Having taken the wrong exit from Aldgate East I glanced Christ Church Spittlefields through the archwayed entry to Gunthorpe Street and felt the sketcher’s urge. Originally George Yard the street was one of many alleys along Whitechapel High Street itself a revealing mix of signs, symbols shops and solicitor's offices. Knowing nothing of its history I dug about to find in 1822 it was described as a "notorious rendezvous of thieves" and went on to be the scene of every conceivable crime including inevitably a bit of Jack the Ripper’s work.
George Yard was renamed Gunthorpe Street in 1912 after John Gunthorpe who was rector of St Mary's Whitechapel in 1471.
As rain was pending a hurried sketch on one knee to get the spire in, as otherwise I’d have had to stand in the middle of the thronged pavement.