Brick Lane

No excuses for returning to East London which despite constant urban renewal still offers some historical gems. Over the Christmas break I ventured up Brick Lane, heading north from Whitechapel Road beyond the curry houses to view the new Overground viaduct.

Looking north up Brick Lane. Former Bishopgate Depot overbridge abutment on left with street level tramway below.

This sweeps over Commercial Road and the site of the former Shoreditch LT East London line station in Brick Lane before dropping south under the Thames. Quite impressive but despite the wholesale demolition in this area to accomodate this new railway, parts of the original GER Bishopsgate Goods Depot remain underneath!

Street level tramway entrance off Brick Lane. Presumably huge quantities of grain were delivered to the former Trumans Brewery in Brick Lane from this yard.

Peep through gaps in the wooden gates that block the lower level entrance into the depot off Brick Lane and you can still see some of the original street level tramway, originally accessed via two wagon hoists from the open yard above. I guess that as you are now standing nearer Bethnal Green rather than trendy Spitalfields, progress as they call it runs at a slower pace! 

Tramway tracks still in situ!

The north side of the former Bishopsgate Depot with new viaduct alongside.