Comments on: The Streets Of Old London https://spitalfieldslife.com/2024/11/27/the-streets-of-old-london-ii/ In the midst of life I woke to find myself living in an old house beside Brick Lane in the East End of London Tue, 03 Dec 2024 17:45:24 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: Marcia Howard https://spitalfieldslife.com/2024/11/27/the-streets-of-old-london-ii/#comment-1660852 Tue, 03 Dec 2024 17:45:24 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=201523#comment-1660852 Amazing images, and ones I have so many connections with, not least the first one of Ludgate Hill where my late husband worked in an office there.

]]> By: Christine https://spitalfieldslife.com/2024/11/27/the-streets-of-old-london-ii/#comment-1654207 Wed, 27 Nov 2024 21:09:25 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=201523#comment-1654207 ]]> You nailed it saying you walk around the old streets! So do I! I look at a lot of old streets and then have to go and visit to see the difference! My biggest shock of the photos were Regent Street!!!! Can you imagine it looking like that now? ❤️

]]> By: Mark https://spitalfieldslife.com/2024/11/27/the-streets-of-old-london-ii/#comment-1654089 Wed, 27 Nov 2024 14:18:04 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=201523#comment-1654089 This is the London I would like to explore.
With a good supply of pounds, shilling and pence and late twentieth century quality condoms, one could have some great times on those streets. The metropolis.
Then click your fingers and return to the present.
Good times, super pics.

]]> By: Lynne Perrella https://spitalfieldslife.com/2024/11/27/the-streets-of-old-london-ii/#comment-1654086 Wed, 27 Nov 2024 14:05:41 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=201523#comment-1654086 Hard to express — but I’ll try. This morning I am thinking how fortunate I was to discover
Spitalfields Life. GA, you have gifted us, the readers, with your ability to time travel and to experience this magnificent city as it once was. (by the way, it fascinates me that some people would actually prefer to go into the future, rather than return to the past. I’m astounded by that!)
Each one of these photos was replete with endless telling details, and mythic stories. I could
happily examine the top photo for hours. “Rollicking” is the word that comes to mind. It is
chock-a-block with people, conveyances, awnings, signage, umbrellas (!), hats, wheels, horses, windows, hand rails (notice those beautiful undulating curves) and more. I imagine………….noise. The heartbeat of a city, captured in a photo. (Wouldn’t you love to see the photographer, atop a bus, TAKING the photo? In all the hubbub, he has not attracted any attention to himself, and no one has turned to look. Well-done, sir!)

]]> By: Heather Cole https://spitalfieldslife.com/2024/11/27/the-streets-of-old-london-ii/#comment-1654076 Wed, 27 Nov 2024 12:56:10 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=201523#comment-1654076 Greetings from Boston [USA]:

Like many others, I’m sure, I have often been so distressed by the “satanic” discoloration
of London street scenes by coal dust that my view of your beloved city has been more or less obscure.
I am thrilled to see these glass-lantern slides — images so brisk and clear and just loaded with
detail. So many thanks.

I have an unkind thought about the façades. Should cataclysm strike, they will lie in ruins and the
Old London will re-emerge.

]]> By: Bernie https://spitalfieldslife.com/2024/11/27/the-streets-of-old-london-ii/#comment-1654059 Wed, 27 Nov 2024 11:42:31 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=201523#comment-1654059 May I echo George Kearse and say how much I appreciate that view of the Ludgate railway bridge for revealing that there are actually six giant girders side-by-side. Who would have guessed more than two?

]]> By: Mark B https://spitalfieldslife.com/2024/11/27/the-streets-of-old-london-ii/#comment-1654040 Wed, 27 Nov 2024 09:50:49 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=201523#comment-1654040 What a lovely entry, thank you.

I to see London as it was when I go for a day out down memory lane (London born and bread)
Splendid old photographs, I could look at them for hours but I am at work!

I have this lovely blog sent to my work email and private ,and start my day every day reading them, have done for a good few years now, Keep them coming and thanks so much for your dedication.

all the very best

Mark

]]> By: George Kearse https://spitalfieldslife.com/2024/11/27/the-streets-of-old-london-ii/#comment-1654021 Wed, 27 Nov 2024 08:24:11 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=201523#comment-1654021 Ludgate Hill – Ludgate Circus. London Transport Museum: the bridge completely obstructed the view along Ludgate Hill to St Paul’s. It was used throughout the 20th century until it was demolished in 1990. In actuality, St. Paul’s only starts to come into full view as we pass Old Bailey up there on the left its view from back down the road still obstructed by the buildings here jutting out into Ludgate Hill from the left. This railway bridge signalled to me in my mind I was leaving / entering Fleet Street.
That view of Holborn Viaduct exists to this day. The corner there front and left no longer exists and that wonderful building behind to the right has succumbed to that creeping plague of ghastly facadism.
It seems to me something has been lost that I see captured in these black and white – that sense of width from side-to-side in front of Holborn Viaduct. It’s somewhat ‘lost and diminished’ when viewed in Google Street View though we do have the magnificence of that real sense of colourful detail as we walk up to and beneath its portals.
Lookout for the steps to take us up to the viaduct itself where we have the Winged Lion and Agriculture statues one side and the Sir Hugh Myddleton, Science and Fine Art statues the other, not to forget the Winged Lions abutting each end on both sides.
Visit early or late in the day, close our eyes and sense those people of a century ago occupying these streets of old London eternally.

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