Uncovered on Middlesex Street

Until recently, 56 Middlesex Street, E1 looked something like this (courtesy of Google Streetview. Covered in bright merchandise, its cheap and cheerful facade was fairly typical for a shop just off Petticoat Lane.

When I went by again a couple of weeks ago, it had changed significantly. The clothes shop is gone, work is being done, and a vintage sign has been exposed.


You can also spot another treat: a similarly vintage burglar alarm. It's Rely-a-Bell, but presumably no longer reliable.

However, the change in appearance isn't the only indication of the area's changing nature. Cross over to the shop door, and a sign shows that it is in fact a shop no longer. It is to reopen as offices.