A Walk Through Old London
Golden Buildings off the Strand
There is the London we know and the London we remember, and then there is the London that is lost to us but recalled by old photographs. Yet beyond all this lies another London which is long forgotten, composed of buildings and streets destroyed before the era of photography. Walter Thornbury’s ‘Old & New London – how it was and how it is‘ of 1873 offers a glimpse into this shadowy realm with engravings of the city which lies almost beyond recognition. It is a London that was forgotten generations ago and these images are like memories conjuring from a dream, strange apparitions that can barely be squared with the reality of the current metropolis we inhabit today.
“Writing the history of a vast city like London is like writing a history of the ocean – the area is so vast, its inhabitants are so multifarious, the treasures that lie in its depths so countless. … The houses of old London are encrusted as thick with anecdotes, legends and traditions as an old ship is with barnacles. Strange stories of strange men grow like moss in every crevice of the bricks … Old London is passing away even as we dip our pen in the ink…” – Walter Thornbury
The Four Swans Inn, Bishopsgate – shortly before demolition
Garraway’s Coffee House – shortly before demolition after 216 years in business
Roman wall at Tower Hill
Dyer’s Hall, College St, rebuilt 1857
Old house in Leadenhall St with Synagogue entrance
Yard of the Bull & Mouth, Aldergsgate 1820
The Old Fountain, Minories
Demolition of King’s Cross in 1845
Clerkenwell in 1820 before the railway came through
Middlesex House of Detention, Clerkenwell
In the Jerusalem Tavern above St John’s Gate, Clerkenwell
Cock Lane, Smithfield
Hand & Shears, Clothfair
Smithfield before the construction of the covered market
Last remnant of the the Fleet Prison demolished in 1846
The Fleet Ditch seen from the Red Lion
Back of the Red Lion seen from the Fleet Ditch
Field Lane 1840
Leather Lane
Exotic pet shop on the Ratcliffe Highway with creatures imported through the London Docks
Sir Paul Pindar’s Lodge, Spitalfields
Room in Sir Paul Pindar’s House, Bishopsgate – demolished for the building of Liverpool St Station
Kirkby Castle, Bethnal Green
Tudor gatehouse in Stepney
Boar’s Head Yard, Borough High St
Jacob’s Island, Southwark
Floating Dock, Deptford
Painted Hall, Greenwich
Waterloo Bridge Rd
Balloon Ascent at Vauxhall Gardens, 1840
House in Westminster, believed to have been inhabited by Oliver Cromwell
Old shops in Holborn
Mammalia at the British Museum
Rookery, St Giles 1850
Manor House of Toten Hall, Tottenham Court Rd 1813
Marylebone Gardens, 1780
Turkish Baths, Jermyn St
Old house in Wych St
Butcher’s Row, Strand 1810
The Fox Under The Hill, Strand
Ivy Bridge Lane, Strand
Turner’s House, Maiden Lane
Covent Garden
Whistling Oyster, Covent Garden
Tothill St, Westminster
Old house on Tothill St
The Manor House at Dalston
Old Rectory, Stoke Newington 1856
Sights of Stoke Newington – 1. Rogers House 1877 2. Fleetwood House, 1750 3. St Mary’s Rectory 4. St Mary’s New Church 5, New River at Stoke Newington 6. Queen Elizabeth’s Walk, 1800 7. Old gateway
Images courtesy Bishopsgate Institute
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Beautiful, and heart-wrenching. The disappearance of Tothill St in particular is tragic, considering the nothingness that replaced it. I suppose the only two unmissed losses would be the near-adjacent Fleet Prison and Ditch.
I believe could contentedly serve my eternal portion in the Jerusalem Tavern, contemplating things with those two thoughtful gentlemen.
Can you tell me the reason why so many of these illustrations show large wooden beams between two buildings? It seems that they may be for reinforcement or to keep walls from collapsing. It’s very interesting, and I really enjoyed seeing these. Thank you.
