Stepney Green

Branching off the Mile End Road is Stepney Green, which feels light years away from the main road after only walking a few meters into it. It is quiet and very pretty - laid out in the late 17th century. You might describe this as another Georgian square, although definitely not square. It is more a rectangle, and a long one at that. Stepney Green Gardens down the middle of it is more a strip. But overall it is gorgeous, and would be a fine example to follow for modern high density housing - four storey terraces overlooking attractive tree filled green, but one which is narrow so doesn't take up much land.

Stepney Green isn't a perfectly preserved or complete "square" as it does have later Victorian, and beyond that, late 20th century additions.

Nor even are the Georgian terraces uniform.

I managed to get this shot through the parked cars on the right side (the left is a pedestrian lane). Mostly wanted to capture the cat on the steps!

As I say, the left side is a pedestrian lane only, and far nicer for it.

This is the best of the Georgian houses.

This is Stepney Green Court - an example of a late Victorian philanthropic housing development for the poor

Below is the gate to the Stepney Jewish School - hence the monogram SJS. Actual building is below that, although the school moved to Ilford (along with over time most of the rest of the East End Jewish community which is now up in north west London)

And this is St Dunstan's, the parish church of Stepney. My guide book described this as "a little too far away to include in this walk (unless you have time)". Actually it is less than half a mile further on, and anyway OF COURSE I HAVE TIME. Surely by definition anyone on a walk has time. If you hadn't got time, you wouldn't be pottering about on a walk in the first place!

I always find crows around a grave slightly ominous...

Past the church is another fine old terrace

A nice little monument, albeit a little stranded.

Back on the main road this is another splendid mansion - Malplaquet House. Built in 1741, it was once home to the Charrington Brewery family, then became obscured by old shop fronts before being recently restored.