Building Surveyor Old Spitalfields Market Area of East London

We have written this article for you to read and enjoy and to give you an insight into one of London's popular markets. Before you start to read it we would like to tell you a little about ourselves.

We are Independent Surveyors that carry out Building Surveys in East London including areas such as Spitalfields, Hackney, Whitechapel, Bethnal Green, Wapping and London Docklands. We also do valuations and schedules of condition on commercial properties in and around the Old Spitalfields Market area.

As Surveyors we probably pay more attention to properties around us than most people do even when we are not surveying them! We always recommend lifting your line of sight above eye level as there are some beautiful buildings to be seen and ones that most people miss as they rush about with their daily life. Surveyor tours are something that we would like to introduce. These would explain the architectural styles and details that we see when carrying out Building Surveys. We are also happy to walk a client around an area that we know as well as explaining the results of the structural survey of their house, office or shop.

 

A - Z of Information on Old Spitalfields Market

Old Spitalfields Market is set within a Victorian Market Hall in the East End of London.

 

A: ARTS MARKET

The Arts market at Spitalfields runs on a Thursday to Sunday at different intervals throughout the year. From November through December it runs on a weekly basis. Based on Market Street the Arts Market is an ideal venue to buy artwork from up and coming artists.

 

B: BRICK LANE MARKET

Within walking distance of Old Spitalfields market is Brick Lane Market. This is a traditional street market that sells almost everything and is spread out over a few different streets. There are also many curry houses on Brick Lane and once a year it hosts its own curry festival.

Brick Lane Market

 

C: COMMUNITY

In recent years the area of Spitalfields around the Old Spitalfields Market has thrived. The Spitalfields Community Trust Programme encourages this to continue by offering grants to people, groups or business that will have a positive impact on the local community.

 

DINING AND DRINKING

Old Spitalfields Market has a wide variety of restaurants to cater for most tastes including The Luxe owned by John Torrode of Masterchef fame. If beverages are your favourite thing then the TeaSmith has a tea bar serving a very large selection of oriental teas brewed in the traditional fashion. Adnams from Suffolk also have a shop here selling their award winning beers with free tasting in store all day long! Our Independent Surveyors sometimes visit some of the eateries in the market for a spot of lunch or a nice cup of tea before carrying out another Building Survey in the area.

 

E: EAST END

Old Spitalfields Market is located in the East End of London, not to be confused with East London which is a much bigger area. Today the East End is mainly contained within the expansive Borough of Tower Hamlets but this title would originally have applied to a smaller area with places such as Whitechapel, Bethnal Green and Stepney within it. The Borough of Tower Hamlets now covers some of the redeveloped areas such as the Docklands and the Isle of Dogs. As a densely populated residential area our Surveyors have often provided Home Buyer Reports and Building Surveys in Tower Hamlets.

Homebuyers Report or Structural Survey

 

F: FARM

Spitalfields City Farm is a mainly volunteer run farm that was opened in 1978. The main attraction of the Farm is the farmyard where there is a variety of animals to see and interact with. There are also pleasant garden and picnic areas within the Farm that make it a lovely day out. As part of a healthy eating incentive funded by the Big Lottery Fund's Local Food scheme th ey also provide free sessions on how to grow your own food and also how to cook it.

 

G: GEORGIAN

Spitalfields has some fine Georgian properties dating back to the early 18th century. Many of these houses were due to be demolished in the 1970s and 1980's but due to the Spitalfields Trust and other campaigners these were saved and renovated into the stunning properties they are today. Sadly some of the grander Georgian properties were demolished, such as those in Spital Square . As Surveyors we have often carried out Residential Building Surveys on Georgian properties and have addressed problems associated with their mansard roofs and the awkward guttering detail on them.

Mansard roof

H: HORNER BUILDINGS

In 1875 Robert Horner bought the lease for the market and proceeded to build the Horner Buildings around the market square which were completed in 1887. In 2005 the area around the old market and the Horner Buildings were re-developed. The development included restoring the Horner Buildings and the Victorian market hall to their former glory and also repairing the glass roof. The Horner Buildings are now Grade II listed. The new development next to the old market includes shops and restaurants and another market known as the Traders Market.

