The Petticoat Lane Story

Petticoat Lane starts at the North East edge of the City of London, and ends at the southern edge of the market mile, running down from Spitalfields. From the mid-1600s through to the swinging 60’s, it’s been a place that conjured up images of streets crammed with cockney traders, selling fashion, leather goods and jewellery to eager punters keen to pick up a bargain.

1600's 1700's 1880's 1970's The Present The Future

By 1608, it had become a commercial district where second-hand clothes and cheap goods were sold and exchanged, known as ‘Peticote Lane’.[6] This was also where the Spanish ambassador had his house, and the area attracted many Spaniards from the reign of James I. Petticoat Lane was severely affected by the Great Plague of 1665; the rich fled, and London lost a fifth of its population.

Ancient drovers trail 1600's

1600's

Huguenots fleeing persecution arrived in the late 17th century; many settled in the area, and master weavers settled in the new town of Spitalfields. The area already had an association with clothing, with dyeing a local industry. The cloth was pegged out on hooks in the surrounding fields. These were known as tentergrounds. From the mid-18th century, Petticoat Lane became a centre for manufacturing clothes. The market served the well-to-do in the City, selling new garments.

The new town 1700's

1700's

From 1882, a wave of Jewish immigrants fleeing persecution in eastern Europe settled in the area. The chapels, which had previously served the Huguenot community, were adapted as synagogues. Many Jewish relief societies were founded to aid the poor. Jewish immigrants entered the local garment industry and maintained the traditions of the market.

Refuge 1880's

1880's

Beginning in the 1970s, a new wave of immigration from India and east Asia restored the area’s vitality – centred on nearby Brick Lane.

Restoring the area 1970's

1970's

Today, Petticoat Lane is home to a diverse mix of market traders, brick-and-mortar stores, unique venues, pubs, bars, and restaurants. The area is still renowned for its textiles and fabrics – known as a hub for West African prints – and is home to an eclectic mix of cultures and characters. In Petticoat Lane, there’s a story round every corner!

A diverse trading hub The Present

The Present

Petticoat Lane has always had a reputation of celebrating diversity and creativity. Key partners and community members are continuing to take this reputation into the area’s future, with more local projects and events that celebrate the culture and history of Petticoat Lane.