Comments on: In the Footsteps of C.A. Mathew

By: John Ryan

John Ryan — Fri, 04 Apr 2014 03:19:49 +0000

I saw a picture by C A Matthews in Amateur Photographer 5-4-14 and wanted to find the modern location on Google Earth. Typed in the name of a shop in the picture and found your truly excellent series of pictures. Many thanks for posting and congratulations on great pictures and even better detective work.

By: Paul Daniel

Paul Daniel — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 20:54:38 +0000

Back in 1996, researching for the magazine Ripperologist, of which I was editor at the time, I found a large photocopy of an amazing photograph at the Bancroft Library, but there was no information on the back. The photograph on Adam Tuck’s page of fantastic montages (though not on this page) is headed ‘In Crispin Street’ and I believe I was the first to identify the un-named pub in the photograph as originally the Horn of Plenty, which stood on the north-western corner of the notorious Dorset Street (where Mary Kelly became the last supposed victim of Jack the Ripper in room 13 Millers Court on the north side of the street).
The one clue that helped identify the pub was the portico of the Provident Row Night Shelter and Refuge, just seen on the left of the original photograph (though not in the montage), which I knew very well. I thought it such an incredible photo that I published it in Ripperologist and for my trouble got thoroughly trounced by the Curator of the Bishopsgate Institute for not giving credit or getting permission to use it! At the time, of course, I had no idea of the provenance of the photo, but later saw all C A Mathews pictures, taken on 12 April 1912. I also think it was the first time the photograph had been used in connection with the subject of the Whitechapel murders.
Adam Tuck’s montages have an extraordinary ethereal haunting quality, blending two entirely different generations together in a timeless dance and in my view are utterly superb… Paul Daniel…

By: Psimon

Psimon — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 14:03:25 +0000

To all of those who have discussed how many children there were compared to now, remember that infant and child mortality were significantly higher in 1912 than they are now, and were actually higher than in the early 1800s. This led to a higher birth rate as many of those children may not have made it to adulthood. Also, this was an age where taking a photo took a long time. These kids had a chance to let allt heir friends know. Comparing a staged shot to the kind of casual, unremarkable acceptance of random street photographers we have now isn’t really comparing like with like. Added to that we are assuming that these children just lived there. A lot of them may have been working in those streets.

By: ann llimos

ann llimos — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 16:49:45 +0000

Great pictures.I am old enough to remember these old buildings.
What remains should be protected. The souless office blocks what have
replaced them I am sure future generations will not look back with the same
nostalgic thoughts .

By: Miriam Delorie

Miriam Delorie — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 07:59:22 +0000

I was so excited to see Artillery Lane where my father’s family lived (and then went to Fieldgate Street in Whitechapel). I was trying to see 33 Artillery Lane (their address on the Census 1901) but I guess that would have been just too much of a coincidence. I don’t suppose you have anymore of Artillery Lane? Fantastic pictures. Thank you so much! regards Miriam

By: joan stephens

joan stephens — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 22:03:36 +0000

I spent my childhood in and around the area depicted in these marvellous photographs. What an incredible voyage of nostalgia I have had.
Thank you.

By: Malcolm

Malcolm — Sun, 09 Sep 2012 16:14:39 +0000

Absolutely fascinating. Thanks so much for bringing a real bit of london history to life. Sad to see that areas where ordinary people actually lived – and worked – are taken over by commercial undertakings squeezing all humanity out of the area. All those people in the photos; I wonder where their families are now?

By: pen ort

pen ort — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 16:33:52 +0000

Particularly love the one of Widegate Street, thank y0u.
My grandfather frequented the pub, as it was next door to his shop at number 12. Cant quite see it in the old photo, but now I know how it looked in almost my fathers time. He was born in 1918. I am sure it didnt change much.

Thank you.

By: Aj

Aj — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 19:36:54 +0000

Amazing just totally epic! Wow proper photos man thankyou

By: Valerie Paynter

Valerie Paynter — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 15:57:29 +0000

Will the new turn towards “mixed development” ever again see children like these around child-friendly, car inaccessible streets and lanes like these in that part of London? There is a hardness and uncomfortable tension in the business ghettoisation of that part of London, of the whole City of London, which eased out residential, family use….the odd yuppie pad is just not the same. The affluent modern is somehow more bleakly cold now. This is a lovely set of comparative photos.