Rosemary-lane, which has in vain been re-christened Royal Mint-street,
is from half to three-quarters of a mile long--that is, if we include
only the portion which runs from the junction of Leman and Dock streets
(near the London Docks) to Sparrow-corner, where it abuts on the
Minories. Beyond the Leman-street termination of Rosemary-lane, and
stretching on into Shadwell, are many streets of a similar character as
regards the street and shop supply of articles to the poor; but as the
old clothes trade is only occasionally carried on there, I shall here
deal with Rosemary-lane proper.
[Illustration: A VIEW IN ROSEMARY-LANE.]
This lane partakes of some of the characteristics of Petticoat-lane,
but without its so strongly marked peculiarities. Rosemary-lane is
wider and airier, the houses on each side are loftier (in several
parts), and there is an approach to a gin palace, a thing unknown in
Petticoat-lane: there is no room for such a structure there.
Rosemary-lane, like the quarter I have last described, has its
off-streets, into which the traffic stretches. Some of these
off-streets are narrower, dirtier, poorer in all respects than
Rosemary-lane itself, which indeed can hardly be stigmatized as very
dirty. These are Glasshouse-street, Russell-court, Hairbrine-court,
Parson’s-court, Blue Anchor-yard (one of the poorest places and with
a half-built look), Darby-street, Cartwright-street, Peter’s-court,
Princes-street, Queen-street, and beyond these and in the direction
of the Minories, Rosemary-lane becomes Sharp’s-buildings and
Sparrow-corner. There are other small non-thoroughfare courts,
sometimes called blind alleys, to which no name is attached, but which
are very well known to the neighbourhood as Union-court, &c.; but as
these are not scenes of street-traffic, although they may be the abodes
of street-traffickers, they require no especial notice.
The dwellers in the neighbourhood or the off-streets of Rosemary-lane,
differ from those of Petticoat-lane by the proximity of the former
place to the Thames. The lodgings here are occupied by dredgers,
ballast-heavers, coal-whippers, watermen, lumpers, and others whose
trade is connected with the river, as well as the slop-workers and
sweaters working for the Minories. The poverty of these workers compels
them to lodge wherever the rent of the rooms is the lowest. As a
few of the wives of the ballast-heavers, &c., are street-sellers in
or about Rosemary-lane, the locality is often sought by them. About
Petticoat-lane the off-streets are mostly occupied by the old clothes
merchants.
In Rosemary-lane is a greater _street_-trade, as regards things placed
on the ground for retail sale, &c., than in Petticoat-lane; for though
the traffic in the last-mentioned lane is by far the greatest, it is
more connected with the shops, and fewer traders whose dealings are
strictly those of the street alone resort to it. Rosemary-lane, too,
is more Irish. There are some cheap lodging-houses in the courts,
&c., to which the poor Irish flock; and as they are very frequently
street-sellers, on busy days the quarter abounds with them. At every
step you hear the Erse tongue, and meet with the Irish physiognomy;
Jews and Jewesses are also seen in the street, and they abound in the
shops. The street-traffic does not begin until about one o’clock,
except as regards the vegetable, fish, and oyster-stalls, &c.; but the
chief business of this lane, which is as inappropriately as that of
Petticoat is suitably named, is in the vending of the articles which
have often been thrown aside as refuse, but from which numbers in
London wring an existence.
One side of the lane is covered with old boots and shoes; old clothes,
both men’s, women’s, and children’s; new lace for edgings, and a
variety of cheap prints and muslins (also new); hats and bonnets; pots,
and often of the commonest kinds; tins; old knives and forks, old
scissors, and old metal articles generally; here and there is a stall
of cheap bread or American cheese, or what is announced as American;
old glass; different descriptions of second-hand furniture of the
smaller size, such as children’s chairs, bellows, &c. Mixed with these,
but only very scantily, are a few bright-looking swag-barrows, with
china ornaments, toys, &c. Some of the wares are spread on the ground
on wrappers, or pieces of matting or carpet; and some, as the pots, are
occasionally placed on straw. The cotton prints are often heaped on the
ground; where are also ranges or heaps of boots and shoes, and piles of
old clothes, or hats, or umbrellas. Other traders place their goods on
stalls or barrows, or over an old chair or clothes-horse. And amidst
all this motley display the buyers and sellers smoke, and shout, and
doze, and bargain, and wrangle, and eat and drink tea and coffee, and
sometimes beer. Altogether Rosemary-lane is more of a _street_ market
than is Petticoat-lane.
This district, like the one I have first described, is infested with
young thieves and vagrants from the neighbouring lodging-houses,
who may be seen running about, often bare-footed, bare-necked, and
shirtless, but “larking” one with another, and what may be best
understood as “full of fun.” In what way these lads dispose of their
plunder, and how their plunder is in any way connected with the
trade of these parts, I shall show in my account of the Thieves. One
pickpocket told me that there was no person whom he delighted so much
to steal from as any Petticoat-laner with whom he had professional
dealings!
In Rosemary-lane there is a busy Sunday morning trade; there is a
street-trade, also, on the Saturday afternoons, but the greater part
of the shops are then closed, and the Jews do not participate in the
commerce until after sunset.
The two marts I have thus fully described differ from all other
street-markets, for in these two second-hand garments, and second-hand
merchandize generally (although but in a small proportion), are
the grand staple of the traffic. At the other street-markets, the
second-hand commerce is the exception.