Brick Lane is in the East End of London. As a young man I often walked around the area and got to know the markets and workshops. From the 1960s and 70s it evolved into a different area. I was lucky to feel this happening and went to photograph it. I was fascinated by the Hawksmoor church at the end of the street and the multicultural diversity of the commerce and politics of the area. It is now a trendy (and expensive) area. I often used to go around that area as it was where my Grandmother used to live and I remember her talking about the street vendors and barrel organ makers hammering pegs into the organ cylinder.

This is a carbro print onto glass and backed with baryta instead of gold powder (does that make it a baritone) – the East end of London in the 70s and 80s had a lot of trouble from political activists.

Many of the shopkeepers asked me not to photograph their premises for religious reasons, some were OK as long as they were not in the picture – A few were very happy with me there