Siri Christiansen, Author at Roman Road LDN

Blackshirt newspaper coverage of the Mile End Pogrom. Source: Wiki Commons

Mile End Pogrom: the violent aftermath of the Battle of Cable Street

September 4, 2020September 12, 2020 Siri Christiansen 3804 Views 0 Comments Features 7 min read

The Battle of Cable Street is remembered still to this day as a striking mobilisation against the rise of fascism in the years leading up to World War II; a turbulent day in which barricades were raised, bottles and bricks were thrown, and the fascists were defeated.

Baal Shem of London's grave at Alderney Cemetery, Mile End

Ba'al Shem of London's grave © Social Streets

Buildings & landmarks Local Places to visit Things to do

Ba’al Shem of London’s grave in Mile End’s Alderney Road Cemetery

July 12, 2020July 29, 2020 Siri Christiansen 6149 Views 1 Comment Features 7 min read

Behind an anonymous brick wall in Alderney Road off of Mile End Road lies the oldest Ashkenazi cemetery in the U.K. Founded in 1696 and closed in 1852, the cemetery marks the establishment of the Ashkenazi community, now the largest Jewish ethnic group in the U.K.

Etching portrait of Daniel Mendoza, the Jewish Boxer from Bethnal Green

Etching of Daniel Mendoza

Cultural heritage East End & Cockney Local Society

“Mendoza the Jew”: the boxing pioneer who fought antisemitism one jab at a time

June 21, 2020June 25, 2020 Siri Christiansen 33327 Views 2 Comments Features 7 min read

Inside the ring, his innovative techniques raised the sport from primitive punch-throwing to a strategic artform, while outside it, his visibility offered a rare account of positive representation of Jewishness. Empowered by his example, boxing became popular among the Jewish youth, making it harder to stereotype them as defenceless and weak.

Graveyard at Velho Cemetry in Mile End, East London

Cultural heritage Local Society

Unearthing the oldest Jewish cemetery in the UK

April 9, 2020April 13, 2020 Siri Christiansen 56819 Views 0 Comments Features 8 min read

‘It was while researching her Jewish ancestry that archivist and genealogist Imogen Rush came across the first ever Jewish cemetery in the U.K – the hidden Velho Cemetery, enclosed by brick walls, steel fences and locked gates just a stone’s throw off Mile End Road

Many horizontal gravestones with Queen Mary university buildings in the background at Novo Jewish Cemetery, Mile End, London.

Photos © Maitee Leonie

Cultural heritage Local Society

The Novo Cemetery: a landmark of Jewish history hidden in plain sight

February 20, 2020September 18, 2020 Siri Christiansen 15744 Views 2 Comments Features 7 min read

The Novo Cemetery marks the beginning of an integrated Anglo-Jewish community’, with ‘indistinguishable, rich merchants from the West Indies lie next to poor cigar makers from Whitechapel, factory owners a foot away from their workers

$Actress Jennifer Dixon on her balcony in her home in Bow with the Lanfrac estate in the background$

Photos by Harry East

Arts & artists Local Society

Q&A: Local actor Jennifer Dixon on breaking boundaries in the London theatre scene

February 10, 2020February 12, 2020 Siri Christiansen 4325 Views 0 Comments Features 7 min read

‘Sense of community is the soul of this area, Roman Road included. I felt so out of place when I first came to London but Tower Hamlets has been at the root of all my relationships with people of varying ethnicities, races and genders (or lack thereof).’