Spitalfields visit

Last week I went to Spitalfields for the second time. I find the juxtaposition of the big glass buildings , the eighteenth century buildings, the vast Hawsmoor church leading up to Brick Lane so exciting. It truly is a place of contrasts - the collosal Allen and Overy glass building in the middle of the historic streets being one of the most noticeable for me and a unmissable sign of the wealth pumped back into the area over the last few decades. It is a fascinating part of London and wandering through the eighteenth century streets feels like stepping back in time.

I was visiting the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings which is housed in a stunning eighteenth century building on Spital Square. I support this society and its work and met with Philip Venning, the society's Secretary.

I wondered around Spitalfields imagining what it would be like to live in one of those houses. The large sash windows, impressive front doors and beautiful red brick of the terraces is so beautiful. They were built by the Huguenots when they fled France. I was being characteristically inquisitive trying to get little peeks of interiors.

Many architectural historians live in Spitalfields and it is not hard to see why. Having one's own slice of history is very appealing especially when the attractions of the City and fashionable East London are right on your door step. Having Liverpool Street station so close means that it is very easy to escape to the country or even abroad via Stansted Airport only 45 minutes away by train.

Spitalfields was notoriously run down in the 1970s and many buildings were rescued by architecture enthusiastics and historians. The Spitalfields Trust is a prominent preservation and campaign group which was set up in the 1970s to save and protect buildings in Spitalfields. (The remit is now larger and they work on buildings outside of London too). Houses in Spitalfields are now very expensive to buy and I doubt that many changes hand now and if they do, it will be infrequently.

My first glance at Christ Church took my breath away! It is truly awe-inspiring! It is absolutely huge and dominates the skyline. Since my visit I have discovered that it was built to impress the locals and encourage them to turn to Anglicanism. It was built between 1714-1729 under an Act of Parliament in 1711 which required the building of fifty new churches to serve the new populations on the fringes of London.

The rectory beside is stunning as well. I had a quick look at the back of it and it has a large narrow garden and two double storey bays. It is huge and very impressive.

Since 1976 the Christ Church has been subject to a restoration programme led by the Friends of of Christ Church Spitalfields. Since this date they have raised and spent £10 million and have won awards for the attention to detail, high standard of workmanship and the quality of finish. http://www.christchurchspitalfields.org/

My next visit to Spitalfields is going to be to Dennis Severs' house on Folgate Street which is described as " a time capsule that is sometimes opened up". Dennis Severs was an American artist who bought 15 Folgate Street and restored it in a historically accurate way. I have not been before but am very excited and intrigued. The atmosphere of Spitalfields and the house obviously captured Severs' imagination as he created imagined scenes in the room of his house and pretended as if he was living among the house's various occupants over a period between 1724 and 1914. The tour is conducted in silence and apparently "your senses are the guide". I want to do the candlelit tour which is held on a Monday.

I will keep you updated on my trip there.