Roland Collins’ East End
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It is my pleasure to show this selection of Roland Collins‘ evocative photographs of the East End and the City. For a spell in the sixties, while he was working as a Commercial Artist for the Scientific Publicity Agency in Fleet St, Roland Collins had access to a darkroom which enabled him to develop his own photography, and he produced striking photoessays exploring aspects of London life.
Fairground on the Hackney Marshes.
Salvation Army prayer meeting in the Lea Bridge Rd.
In Petticoat Lane.
In the East India Dock Rd.
Porters at Billingsgate.
Spirits are high as a porter is hoist onto his own shellfish barrow by his sixteen stone son.
A porter makes a bit extra on the side, street trading in boots and shoes.
The Monument.
View from the top of the Monument.
Looking down Eastcheap from the Monument.
Fish shop by the Monument.
Visitors at the top of the Monument.
The shadow of the Monument cast upon King William St.
Relief upon the Danish Embassy at Wellclose Sq at the time of demolition – now removed to Belgravia.
In Albury Rd, Rotherhithe.
At Limehouse Basin.
Photographs copyright © Estate of Roland Collins
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I really appreciate the views from the top of the Monument. Between 1985 and 1990 I worked at Monument Street directly opposite but was never brave enough to climb up it (I don’t really like narrow spaces and winding stairs). My last visit to London was in 2013 and my old office had been turned into luxury flats.
I love a fairground even now! The brightly coloured riders and the carousel! I had a trip to the top of the monument courtesy of a free ticket from a chap whose wife decided not to go up! The views were fabulous. Also the jellied eels sign hard to get in London nowadays!!! 😢
The photo of the Billingsgate porter “taking a moment” to pause — I’m enthralled with this image. There is something so compelling about his lowered head, his hands shading his face, the
tilted wagon woefully empty and bereft. The prow-like structure in the background almost looks like it is going to churn forward and engulf him. The “alone in a crowd” mood of this photo is
commanding and narrative – and my heart is wrapped around this character.
Thank you for these remarkable images today.