We went to a small display about the Chinese Community in Limehouse which is in preparation for a larger display due to be held in St. Anne’s, Limehouse, opening on March 20th. (Fridays and Saturdays 10-4).
Nearly the first identifiable Chinese immigrant was Tan-Che-Qua, an artist who made a living making small ceramic stauettes before returning to China in March 1771.
In the 1950s there was apparently still a substantial Chinese community in Limehouse, based round the Chinese laundries and the restaurants, including Good Friends which opened in 1962 and was in the Good Food Guide and – the one we liked – the Peking, which was like entering old Shanghai.
I was particularly pleased to see a photograph of The Peking which was on West India Dock Road till the late 1980s when it was demolished with the advance of Canary Wharf:-
The curator of the exhibition wants to make contact with anyone who has information or memories of Chinese Limehouse.
| Charles | Saumarez | Smith | 
Thank you both for coming along to our display at the Museum of London, and for sharing all your memories! We hope the exhibition will intrigue and inform newcomers to the area, and stir fond memories of this vibrant community amongst long time residents of these streets. The show opens next Friday evening at 6pm for a private view, and Thursdays to Sundays thereafter. We look forward to seeing you!
I understand that the Peking was previously the Chinese Mission, and locals called it “Up the Steps”. There’s some great footage of the Peking in this short clip from the TV drama Prospects:
https://youtu.be/_6N5GQvgi3c?si=cT2EgsBq4l8AJMnf
Thank you – wonderful to know. The exhibition opens in St. Anne’s, Limehouse on Friday. Charles