Sights Of Wonderful London
It is my pleasure to publish these splendid pictures selected from the three volumes of Wonderful London edited by St John Adcock and produced by The Fleetway House in the nineteen-twenties. Not all the photographers were credited – though many were distinguished talents of the day, including East End photographer William Whiffin (1879-1957).
Roman galley discovered during the construction of County Hall in 1910
Liverpool St Station at nine o’clock six mornings a week
Bridge House in George Row, Bermondsey – constructed over a creek at Jacob’s Island
The Grapes at Limehouse
Wharves at London Bridge
Old houses in the Strand
The garden at the Bank of England that was lost in the reconstruction
In Huggin Lane between Victoria St and Lower Thames St by Andrew Paterson
Inigo Jones’ gate at Chiswick House at the time it was in use as a private mental hospital
Hoop & Grapes in Aldgate by Donald McLeish
Book stalls in the Farringdon Rd by Walter Benington
Figureheads of fighting ships in the Grosvenor Rd by William Whiffin
The London Stone by Donald McLeish
Dirty Dick’s in Bishopsgate
Poplar Almshouses by William Whiffin
Old signs in Lombard St by William Whiffin
Penny for the Guy!
Puddledock Blackfriars
Punch & Judy show at Putney
Eighteenth century houses at Borough Market by William Whiffin
A plane tree in Cheapside
Wapping Old Stairs by William Whiffin
Houndsditch Old Clothes Market by William Whiffin
Bunhill Fields
The Langbourne Club for women who work in the City of London
On the deck of a Thames Sailing Barge by Walter Benington
Piccadilly Circus in the eighteen-eighties
Leadenhall Poultry Market by Donald McLeish
London by Alfred Buckham, pioneer of aerial photography. Despite nine crashes he said, “If one’s right leg is tied to the seat with a scarf or a piece of rope, it is possible to work in perfect security.”
Photographs courtesy Bishopsgate Institute
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I am fortunate to have all three books and enjoy dipping into them now and again
Wonderful photos. Love the attitude of Alfred Buckham! Valerie
I want to have tea with the ladies on the terrace in the cloche hats! These are wonderful photos, especially the aerial shot. Thank you.
I WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR DAILY ARTICLES AND PHOTO’S MY DAILY ROUTINE IS TO GO STRAIGHT TO YOUR SIGHT , PLEASE DON’T STOP , THEY ARE SIMPLY GREAT.
Great Photographs and I was fascinated by the London Stone, I looked it up on Wikipedia but unfortunately no one really knows just how old it is or what it was for. Of course many speculations but wouldn’t it be wonderful to know its true value and meaning.
Brilliant set of photos… I would love to be able to step into these scenes unnoticed and have a good snoop around. Where those figureheads preserved anywhere? Also, what happened to the remains of the Roman galley? I genuinely hope that you never exhaust your supply of these old images.
“Those were the days my friend …”
Would like to browse the book stalls in Farringdon Rd and the bookshop in the Strand! And then have a pint at Dirty Dick’s in Bishopsgate …
Love & Peace
ACHIM
Just Fantastic to see these old photographs..Thank You.
I love these photos, and it’s good to see that the London Plane tree on Cheapside is still there when so much else has been lost.
Love these Liverpool street _ I can remebr it in the 1950s but that is superb !Isnt Puddle Dock where teh Mermaid Theatre was ?
Listened to a chap recently on Robert Elms’ show who told the fascinating story of a company called Aerofilms who also pioneered the use of aerial photography of London and indeed Britain. Lots of fantastic images available via their website. Enjoy!
http://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/
So great! Love these books, I have two.. on the look out for the third volume. Thought of scanning the pages many times, but did not to damage the spines. The text is full of lovely observations, such as a chapter on ‘London Types’ which notes many trades (with photos of such people) that have since ceased to exist!
Marvelous photographs of lost London! Thank you for posting them. I need to get these books.
Some magical pictures in the last two London offerings… much appreciated. Would be good also to see some 20th c. versions, especially of the Farringdon Road bookstalls which I remember haunting in the not-so-distant past.
I have been searching a long time for old photographs of London and I am thrilled to see such great pictures , would love to see some of old St Giles in the Fields, if there are any in the books. thankyou so much for sharing them.(from Australia)
Thanks again for another insight into wonderful London. It’s fantastic that these photographs still exist and bring a London to life that has in many parts gone.
I’ve enjoyed a few pints in Dirty Dicks over the years.
Great set of photos, thank you.
On the strength of this article, I managed to trace and buy a near mint set of three volumes from Amazon Marketplace. This set is truly wonderful and I thank the Gentle Author for highlighting these books.
Thanks for sharing these wonderful photos – William Whiffin was my grandfather and I’m pleased you acknowledge his – and the other photographers’ – skill and talent. It’s worth remembering that these images were taken with heavy cameras, using glass negatives and all before the age of digital technology when we can check the photos immediately rather than wait until processing in the darkroom! Also an important record of places and things which don’t exist anymore.
Great pictures, thanks for sharing them.
HELEN MARTIN – Thank you, the camera is a Valid Point. So different to our iPhones! The skill of taking a photograph in those days was something to be proud of needing a lot of effort and elbow grease to carry and set up the camera. Now we just click & there it is. I must buy these books, the quality of subject is to be treasured, scenes we will never see again.
These are all wonderful photos,I have so enjoyed them,thanks.
Since I started my Ancestry quest and found my family part of the teeming masses the pictures give me context and imagery. My Dad left London in 1950, I was born in New Zealand, making these photos a treasure-trove for me
Some of these photos are still recognisable today, like Dirty Dicks, Leadenhall Market and Wapping Old Stairs (had some great times in the Prospect of Whitby!). The photo of the Thames sailing barge is particularly interesting as my mother’s family worked on the River as Waterman from 1840s-1950s, my great grandad had his own barge but sadly the river took his life and one of his sons. Really interesting research for me!!!
Amazingly Wonderful Pictures So Long Ago!! Thank You So Very Much!!