My mother Jesse Wicks worked for a clothing manufacturer in Aldgate East during WW11. She always said she had worked for a company which she called 'Lottries'. This may or may not be the correct name or it may even be a nickname. She was a tailoress and spent her war years working there making uniforms and greatcoats for the armed forces.

Mum always said that the company was Jewish owned and how good a firm it was to work for. This probably is why we grew up eating a fair amount of Jewish fare. I can find no trace of a company of that name and wondered if anyone had a record of that firm or knew where I could find some. 

Yours in anticipation

John Potter

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Here is one reader's helpful response:

Dear John Potter.

I have just come across your request in a recent issue of the Cable and I remember my two late Aunts Hannah Pampel and Jenny Harris worked for the above company before and into WW2. It was a large and old established company making uniforms and they were in the gold braid department.

I also mentioned this to my sister in law Doris Pampel (nee Freedman) the other day and she was even apprenticed there and is now 96 with a fantastic memory. She thinks it was just off Middlesex Street but is not sure whether it still exists today.

I would suggest The Bishopsgate Institute could no doubt provide you with all the information you require. Their phone no is 02073929270 - email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Yours sincerely

Norman Pampel

And Perdita Jones, Heritage Officer – Learning and Participation at Tower Hamlets, told us: “I’ve had a look at our 1943 trade directory and found H. Lotery & Co. Ltd., a clothing manufacturer, located in Beaumont House, Gravel Lane, E1 – just north of Aldgate Station. We’ll have detailed OS maps of the area from around that period, but I‘m afraid that I can’t find any other material specifically about the factory.”

More news about H. Lotery and Co has come from Alex Keogh-Lopez 

Hello John,

I was very happy to come across the post online about your mother Jesse working in a factory during the war. I'm fairly sure the factory was owned by the family of my grandfather, Arthur Lotery. His father was Harry Lotery, who founded it.  It was on Greatorex Street, near Brick Lane and you're right in your suggestion that they were a Jewish family. I actually found a copy of the employee handbook the other day in my grandma's possessions, which gave me a giggle. Times have certainly changed. I'm on holiday at the moment, but if you're interested when I'm back I might be able to send you a scan of it.

I'm so pleased to hear your mother liked working there. My grandfather died when I was a young child, but my mother always talks of how fun and well liked he was and enjoyed spending time with everyone at the factory. She knows a lot more of the history of the company than me and might remember some details of interest, although she was born in 1944, so they would still be second hand stories. I'm sure would be happy to get in touch if you're interested?

Kind regards,

Alex Keogh-Lopez 

He also includes a link to some photos of the company handbook: https://photos.app.goo.gl/RjLQYhLrdnFRK9hq8

Among the photos is this one from the factory, with the writer's grandfather on the right.

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