Comments on: Memoirs Of William Henry Knapp

By: Heather Fenton

Heather Fenton — Thu, 02 Sep 2021 10:10:14 +0000

Carter Lane is EC4 actually! I used to work in the building I suppose was exactly opposite where William Knapp was born. Numbers 68 – 74 was, in the 1960s, the home of Routledge and Kegan Paul, academic book publishers of note. I was their new, just out of college, graphic designer!
It was the last building on the north side, and had an imposing entrance with a very large, Victorian decorative mirror which proclaimed ‘George Routledge, Publisher’. I expect William, living opposite, was very familiar with this as the double front doors were always open.
The building itself had escaped the Blitz, unlike the site immediately to the west where there had, until then, been some shops, including a butchers I gather, and other buildings. My office therefore had a splendid view over all this bomb site, complete with a fig tree, and I could see across all this and right into Ludgate Circus.
There were two staircases in the building, which I think had changed little but was a ‘stairway’ to lots of history…!. I could write about this if requested..?

By: Helen Breen

Helen Breen — Wed, 01 Sep 2021 12:31:43 +0000

Greetings from Boston,

GA, what an interesting memoir of Mr. Knapp with his clear recall of the sights and sounds of his first job as “delivery boy” in the City of London. What a memory!

He reflected: “In my day, recreation consisted of just the bank holiday and two weeks in the summer – what a contrast. As regards the education then and now – well, I will not give it a voice but just think it.” So true. How well he wrote for someone leaving school at fourteen as so many did in those days.

My sense is that he also became an avid reader as an adult. Great piece.

By: Boudicca Fawkes

Boudicca Fawkes — Wed, 01 Sep 2021 12:09:27 +0000

Great story and pics from a bygone era in London bravo

By: Marcia Howard

Marcia Howard — Wed, 01 Sep 2021 09:02:05 +0000

What a fascinating insight into someone’s past life, which very much resonated with me due to the locations mentioned. My late husband worked on Ludgate Hill, where he and colleagues were able to watch the funeral procession of Sir Winston Church from their upper office windows. My parents, through personal connections, were seated in the choir stalls at St. Paul’s during that same funeral. I still have their official invitations and copy of the Service to this day.
I also knew the area after taking part in the November Lord Mayor’s Show for 5 consecutive years during the 1970s, with the building firm I was employed by. The procession, always on the Saturday nearest to Remembrance Sunday, starting at London Wall after standing in silence for 2 mins in respect of the fallen, before the bands started up. Heady memories indeed.

By: Leana Pooley

Leana Pooley — Wed, 01 Sep 2021 08:28:16 +0000

Shocking to read of the destruction of the Roman wall.