Comments on: Frank Derrett’s West End

By: James

James — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 10:42:39 +0000

and I remember fondly a middle-aged French lady who worked in the first floor flat upstairs from the door behind the shellfish stall outside the Marquis of Granby on the corner of Earlham Street, and taught me things I hadn’t learned; and Natalie, a tall Londoner, on the second floor, slightly forbidding, later above a chip shop in Berwick Street

By: John Campbell

John Campbell — Sun, 26 Jan 2025 18:51:11 +0000

The story of how these photos were salvaged reminded me of the film ‘Still Lives’ with the great Eddie Marsan. Well worth a watch if you haven’t seen it.

By: achim

achim — Sun, 26 Jan 2025 16:13:20 +0000

Yes, when I first set foot on London ground in 1978, I experienced all the things pictured and described in the same way. It’s interesting that the colours of the photos (including mine!) always indicate exactly when they were taken.

Love & Peace
ACHIM

By: Lynne Perrella

Lynne Perrella — Sun, 26 Jan 2025 14:43:42 +0000

The photo of Charing Cross Road storefront was a vivid reminder to me, of the Second Avenue bookstalls here in New York. (circa late 60s and early 70s) Although The Strand was the most-notable “name brand” of all these shops, there were endless, smaller variations. As an art trainee learning my trade in Manhattan, I had a meagre budget — But, no worries. Both books and (pant, pant, pant) ephemera were affordable and splurge-worthy. I eagerly collected off-beat old volumes on strange topics, and gathered vintage maps, cabinet cards, theater programs, and more.

I later read with kindred pleasure that artist Joseph Cornell would do the same. Although he had a “real” job in the real world, he haunted the book stalls, selecting and curating an admirable stash of ephemera which later became the envy of artists like Warhol and Rauschenberg, who came to pay homage. Photos of Cornell’s studio fill me with joy, revealing burgeoning shelves with boxes labeled “shells”, “toys”, “balls”, “birds”, etc. He took those modest book stall treasures and lifted them to the heavens.

In the past couple of days, I was working on a project and came across a small vintage book in my art library titled “Sailor’s Songs”. A charming little volume no bigger than my hand, with old sea-faring tunes, etc. Quite old, with a lovely cover. On the inside page, a price written in pencil. “65 p”. It reminded me that during our first trip to London, I visited an outdoor book market across from the British Museum. Dealers were set up on long folding tables, prices seemed crazy-good to me, etc. This little volume came home with me and is still churning out good memories.

By: Simon Westerman

Simon Westerman — Sun, 26 Jan 2025 12:34:08 +0000

Not only are these images a wonderful reminder of days long since vanished, but I particularly wanted to comment on the matching “steak bar” signs. The one at Bear Street hardly provides a persuasive reason to make us want to tramp up some dingy stairs, any more than its matching companion at Cranbourne Street, pointing down this time, sells us a compelling narrative to eschew the Wimpy opposite!

By: Paul Adderley

Paul Adderley — Sun, 26 Jan 2025 12:16:52 +0000

The Elephant and Castle on Perkins Rents is still a pub and is now called The Speaker.

By: Mark

Mark — Sun, 26 Jan 2025 11:02:12 +0000

Frank, thanks, a brilliant glimpse of early seventies life in the metropolis. Fading glamour certainly but Hugh sums it up perfectly. Shame about the flares. That’s the London I remember as a kid. Fascinating. Topo Gigio. Far out.
Love to see some old pics of the Lyons corner houses one day. Cheers!

By: paul kendall

paul kendall — Sun, 26 Jan 2025 10:44:59 +0000

I worked in Barclays Piccadilly Circus between 74-84, these photos resonate for me of much simpler if dowdier times. Topo Gigio restaurant moved to much more salubrious site in Brewer Street but the notes still smelt the same to the bank cashier!

By: Hugh

Hugh — Sun, 26 Jan 2025 07:27:32 +0000

In 1976 I was working in the Pizzaland in Leicester Square which is just out of site to the left of the frame in the photo labelled Cranbourne St. The top of the building in a rich brown stone can be seen at height to the left of the Wimpey. The Pizzaland site had previously been one of the famous Lyons Corner Houses.

The doorway to the left of the Wimpey was the entrance to The Maximus Casino in the basement that we used to supply with Pizzas after 11pm in order to comply with the licensing requirement that substantial food should be available after that time.

The round fronted pub to the right of this photo was the Henekey Inn. Despite its prominent location, featuring smoke filled air and sticky carpets it was almost as grim as The King’s Head.

The King’s Head in Bear St was our watering hole at that time. The photo of this must have been taken standing with the photographer’s back to the Pizzaland. I think that this pub changed its name to the White Bear soon after this, or alternatively had previously been called the White Bear. Not to be confused with The Bear and Ragged Staff at the other end of Bear St.

What is so striking is how dowdy and scruffy most of the frontages look. At the time, to me, an ingenue in London, it all seemed impossibly glamorous.

By: Marcia Howard

Marcia Howard — Sun, 26 Jan 2025 07:26:11 +0000

What wonderful visual mementos of a past life