What does a surveyor do on a structural survey?

 

I: INDEPENDENT SURVEYORS

As Independent Surveyors we have carried out a variety of different surveys in the Tower Hamlets area of London including Residential Building Surveys and also Commercial Surveys. If you are buying a house or business in and around the Old Spitalfields Market area then call us for a truly independent opinion, we are not influenced by Banks, Building Societies or Estate Agents!

 

J: JULIAN WILD

Julian Wild is an artist who has exhibited a collection of Sculptures in Spitalfields entitled Market, to Market based on the title of an eighteenth century poem. The exhibition consists of large outdoor steel sculptures and some smaller ones constructed of wood, plastic and copper.

 

K: KID FRIENDLY

Old Spitalfields Market is very child friendly as there are family friendly restaurants and cafes to grab a bite to eat, room to manoeuvre buggy's and prams and if the British weather is doing its worst to spoil the day the market is fully undercover beneath a beautiful glazed Victorian roof.

 

L: LIVERPOOL STREET STATION

Liverpool Street Station is one of the busiest in the UK . The station was built on the original site of the Bethlem Royal Hospital (Bedlam as it is better known). The station was modernised in the 1980's and 1990's. Liverpool Street is the closest tube and mainline station to Old Spitalfields Market.

 

M: MUSIC CHARITY

Spitalfields music is a charity based in the Spitalfields area of Tower Hamlets. The charity organises festivals and music workshops within Spitalfields with the hope of bringing the community together through music.

 

N NEARBY ATTRACTIONS AND FACILITIES

Old Spitalfields Market is close to many places of interest. One of our favourites is the Old Truman Brewery. This was once Londons largest brewery and had over 1,000 employees in its heyday until its closure in the 1970's. Today it is a vibrant re-development of over 250 businesses including shops, offices, and restaurants in Victorian and Georgian settings. Over the years we have been involved in various redevelopment projects and have carried out Commercial Building Surveys such as Schedules of Condition.

Schedule of Condition for commercial properties

 

0: OLYMPICS

Spitalfields Market is very close to some of the venues of the London 2012 Summer Olympics. The Summer Olympic Games is the biggest major sports tournament in the world. Held every four years host countries have included the U.S.A, Russia , Australia , Spain , France, Greece and Germany .

 

P: PRIORY OF ST MARY SPITAL

The New Hospital of St Mary without Bishopgate later known as St Mary Spital covered the area we now know as Spitalfields. St Mary Spital was one of two hundred hospitals built in the 12th century to care for the sick and elderly in England .

 

Q: QUICK WALK FROM LIVERPOOL STREET STATION

Old Spitalfields Market is only a few minutes' walk from Liverpool Street tube station. Spitalfields market is bordered by Brushfield Street and Commercial Street , the latter of which forms part of the London congestion charge boundary.

 

R: ROMAN LADY

In 1999 a whole skeleton of a Roman lady was unearthed in a cemetery near Spitalfields Market. She was thought to have been a wealthy important Roman and was buried in the 4th century. The excavation of the site was carried out before the development of Spitalfields Market and is now thought to have once been the cemetery of many of Londons wealthiest Romans.

 

S: SUSTAINABILITY

The Spitalfields Estate that surrounds Old Spitalfields Market is committed to improving the effect it has on the environment. This includes recycling 82% of its waste and reducing the amount of water that is used for cleaning the premises by using modern technology practices. The market hall itself also now plays host to an Eco friendly market at certain times of the year with ethically produced goods being sold and also organic and free range food.

 

T: TOURISM

Tourism plays a huge part in the success of the market. Visitors come from far and wide to visit this old traditional London market which was voted best London market two years running by Time Out magazine. London is always a favourite tourist attraction which has been boosted by the Diamond Jubilee and the London Olympics Games of 2012. Other top market destinations in London include Covent Garden, Camden market, Borough market and Portobello Road .

 

U: UNDER ONE ROOF

At Old Spitalfields Market you can find most things you need or want. Each day of the week provides an opportunity to find a bargain or hidden treasure. On Thursdays the market is transformed into an Aladdin's Cave of antique treasures. Alternate Fridays sees a record fair at the market allowing collectors to find the old 45's they have been searching for. Other days of the week the market sells a variety of goods including vintage items, fashion, bric-a-brac and gift ideas.

