Located in Spitalfields, Bell Lane is a short road that links Goulston Street and Crispin Street.
The Jewish Free School, once the largest educational institution in the British Empire with a student body of over 4300, used to stand next to a chicken slaughterhouse on this street until its demolition in 1939. The colossal size of the school building created a cramped atmosphere on Bell Lane. Many notable figures, such as Joe Loss, Bud Flanaghan, and Morris “Two Gun” Cohen (a Chinese political activist), received their education at this institution.
Across the street from the school, at number 12, resided Ikey Solomons in the 1820s. Ikey Solomons was a Jewish fence who received stolen goods and is thought to be the inspiration for the character of Fagin in Charles Dickens’ novel, Oliver Twist.
