The Streets Of Old London
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Piccadilly, c. 1900
In my mind, I live in old London as much as I live in the contemporary London of here and now. Maybe I have spent too much time looking at photographs of old London – such as these glass slides once used for magic lantern shows by the London & Middlesex Archaeological Society at the Bishopsgate Institute?
Old London exists to me through photography almost as vividly as if I had actual memory of a century ago. Consequently, when I walk through the streets of London today, I am especially aware of the locations that have changed little over this time. And, in my mind’s eye, these streets of old London are peopled by the inhabitants of the photographs.
Yet I am not haunted by the past, rather it is as if we Londoners in the insubstantial present are the fleeting spirits while – thanks to photography – those people of a century ago occupy these streets of old London eternally. The pictures have frozen their world forever and, walking in these same streets today, my experience can sometimes be akin to that of a visitor exploring the backlot of a film studio long after the actors have gone.
I recall my terror at the incomprehensible nature of London when I first visited the great metropolis from my small city in the provinces. But now I have lived here long enough to have lost that diabolic London I first encountered in which many of the great buildings were black, still coated with soot from the days of coal fires.
Reaching beyond my limited period of residence in the capital, these photographs of the streets of old London reveal a deeper perspective in time, setting my own experience in proportion and allowing me to feel part of the continuum of the ever-changing city.
Ludgate Hill, c. 1920
Holborn Viaduct, c. 1910
Trinity Almshouses, Mile End Rd, c. 1920
Throgmorton St, c. 1920
Highgate Forge, Highgate High St, 1900
Bangor St, Kensington, c. 1900
Ludgate Hill, c. 1910
Walls Ice Cream Vendor, c. 1920
Ludgate Hill, c. 1910
Strand Yard, Highgate, 1900
Eyre St Hill, Little Italy, c. 1890
Muffin man, c. 1910
Seven Dials, c. 19o0
Fetter Lane, c. 1910
Piccadilly Circus, c. 1900
St Clement Danes, c. 1910
Hoardings in Knightsbridge, c. 1935
Wych St, c.1890
Dustcart, c. 1910
At the foot of the Monument, c. 1900
Pageantmaster Court, Ludgate Hill, c. 1930
Holborn Circus, 1910
Cheapside, 1890
Cheapside ,1892
Cheapside with St Mary Le Bow, 1910
Regent St, 1900
Glass slides copyright © Bishopsgate Institute
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wow! splendid glimpse of lovely old London in all it’s hustle bustle, busy, life affirming glory – thank you..
Dirt and poverty not withstanding, forever the most magical city in the world. To know it is to love it.
I am wondering if anywhere in the archives there are London street scenes photographed in colour using the Edwardian era (1902-) autochrome process?
Slow film so tripod based working would seem to lend itself to street views. Being a Lumiere brothers development there are some street views of Paris a google search away but I’m sure some enterprising londoner would have learned the technique.
Great photographs.
The rubbish in that street in Kensington – oh my goodness! I checked and can see the street no longer exists or the houses would probably be worth a great deal of money nowadays.
The image of Bangor Street, North Kensington is still recognisable in Roger Mayne’s photographs of half a century later. These areas were eventually designated slums and for many decades had been packed with many of the poorest families in London.
Love these old photographs. Having London cab men and bin men in my family in those days I wonder if any of them are frozen in these pictures
…a couple more Light Reflectors to add to my collection, thanks ?
I love walking around streets where historic buildings remain and trying to imagine what it would have been like in the time when they were relatively new. It’s quite depressing when old, but serviceable, buildings are demolished to make way for glass, concrete and steel faceless lumps. Thankfully, where I now live, they have realised that the historic buildings still have a role to play in our beautiful city. In fact, I’ve just photographed some buildings over 450 years old, still in use as shops, cafes and restaurants on my walk home. There are different pressures in London sadly but hopefully the voices of resistance will prevail and good sense triumph
Pure magic…seeing into the past through these old photographs
I can’t resist finding all these streets on Google Streetview now to see today’s versions.
I just LOVE these old photographs…thank you
Welcome back as once again we can read your great works on you’re site great pics of a bygone era
I’ve worked out the location of the chaotic traffic on Piccadilly. It’s near Green Park tube station looking eastwards in the direction of Piccadilly Circus. The striped brick turret on the right belongs to the Walsingham House Hotel, torn down along with its neighbours around 1904-5 to make way for the Ritz. All the traffic seems to be headed eastward. I wonder if Piccadilly was one-way back then.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walsingham_House
It should be pointed out – for the avoidance of doubt – that in the photo titled “Wych St, c.1890” – Wych Street is the street to the right of the Dewars Whisky hoarding on the Rising Sun pub. The street on the left, which we can see straight down, is Holywell Street (AKA: Booksellers Row).