Sunday bird fair in Sclater Street

To the north of Brick Lane, on Sclater Street, thrived a Sunday market selling live animals and birds. John Galt photographed the countless larks, thrushes, canaries, pigeons and parrots amongst other birds on sale to the public. Displayed in small cages, some wrapped in pocket-handkerchiefs, the birds were hung along the walls of the three- and four-storey buildings. Further birds and animals were on sale inside the shops. Missionaries from the London City Mission often approached busy market places to spread the word of God to those who may not otherwise enter a church. Galt, a missionary himself, produced this photo to illustrate the work of the mission in the area.