London’s Alleys: Abel’s Buildings, E1

This is an unmarked alley that runs under the DLR and railway tracks into Fenchurch Street and somehow survives as a narrow smelly dank alley way. So obviously, it’s marvelous.The first this was to find out if the alley has a name, and how long it has been here.
The Fairthorn map of 1658 shows a row of houses lining the road with fields behind, and no alley or path. John Rocque’s map of 1746 shows the first indication of the alley, as the area is built up with warehouses and just beh