V: VICTORIAN ARCHITECTURE

Old Spitalfields market is set in a beautiful Victorian market hall. The market itself can trace its origins back to the 13 th Century when it was held in fields near to St Marys Spital.

 

Victorian and Edwardian properties and their common problems

 

W: WALKING TOUR

Spitalfields has always been an area of different cultures and nationalities. Today there are walking tours that provide an insight into the history and heritage of Spitalfields. There is also an alternative walk that concentrates on the back streets of the area and also the colourful street art that can be seen there.

 

X: XMAS IN LONDON

London is famous for its Christmas Lights that usually get switched on by a favourite celebrity every year. Regents Street and Oxford become filled with people waiting for what has become a special occasion.

An event closer to Old Spitalfields Market is the East London Design Show held in Shoreditch. Just before Christmas over one hundred independent designers sell their wares offering original jewellery, home wares, fashion and toys.

 

Y: YOUNG DESIGNERS

The Sunday market at Old Spitalfields is the place to spot fashion items and accessories being sold by up and coming young designers. Some are still at college and showcase their work at the market.

 

Z: ZERO ENERGY DEVELOPMENT

BowZED is a block of four zero fossil fuel homes in the Bow area of East London not far from Old Spitalfields Market. This development was one of the first Eco Housing Projects built in London . The homes require no central heating because of their heavy insulation and thermal mass and in summer months they remain cooler for the same reasons. During our building surveys we often come across problems regarding thermal gain and thermal loss especially with modern lightweight construction properties and poorly insulated older properties.

Heat loss in a poorly insulated house

 

How do I get to Old Spitalfields Road Market?

Old Spitalfields Market is very easy to reach via public transport both by train and by bus.

 

Old Spitalfields by Train / The Tube - There are two London Underground Stations within walking distance of the market and one mainline.

1.  Liverpool Street tube and Liverpool mainline – 5 minutes walk

2.  Aldgate East Tube – 6 minutes walk.

 

Old Spitalfields Market by Bus – There are many buses that stop near Old Spitalfields Market, these include;

8 – Bow to Oxford Circus

26 – Hackney Wick to Waterloo

35 – Clapham Junction to Shoreditch

48 – Walthamstow Bus Station to London Bridge Station

135 – Old Street to the Isle of Dogs

Old Spitalfields Market by Car – Driving into London can be difficult but there is a car park nearby at Eden House, Spital Square, Spitalfields, London E1 6DX .

 

What National Trust Places of interest are near to Old Spitalfields Road Market?

Sutton House in Hackney

National trust attractions in other parts of London:

Fenton House in Hampstead

Carlyle House in Chelsea

Ham House and Garden in Richmond

 

What English Heritage Places of interest are near to Old Spitalfields Market?

St Mary Spital Charnel House, Spitalfields.

Blue Plaque at 91 Ashfield Street , Whitechapel. The founder of Tesco Sir Jack Cohen (1898 – 1979) grew up here.

Jewel Tower, Westminster .

Wellington Arch, Hyde Park Corner.

Apsley House, Hyde Park Corner.

 

We hope you enjoyed our article on Old Spitalfields Market and our comments from an Independent Surveyors point of view. Here are some links to some other articles that we have written and that may be of interest you.

 

Listed Buildings

Why you have never seen any building surveys or structural surveys like ours

London Mansion Houses

 

 

East London Building Surveyor

We survey buildings in East London. Our independent surveyors are experienced and qualified and produce high quality surveys including Structural surveys, Building surveys and valuations on both residential and commercial properties. We use surveyors who are experienced with old properties, many having direct hands on experience of working on listed buildings. Equally we understand newer construction, it may look the same to the untrained eye but performs very differently and we would say is built to a price not a quality standard. We also survey buildings that have been altered and extended both with and without planning permission and building regulations. We solve and deal with building disputes and can also help you with your extension and alteration design work.

If you are purchasing a property in East London please ensure that you have a building survey carried out on it. A building survey, prepared by a chartered building surveyor could literally save you thousands of pounds. The survey only needs to uncover one potential problem with the property and the cost of the building survey is more than recovered.

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