Comments on: C. A. Mathew, Photographer

By: Marcia Howard

Marcia Howard — Thu, 23 Sep 2021 19:51:18 +0000

Wonderful images, and I love your whimsical take on C.A. Mathew, of his dress, and of his thoughts… Some of the architecture is wonderful around this area, and the streets do look clean, in comparison to today as mentioned above. Photos taken in 1912, this was the year my mum was born, my dad in 1910, but just 40 years later, I recall the air green with the dreadful smogs we had in London by then. They caused me to become a ‘sickly’ child.
I also love the name of Frying Pan Alley where I understand Charles Dickens once had an office in the yard there.

By: J Parham

J Parham — Thu, 23 Sep 2021 18:48:15 +0000

Very good pictures from the early 20th Century. I’m glad to say though that there are still loads of kids playing on my little street in London E1, despite the ubiquitous ‘No Ball Games’ notices!

By: keithb

keithb — Thu, 23 Sep 2021 10:34:58 +0000

Blackened Buildings: in the 1970s, the buildings in the centre of Liverpool were cleaned systematically, street by street. A hundred years of acid rain corrosion and soot was taken off. The dark canyons of Victorian and Edwardian commercial buildings I walked through everyday were revealed in their polychrome splendour. Green and salmon marble, polished granite with fossils clearly visible, white limestone and warm honey sandstone. Ruabon brick shone once again in the rain in the cheaper properties in the side streets.

As the scaffolding and tarpaulins were removed from each building a small crowd gathered to look at the newly clean stone.

I presume the same must have happened at a certain point in London.

By: Sigrid

Sigrid — Thu, 23 Sep 2021 09:57:12 +0000

Hi GA, you say that C.A. Matthew took these photos on a Saturday ( the Shabbat), the “nice” clothes might be the “ Shabbat Best” that they are wearing.

By: Bernie

Bernie — Thu, 23 Sep 2021 08:49:21 +0000

My father could well be among those imaged! He would have been sixteen years old at the time.

By: Vicki Heneker Lovell

Vicki Heneker Lovell — Thu, 23 Sep 2021 08:43:17 +0000

Thank you again for a wonderful post and the incredible photographs of C.A. Matthew, once again they have stirred my interest in the streets of East End London some of which I know from Census records that my Jewish ancestors lived in. It is so amazing to see the streets with people in them. Of course my mind wanders toward thinking “are any of these people my ancestors” who were out for a stroll or shopping.
One day I will get back there and spend more time in the East End, not just a very late rainy night as I did in 2008.
Kind regards
Vicki
Adelaide, South Australia

By: Lorraine

Lorraine — Thu, 23 Sep 2021 08:25:02 +0000

What strikes me is the blackened masonry of the buildings, and this is how I remember the buildings in central London where I grew up in the 50’s and 60’s too. – Presumably the result of all the smokey chimneys.

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Thu, 23 Sep 2021 05:46:24 +0000

Surprising to see the pavements and streets with less rubbish and litter than today. And, of course, nice to not see any cars clogging the streets!