Comments on: In Geoffrey Fletcher's footsteps

By: Paul Ridgway

Paul Ridgway — Fri, 31 Mar 2017 07:41:17 +0000

Geoffrey Fletcher also wrote and drew for his ‘London Souvenirs’, published by George Allen & Unwin in 1972.

I have a pen sketch by Hanslip Fletcher whom Geoffrey told me was no relation.
See Hanslip here from the BM website:

Hanslip Fletcher (painter/draughtsman; British; Male; 1874 – 1955)
Also known as

Fletcher, Hanslip
Biography

Etcher, illustrator and painter specialising in architectural studies of London and elsewhere. Born and lived in London. Educated at Merchant Taylors’ School. Member of the Art Workers’ Guild. His architectural drawings appeared in newspapers including the Daily Telegraph and Sunday Times. Exhibited extensively including the Royal Academy, Goupil Galleries, Dudley Gallery, New English Art Club and other London galleries. He published several books of his illustrations including: ‘Oxford and Cambridge Delineated’, 1909; ‘Changing London’, 1924; ‘Bombed London – 38 drawings of historic buildings damaged during the bombing of |London’, 1947. His work is held by Dundee University, Manchester City Art Gallery, Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter, as well as the British Museum.

By: Dominic Pinto

Dominic Pinto — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 07:38:52 +0000

I’ve only recently come across both Geoffrey Fletcher’s book – a reprint – and the James Mason narrated film (on DVD, along with Les Bicyclettes de Belsize) …. along with John Gay’s black and white photography of London, and North London.

Islington Libraries holds many of his works, and worth enquiring as to what these comprise, and if copies are or could be made available.

https://www.islington.gov.uk/publicrecords/library/Leisure-and-culture/Information/Factsheets/2011-2012/%282012-03-03%29-Geoffrey-Fletcher's-Islington-impressions-in-time.pdf

A search on google shows a number of sources/holdings:
http://america.pink/geoffrey-scowcroft-fletcher_1689893.html
http://artuk.org/discover/artists/fletcher-geoffrey-scowcroft-19232004
http://www.ashtead.org/people/gf.htm

Of interest
https://thelondoncolumn.com/tag/geoffrey-fletcher/

The Islington Local History Centre at Finsbury Library is open but you need to make an appointment – and they currently note ‘that a large quantity of our archive collection is currently in external storage in anticipation of a new in-house archive storage facility. It is estimated that items placed into storage will be unavailable until October/November 2016.

Staff will be happy to advise as to what remaining material is available for consultation. For further details please email local.history@islington.gov.uk or telephone 020 7527 7988.’

http://www.islington.gov.uk/islington/history-heritage/heritage_lhc/Pages/contactlhc.aspx?extra=9

I’m going to visit as soon as I can to find out more!

By: R

Thu, 19 Mar 2015 11:25:26 +0000

Geoffrey painted the house in Alie Street, Whitechapel, where my grandfather was born. Does anyone know where the painting is held?

By: Denise

Denise — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 21:47:49 +0000

Hi can anyone tell me where I can buy a copy or the original painting of Bellview Place?

By: Christine Francis

Christine Francis — Sat, 02 Nov 2013 20:36:28 +0000

I collect Geoffrey Fletcher’s books, as his descriptions of a bygone London are absolutely marvellous and the drawings superb. I would love to have met him.
As a regular visitor to London and a serious student of London’s wonderful history Geoffrey’s books have been such a good guide.
I would be very interested to own one of his drawings, does anyone have any info please?

By: andrew sim

andrew sim — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 14:33:23 +0000

In response to Jane Young’s comments, I have to say that Geoffrey was the least condescending person you could ever meet. He lived in Rotherhithe years before the trendies descended and was completely down to earth, tramping round unfrequented streets (and yes, there were many of those) with his Jack Russell. I don’t think his writing needs defending, frankly, but I think what he meant by “nobody knowing” was that in the 1950’s and 1960’s when he was writing, the pseuds/connoisseurs and artistic poseurs not only weren’t interested in the kind of things he was writing about – Victorian public loos; ramshackle Georgian terraces; semi-derelict wharves etc – but actively sought to have them swept away. He was a pioneer and a first-rate artist. In answer to Gillian Jameson’s question, Geoffrey’s drawings don’t fetch very much money but there is a market for them. Depending on the subject matter, I’ve sold them for as much as £1,200 or as little as £100. Hope that helps.

By: gillian jamieson

gillian jamieson — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 21:53:03 +0000

I am interested to know if the person enquiring about geoffrey fletchers art ever did manage to buy a painting/drawing and if so, what was paid for it. Geoffrey Fletcher’s neice is a close friend of mine and would like to know the value of a couple of Geoffrey’s paintings which he did for her.

By: Marion Neal

Marion Neal — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 12:26:04 +0000

I have no artistic background, but some years ago came across a set of unframed but mounted pictures of London streets and buildings (signed, I think by the artist) along with the printed signature. I think the pictures were from about the 60’s/70’s when unframed pictures were quite popular. I thought they were absolutely beautiful and bought them. I then, from a completely different source and different time zone, by coincidence, found the original wording relating to each picture and which appears on the back of each picture. They are a fascinating insight as to old London. If anyone is interested in purchasing them, please feel free to contact me.

By: Rob Moore

Rob Moore — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 18:10:09 +0000

I remember in a “That was the week that was”, I guess shortly after “The London nobody knows” was published, calling it “The London nobody wanted to know”. Wholly accurate, as the people who did live in the areas Fletcher drew and wrote about so wonderfully well, which are now trendy and right-on London, were neither aware nor cared about their surroundings.

By: Jane Young

Jane Young — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 20:25:31 +0000

Have always regarded “The London Nobody Knows” with slight disdain, both the writings and the filmed footage with James Mason, as being just a little condescending. An attempt to excuse it as being of it’s time did not really wash when compared to Raphael Samuel’s History Workshop series which bring dignity to these same areas without complacency. Your analogy of “The London Nobody who reads the Daily Telegraph Knows” makes for pertinent logic and has motivated another look, even if just to revisit the drawings, putting preconception aside.