Attlee found inspiration in the writings of William Morris, Thomas Carlyle, and John Ruskin, and the poetry of Milton, Blake, and Shelley. Critics would have been astonished to discover that Attlee’s private library contained more than 3000 books. At times, he read voraciously - all of Edwards Gibbon’s monumental The Decline and

Fall of the Roman Empire, and Thucydides’ History of the Peloponnesian War.

A poem by Clement Attlee

 

In Limehouse, in Limehouse, before the break of day

I hear the feet of many men who go upon their way

Who wander through the city

The grey and cruel city

Through streets that have no pity

The streets where men decay

 

In Limehouse, in Limehouse, by night as well as day

I hear the feet of children who go to work or play

Of children born of sorrow

The workers of tomorrow

How shall they work tomorrow

Who get no bread today?

 

In Limehouse, in Limehouse, today and every day

I see the weary mothers who sweat their souls away:

Poor, tired mothers, trying

To hush the feeble crying

Of little babies dying

For want of bread today.

 

In Limehouse, in Limehouse, I’m dreaming of the day

When evil time shall perish and be driven clean away

When father, child and mother

Shall live and love each other

And brother help his brother

In happy work and play.

 

 

This poem was written by Attlee in Limehouse, 1909.

It provides a snapshot of the social conditions in the

East End and how Attlee felt about them.