Comments on: John Thomas Smith’s Antient Topography

By: Tom Richards, artist TomR

Tom Richards, artist TomR — Sat, 17 Dec 2016 16:59:39 +0000

My son noticed this compendium of John Thomas Smith’s beautiful recordings of neighborhood buildings soon to go, which is what I sometimes paint of local structures. Go to folder NORTH ATTLEBORO in https://goo.gl/photos/JmUXwZp5LWr1JFsT6

By: Carl Moss

Carl Moss — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 22:22:55 +0000

It might be of interest to know that a smaller-scale but complete facsimile edition of the “Antient Topography of London” was printed some years ago by Taro. Copies are still available from http://www.maps.thehunthouse.com/Ancient_Topography.htm

It really is a lovely, fascinating book book, particularly for those of us who live near to some of the places that Smith illustrated. When I look out of my window I can see the site (at the north end of Long Lane) of one of his drawings.

By: aubrey

aubrey — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 19:33:43 +0000

The drawings depicted that some of the timber framed houses with walls that were so out-of-plumb, that is amazing that they managed to stand up at all! I would hazzard a guess that some of them didn’t. After the Great Fire of London, a London Building Act was brought in to obviate the spread of fire by insisting that all external walls be built with non-combustible masonary. The various London Building Acts were in operation up until 1986 whence they were superceded by the current Building Regulations.

By: Roger C

Roger C — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 15:05:38 +0000

Marvellous drawings, wonderful details, as good as 18th century photography. Zoomed in I could look at these for hours.

Another great post from the GA to be saved for posterity 🙂

By: Phil Maxwell

Phil Maxwell — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 14:43:07 +0000

A marvellous record. Hints at street photography to come.

By: Lynne Perrella

Lynne Perrella — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 11:55:46 +0000

I love these detailed glimpses, and it added even MORE to review the individual portraits under
“Vagabondiana” that you included, by the same artist. An example of “having it all” — We can enjoy the long view of the scene with all it’s accompanying atmospheric details; and then also
study the amazingly vivid characters within the tableau. I was totally unaware of many of the trades that were depicted — each and every one was so narrative, a tribute to the artist.
Apropos of nothing, these individual portraits reminded me a bit of the so-called composite portraits by French artist Nicholas de Larmessin — his depictions of various professions made up from the “tools of the trade”. But, certainly, Smith’s characters have the edge with their foibles, humanity, and tenacity; so wonderfully depicted. Thank you for providing such vivid time
travel this morning.

By: stan rondeau

stan rondeau — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 10:27:27 +0000

I think these pictures are great, as they were like this when my ancestor John Rondeau
was sexton at Christchurch Spitalfields 1760/1790

Stan Rondeau

By: Shirley Brittin

Shirley Brittin — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 10:06:32 +0000

My Father would have been thrilled to see these. He walked to work in Roseberry Avenue every day from Holborn or Blackfriars Station through Smithfield and loved the history of the area. I joined him on that walk in the fifties and learnt much from him. Thank you for sharing this on FB.

By: Vicky

Vicky — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 10:04:40 +0000

Fantastic! I would have campaigned to save the lot. Of course there would have been the Lord Mayor to deal with, probably as powerful as our present Mayor, but hey ho I would have tried.

By: Joan Barleycorn

Joan Barleycorn — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 09:36:35 +0000

Some of these buildings look clearly in need of demolition. They look like they could collapse at at any moment. Others look worthy of restoration. I sense the Victorians wanted to remake the city in their image. I remember being surprised by Dickens’ dislike of the buildings of older London in Our Mutual Friend and this is manifested in the collapse of Arthur’s mothers’s house during the climatic section of that novel.