Thank you so much for sharing these images. Stunning draughsmanship! What an amazing talent! What a wonderful tribute to the architects and craftsmen of long ago!
I suppose this reminds me that all cities regenerate and change over the years but I still can’t help feeling the streets and buildings depicted here, even though not in good repair, have more character than anything a modern architect can throw up.
Outstanding images of a London now vanished.
Much appreciated – terrific pictures.
Absolutely outstanding illustrations of Old London in one place. Many cross braces keeping some buildings apart. Lots of building material change after the great fire of London in 1666. John a bus pass poet
I don’t find these images unrecognisable, many of the street and place names are still there, and if one can excuse the filth, the buildings look a whole lot more like the work of human beans, than many of the replacements that exist in those places today, which to me often look like the works of “the divil”.
Thank you for those, especially liked Smithfield and Kings X, and for all the short essays you have given me to read during the year. Have a Happy Spitalfields Christmas. warmest wishes Juliet
Wonderful series of pictures of old London; most interesting
A wonderful post containing truly fascinating illustrations of a bygone age. Thank you so much.
What a gift. It will take hours to give these images their proper attention — and it will be the Gift that keeps on Giving. The quote by Thornbury just blew me back in my chair. It was nearly as compelling and atmospheric as the images — which is saying a lot. So much to “notice”.
This dovetails perfectly with a book I just “gave” myself for Christmas…..”The Lost House Revisited” by artist Ed Kluz. His passion for long-destroyed great homes (lost to fire, neglect, other calamities) is expressed in beautiful distinctive collages. A British artist who is a standard bearer for your great traditions.
Cheers, and holiday wishes.
It’s a Christmas Eve chuckle to see Scrooge Broker on Field Lane (and Fagan) as well as all the other interesting details throughout. Thank you, and a happy Christmas.
Lovely post – as usual. You do great work – and it’s much appreciated!
A wonderful selection of prints of old London. What a pity that so much has been swept away as it would be fabulous to be able to see some of the old streets and buildings in reality. The modern monstrosities that have replaced the old buildings are so boring by comparison. Just loved the prints of the Fleet Ditch and the massive timber supports crossing it.
Thank you for this excellent series which I follow avidly. Happy Christmas and a prosperous happy and healthy New Year for 2018.
What beautiful illustrations of a past age!
Dear GA I have only recently found your wonderful blog and it is like receiving a Christmas gift every day. It has already led me to an exhibition of East London Group artists at my local city gallery. My New Year resolution is to read all your archived stories during 2018.
I have the fondest memories of the East End in the early 1970s when I was a student at The London and lived in Tredegar House in Bow Road and then in a flat above Harry Rose bookmakers by Bow Church.
May you have a peaceful Christmas and New Year.
These pictures are my Favourite of pictures. The paintings are Amazing and look to Real. Thank You for them So Very Much!!!
Thanks for a year of spectacular posts, and I nominate this one as my favorite. A great picture show while reading Dickens. Thank you, and please keep up the great work of documenting London.
Another wonderful year of post nearly at a end.
May 2018 bring more fascinating stories.
Hope you are having a marvellous Christmas.
As I looked through these wonderful pictures,I could not help but reflect on the lives of my ancestors , who would have known these buildings & streets . Wonderful buildings in our eyes ,but a lot of poverty in & around them .A life of hardship for so many .Thank you so much for your articles , they are greatly appreciated .A Happy & Healthy New Year .
The best historical pictures of London that I have seen. Thank you for all the work you have put into this site which will give so much pleasure to so many people
Beautiful pictures, some familiar ones and others seen for the first time. Thank you
Wonderful article, love the early pictures. What happened to Manor House of Toten Hall, Tottenham Court Rd 1813? Also were these building largely built of wood?
Wonderful pictures. Does anyone have a drawing/painting/picture of No 61 Minories – Ship Public House around 1800. I have an 1875 painting I purchased from City of London but my family owned the pub from around 1800 to 1843.