A Toby in the Lane: A History of London’s East End Markets

A Toby in the Lane reveals the rich fabric of the East End markets, primarily in Petticoat Lane and Brick Lane, and celebrates the street traders and stalls which call these London institutions home.

This is the story of immigrant communities and their fight for survival, reflected in sweat and toil. Countless tales of traders’ scams, tricks and banter are found inside. Families who have traded throughout the generations on the market offer up a unique insight into the layers of history that up until now have remained untold. The story also traces the sometimes complicated relationships between trader and authorities in an often amusing but informative tale of London market life. A spellbinding, quirky and intimate portrait of life on the famous markets of London’s East End, written by an East End senior market inspector, A Toby in the Lane will delight Londoners and visitors alike.