Comments on: John Leighton’s London Cries

By: richard jackson

richard jackson — Tue, 11 Mar 2014 02:24:17 +0000

I was unaware that Limner/Leighton was a bookbinder – Ihave a copy of the original street cries (which by the way I thought was published in 1849) and the binding and covers are in some ways as impressive as the contents. Rhubarb as a medicine was on its way out when Leighton drew his ‘cries’ – Mayhew records that only four such street sellers were left, and rhubarb (as a dessert) was also on its way out of London since very shortly after the publication of ‘cries’ Myatt and the other market gardeners were literally railroaded out of the capital. Myatt’s son took his famous Deptford/Camberwell business to the Vale of Evesham and rhubarb growing moved north to Leeds from which it could be sent to London as cheaply and faster (thanks to the same railways which pushed Myatt out) than rhubarb grown in the capital’s outer suburbs. I live in Manila and only just came across your superb blogs – thank you for the pleasure the reading of them gives.

By: Gary

Gary — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 21:19:55 +0000

John Leighton’s work is by far the best, it leaves the others well behind.
A history of both cries, architecture and the gulf between rich and poor.
Gary

By: MARIA

MARIA — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 10:42:36 +0000

what an amazing set of pictures – i almost felt as if i were there
these people remind me of some of the street sellers we used to see in the streets 20 years ago when i first came to live in my town – even the chestnut sellers have disappeared…

By: James Ramsay

James Ramsay — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 01:08:00 +0000

Clarity has been granted. The smoke shall finally blow away, never to return. Fire is imminent.