Cockney Cats
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These are Cockney Cats by Warren Tute, with photographs by Felix Fonteyn from 1953, in the archive at Bishopsgate Institute
Micky is the centre of the Day family of Copley St in the parish of Stepney. The whole family pamper him and have a wonderful time
Bill on weekdays, William on Sundays, the cat at the Bricklayers Arms in Commercial Rd has a wonderful life since the Guv’nor Jim Meade was once a Dumb Animals’ Food Purveyor. At seventy-seven Jim looks back on a long and distinguished life in Stepney during his thirty-two years as Guv’nor.
Yeoman Warder Clark & Pickles on Tower Green
On duty at the Tower of London
The tail-less cat of the guardroom who came out to watch Pickles being photographed
Min, Port of London Authority cat has many friends among the dockers and very good ratting at night
Min of the magnificent whiskers has made her home in the office of K Warehouse in the Milwall Docks
Customs & Excise cat guards the Queen’s Warehouse and is paid a Treasury Allowance of sixpence a day
Mitzi has the run of her ship from the lifeboats to the Officers’ Mess
Old Bill the railway cat, his favourite position is the entrance to Blackfriars Station
Old Bill takes cover when necessary in the rush hour
Tibs the Great (1950-64), the official Post Office cat at Headquarters, does not normally live in this 1856 pillarbox
This cat’s curiosity unearthed a box of ancient stamps and seals, some dating back to Queen Anne
Minnie the Stock Exchange cat was a self-willed and determined kitten who adopted the dealing floor as her own preserve
Minnie enjoys the banter in the tea room
Tiger of The Times is the best office cat in Fleet St
Tiger of The Times is equally at ease whether in the Board Room …
… or doing his rounds in the Print Room
Sneaking back into Lloyds of London is difficult even for the resident cat
Cecil is the Front of House cat at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Cecil is very elusive in his many hiding places from which he has to be coaxed by the Royal Waiter before the performance can begin
When thirteen people sit down to dine at the Savoy and the thirteenth guest is Jimmy Edwards, almost anything can happen. The famous black cat is invited to occupy the fourteenth place so that everyone can enjoy the sparkling conversation.
Bill at the Tower of London (1935-47)
Images courtesy Bishopsgate Institute
You may also like to take a look at
Schroedinger, Shoreditch Church Cat
Doorkins Magnificat, Southwark Cathedral Cat
The Cats of Spitalfields (Part One)
I love my pampered indoor cats and was talking about them to my parents yesterday. Growing up in the 30s and 40s they both always had cats, probably as mousers as they lived in old houses in London. They mostly only came into the house to eat whatever leftovers or boiled up fish heads were put out for them.
Exquisite photos .
Thank you .
Wonderful .
Just stare at a cockney cat for more than a couple of seconds and you’ll be offered outside for a little chat
Wonderful cats.. but don’t forget the most famous cat of all, Mr Pussy!
Fantastic cockney cats. I never get tired of this article, dear G.A.
Thank you for these photos of working cats. I loved the affection so clearly shown by the people around them.
I have a new cat now, Rosie. Her mother was rescued by my daughter one fall evening last year–turned out the cat was pregnant with five kittens. My daughter’s office friends adopted all the kittens, and we took Rosie, a beautiful tabby. Our Dachshund-Cocker-Spaniel’s middle-aged life is now much more interesting. I had almost forgotten how wonderful cats are, until Rosie moved in.
What a delight to see these much-loved companions. I have just had to retrieve one of ours from the garden, during a thunderstorm, that was hiding under the patio table with a huge puddle underneath! The things we do for them.
I do hope that you are giving consideration to a new feline companion. There are so many in desperate need of a good home. A house isn’t a home without a cat.
Gosh, I had no idea! Seemed like every business had a resident cat. I only see this tradition still in practice in Athens. Bring back the shop cat!