppose there will come a day when all the history of London has been explored. Thank you.

Rob's videos showcasing London are indeed THE best on London. I agree with Jake ... someone give Rob his own series on TV although Rob you might have to be seen but that could be your USP. Never being seen, just heard and people will start wondering who the man is behind the cartoon bird. A social historian a la Banksy!! You really are mega fab.

Another fascinating video Rob thank you! I have a question, where did the people go when a sum area was cleared? Also, I learned about the green cabby boxes this week. There is another great Historian like you whom I learnt this from, but they are only shorts and not as much detail and research as your videos. Love yours so much more :-)

There is an alleyway in wakefield called Salt Pie Alley! I have always loved the name.

Wonderful video, as usual Rob👍🏼

Thanks again John in Chicago

Great video Rob. In some of the older London libraries (try Purley) there might be a book that lists every street name that the London County Council changed in the 1920s. My street Plough Way changed from plough Road so not much change but some streets were completely renamed. I'm sure frying pan alleys were among them. Hope this helps

Your research my friend, is so different and involved, I take my hat off to you. Thanks for this. Question for you though, what would be your specialist subject be on Mastermind (with Magnus Magnusson of course)?

Very interesting and informative Rob❤

Very cool video! 🤗

Love your video's! Greetings from Victoria across the pond on another island.

Coo, I used to work at Steamship Mutual Assurance right on the corner of Frying Pan Alley and Goulston St as it went up to Spitalfields market. Used to love that part of East London.