Sidney

Lore & Background

The conflict stemmed from a gang of Latvian immigrants radicalised by the failed 1905 revolution. Key figures included George Gardstein, who used aliases like Hartmanis and Garstin, and Fritz Svaars, who had escaped Russian authorities three times. The group attempted to rob Henry Samuel Harris's shop at 119 Houndsditch, where a safe reputedly held £20,000 to £30,000 (though later estimated at £7,000). They utilised equipment including a 60-foot India rubber gas hose and diamond-tipped drills. Although 'Peter the Painter' was suggested by police as the ringleader, no evidence places him at Houndsditch or Sidney Street. The gang also included Jacob Peters, who had been tortured for his activities, and Karl Hoffman, known for gun-running.

Reader's Guide

The siege established a precedent as the first military assistance request by London police for an armed stand-off and the first British siege captured on camera. In May 1911, a trial was held for those arrested regarding the Houndsditch robbery; all but one accused were acquitted, with that conviction later overturned on appeal. The events inspired fictional works like 'The Man Who Knew Too Much' (1934) and 'The Siege of Sidney Street' (1960). On the centenary, two tower blocks in Sidney Street were named after Peter the Painter, despite his likely absence from the actual events. Memorial plaques now commemorate the murdered policemen and the fireman who died during the collapse.

Did You Know?

• The siege lasted for about six hours on the morning of 3 January 1911.
• A fireman was killed when the building collapsed while firefighters were damping down the ruins.
• Home Secretary Winston Churchill appeared in footage filmed by Pathé News, causing a political row over his involvement.