John Thomas Smith’s Antiquities Of Old London
For good reason John Thomas Smith acquired the nickname ‘Antiquity Smith’ – while working as Keeper of Drawings at the British Museum, between 1790 & 1800, he produced a large series of etchings recording all the antiquities of London, from which I publish this selection of favourites today
Old houses in the Butcher Row near Clement’s Inn, taken down 30th March 1798 – the right hand corner house is suggested to have been the one in which the Gunpowder Plot was determined and sworn
A Curious Pump – in the yard of the Leathersellers’ Hall, Bishopsgate
Sir Paul Pindar’s Lodge, Half Moon Alley, Bishopsgate
A Curious Gate in Stepney – traditionally called King John’s Gate, it is the oldest house in Stepney
London Stone – supposed to be the Millinarium of the Romans from which they measured distances
The Queen’s Nursery, Golden Lane, Barbican
Pye Corner, Smithfield – this memorialises the Great Fire of 1666 which ended at Pye Corner
Old house in King St, Westminster – traditionally believed to have been a residence of Oliver Cromwell
Lollards’ Prison – a stone staircase leads to a room at the very top of a tower on the north side of Lambeth Palace, known as Lollard’s Tower
Old house on Little Tower Hill
Principal gate of the Priory of St Bartholomew, Smithfield
Savoy Prison – occupied by the army for their deserters and transports
Mr Salmon’s, Fleet St
Gate of St Saviour’s Abbey, Bermondsey
Rectorial House, Newington Butts
Bloody Tower – the bones of the two murdered princes were found within the right hand window
Traitors’ Gate
The Old Fountain in the Minories – taken down 1793
The White Hart, Bishopsgate
The Conduit, Bayswater
Staple’s Inn, Holborn
The Old Manor House, Hackney
Dissenting Meeting House at the entrance to Little St Helen’s, taken down 1799
Remains of Winchester House, Southwark
London Wall in the churchyard of St Giles Cripplegate
London Wall in the churchyard of St Giles’ Cripplegate
Figures of King Lud and his two sons, taken down from Ludgate and now deposited at St Dunstan’s, Fleet St, in the Bone House
Images courtesy Bishopsgate Institute
You may also like to take a look at
John Thomas Smith’s Ancient Topography
John Thomas Smith’s Vagabondiana
Superb information as always. I truly love reading your articles. I read them before I read any other messages in the morning. Thank you.
Another fascinating selection from Smith’s works. Was he the same John Thomas Smith who wrote a biography of the sculptor Nollekens, with whom he had trained? https://www.cambridge.org/gb/academic/subjects/arts-theatre-culture/western-art/nollekens-and-his-times-comprehending-life-celebrated-sculptor-and-memoirs-several-contemporary-artists-volume-1?format=PB
Yes, he was apprenticed to Nollekins…
The stalwart, the crusty, the upright, the wobbly, the thatched, the mullioned. It’s ALL here.
GA, you’ve given us the “whole nine yards” this morning.
Perhaps…….just maybe……..this noble endeavor to document “all the antiquities of London” inspired our American version? Our Index of American Design was created between 1935 – 1942.
Hundreds-maybe-thousands of artists were put to work, doing faithful renderings of our legacy items, creating a comprehensive overview of all-things-American. Imagine the skill required to
do a faithful watercolor rendering of — lets say — a woven coverlet, or an embroidered sampler, or a carved ship’s figurehead? Initiated for the dual purpose of “putting artists to work” plus establishing a visual archive of our traditional designs — this singular archive abides.
Saluting your grand history — and ours. Stay safe, all.
I was fascinated by the story of Smith. He worked as an archivist but somehow had enough time to make detailed drawings of historical sites. Because the drawings are careful but often awkward, I had pictured him as an art lover who spent all the time away from his day job drawing. But, no — he was an author, a trained professional artist, and an archivist. Maybe he did have a full-time day job and spent his free time writing and using his art training. Whatever the answer, he was a noble soul who recorded history for those of future generations.
And, then, King Lud. Wow, a whole new door opened to a history or maybe a body of traditions new to me.
Aren’t these etchings wonderful!? The textures and details are so enthralling and the sagging- oh yes, don’t forget the massive sagging! Loved this post, Thank you.