Comments on: Fogs & Smogs In Old London

By: Adrienne Roche

Adrienne Roche — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 10:18:12 +0000

The public house ‘I am The Only Running Footman’ if it’s the one in Charles Street, off Berkeley Square, is much altered! Up until the mid 19th century, it seems to have been used for ‘poste restante’ as I think many inns were. My great great great grandfather Charles Tanswell had lodged certain of his legal documents there, from what I gather from his Will. He was a retired inn keeper having had public houses in both Dorset & London; I have often wondered if he was once landlord of the Running Footman or merely knew them through his publican connections. I visited the Running Footman a few years ago & it was a delightful, old world place but now it’s become a gastro pub & I have not re-visited.

By: Linda Kincaid

Linda Kincaid — Mon, 06 Feb 2017 10:30:18 +0000

Wonderful pictures as usual. Thankyou.

By: Ian Silverton

Ian Silverton — Thu, 26 Jan 2017 19:49:22 +0000

In the 1950s we had road works in Gosset Street Bethnal Green,new sewers so they said,anyway a large hole and a very foggy night,what we called a pea souper, a horse drawing a cart got itself down their,well stuck in. Although hard for any of us to see,we got him out,failed to notice if he was cut as we could not see much,but he trotted off. Had some members of my Family die very young back then of TB.

By: jgvincent

jgvincent — Thu, 26 Jan 2017 16:13:06 +0000

Wow, this is one of my top few favorites of all your posts…these photos, for some reason, are so evocative for me.

And no wonder my grandmother developed severe respiratory problems, living in Bethnal Green ca 1900.

By: John Rowe

John Rowe — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 22:18:08 +0000

Dear Belle,

I think the Mew River Head is now Claremont St / Claremont Sq off Pentonville Rs

By: David Spencer

David Spencer — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 14:33:39 +0000

The picture of The Woodman 1900 ..do you know if that location is at Highgate at the junction of Muswell Hill Road where a pub of that name still exists?

Love your work GA …brings my old large London family back to life for me in many ways 🙂

By: nicholas borden

nicholas borden — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 11:08:38 +0000

Dont get the chance to read this every day however quite often there is a merserising level of observing, to a subject which has been overlooked. This makes for interesting viewing and probably explains the success. Cheers

By: Helen Breen

Helen Breen — Tue, 24 Jan 2017 14:28:29 +0000

Greetings from Boston,

GA, wonderful evocative photos. Such great archives at the Bishopgate Institute.

Reminds me of Monet’s obsession with London fogs/mists when he painted so many scenes of the Houses of Parliament and various London bridges during 1870. He and his family sought refuge in London during the Franco – Prussian War. I believe they stayed at the Savoy – not bad.

Thanks for reminding us of “the old days” …

By: Robin

Robin — Tue, 24 Jan 2017 13:25:30 +0000

Fantastic look back .I love seeing these old photos that you add to you blog G.A. But ..oh the photo of the Cenotaph with all the flowers :*-( heartbreaking.

By: John Finn

John Finn — Tue, 24 Jan 2017 12:56:56 +0000

Fascinating images, as usual on here. The slide labelled ‘unidentified building 1910’ – I don’t know exactly where it is, but under the window is the rebus of Prior Bolton, a prior of St Bartholomew’s. A rebus is a visual pun – here you have an arrow and a barrel (‘bolt’ and ‘tun’) and you can find these on buildings near Canonbury Tower, which was the country residence of the priors (I don’t think it’s one of those) and around the church in Smithfield. Of course, this particular building may have been a victim of the Blitz or redevelopment.