Donovan Bros Paper Bags - Spitalfields, London, UK
Posted by: 
OrientGeo
N 51° 31.130 W 000° 04.579
30U E 702837 N 5711576
A modestly-sized, end of terrace building in Crispin Street gives away its former use with a fine selection of painted signs advertising paper bags.
Waymark Code: WM154J2
Location: London, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 10/15/2021
Views: 4
The ground floor of this building is painted green and is adorned with four hand-painted signs showing its former use as the premises for Donovan Brothers, suppliers of paper bags and other sundries to traders at the former Spitalfields Market nearby. The four signs read as follows:
‘DONOVAN BROS - The noted house for PAPER BAGS’; ‘
FLORISTS’ PACKING TISSUE, GREASEPROOFS & COLOURED PAPERS’;
‘PRICE TICKETS of every description PRINTED BAGS & CARRIERS TO ORDER’; and
‘STRONG CARRIER BAGS.’.
A variety of faded colours can be seen in the lettering, and the artwork is signed ‘ALFRED KIEL SIGNS BIS 4796’. Kiel was a Spitalfields based signwriter.
Donovan Bros Ltd. were established in around 1935 at this address and it is probable that the signage dates from this time or soon after. The business was active here until Spitalfields Fruit and Vegetable Market closed in the 1980s. The premesis no longer appears to be in commercial usage. The company is still active, in the same line of business, and now based at Orpington in the south east of London, with a presence at New Spitalfields Market in Leyton. The business is still owned by descendents of Jeremiah and Dennis O’Donnovan who came from Ireland and settled in Spitalfields in the 1830s.