Social spaces

Joan has lived in the Well Street area for 52 years. She is a regular volunteer at the local Hackney Scouts Charity Shop which is a regular space for many local residents to meet for a chat and a cup of tea. Joan takes care of the DVDs and toy donations and is really proud that they managed to raise enough money to sent the local scout group to America last year. She can remember when the local Tesco’s had a picture of Shirley Porter hung up on its wall.

The local laundrette is also a pretty social kind of place, where service washes are always done with a smile.

Ali

Ali runs the Turkish social club near the bottom of Well Street. He works from 8-3am most days of the week.

People come and go all through the day for a quick dash of mint tea or a chat and to catch Galatasaray on TV.

George of Well Street

George has run the wholefoods shop in Well Street for over 20 years and is a well-known pillar of the community, always on hand with help and advice. He is currently embroiled in a 2 year dispute with the landlord over rent rises and repair bills.

A dog waits for its owner outside the Post Office next door to George's shop.

Well Street: A Very East London Kind Of Neighbourhood

I shall be posting a series of photos documenting life on Well Street, Hackney and how better to begin than with a tale of how the street got its name.

W. Wells Family Butchers has been operating as a family business in Well Street since 1931. It is now run by Alan Wells, whose great-grand father had the stall next to Jack Cohen of Tesco's fame, who first started life as a trader in Well Street.

Located under the shop is the once communal well that gave Well Street its name, and which today still contains water.

Stevie Parle

Acclaimed chef Stevie Parle of Dock Kitchen fame not only writes the Telegraph's food column but has a new cookbook out. I was fortunate to have run into him today at his sister's wonderful Railroad Cafe.

The man who scolds his dog affectionately

I often see him on his walks with his dog. I'd been wanting to take his photo for sometime, and yesterday I had my chance.

More of the ever popular Ben..