Colin O’Brien, Photographer
Observe this tender photograph of Raymond Scallionne and Razi Tuffano in Hatton Garden in 1948, one of the first pictures taken by Colin O’Brien – snapped when he was eight years old, the same age as his subjects. Colin forgot this photograph for over half a century until he discovered the negative recently and made a print, yet when he saw the image again, he immediately remembered the boys’ names and recalled arranging them in front of the car to construct the most pleasing composition for the lens of his prized box brownie.
Colin grew up fifty yards from Hatton Garden in Victoria Dwellings, a tenement at the junction of Faringdon Rd and Clerkenwell Rd – the centre of his childhood universe in Clerkenwell, which Colin portrayed in spellbinding photographs that evoke the poetry and pathos of the forgotten threadbare years in the aftermath of World War II. “We had little money or food, and shoes were a luxury. I remember being given my first banana and being told not to eat it in the street where someone might take it,” he told me, incredulous at the reality of his own past,“Victoria Dwellings were very run down and I remember in later years thinking, ‘How did people live in them?'”
Blessed with a vibrant talent for photography, Colin created images of his world with an assurance and flair that is astounding in one so young. And now these pictures exist as a compassionate testimony to a vanished way of life, created by a photographer with a personal relationship to all his subjects. “I just wanted to record the passage of time,” Colin told me with modest understatement, “There were no photographers in the family, but my Uncle Will interested me in photography. He was the black sheep, with a wife and children in Somerset and girlfriends in London, and he used to come for Sunday lunch in Victoria Dwellings sometimes. One day he brought me a contact printing set and he printed up some of my negatives, and even now I can remember the excitement of seeing my photographs appear on the paper.”
Colin O’Brien’s clear-eyed Clerkenwell pictures illustrate a world that was once familiar and has now receded far away, yet the emotionalism of these photographs speaks across time because the human detail is touching. Here is Colin’s mother spooning tea from the caddy into the teapot in the scullery and his father at breakfast in the living room before walking up the road to the Mount Pleasant Sorting Office, as he did every day of his working life. Here is Mrs Leinweber in the flat below, trying to eke out the Shepherd’s Pie for her large family coming round for dinner. Here is the Rio Cinema where Colin used to go to watch the continuous programme, taking sandwiches and a bottle of Tizer, and forced to consort with one of the dubious men in dirty raincoats in order to acquire the adult escort necessary to get into the cinema. Here is one of the innumerable car crashes at the junction of Clerkwenwell Rd and Faringdon Rd that punctuated life at Victoria Dwellings – caused by lights that were out of sync, instructing traffic to drive in both directions simultaneously – a cue for Colin to reach out the window of their top floor flat to capture the accident with his box brownie and for his mother to scream, “Colin, don’t lean out too far!”
At fifteen years old, Colin’s parents bought him Leica camera. “They couldn’t afford it and maybe it came off the back of a lorry, but it was a brilliant present – they realised this was what I wanted to do,” he admitted to me with an emotional smile. “My first job was at Fox Photo in the Faringdon Rd. I worked in the library, but I spent all my time hanging around in the dark room because that was where all the photographers were and I loved the smell of fixer and developer.” he recalled, “And if I stayed there I would have become a press photographer.” But instead Colin went to work in the office of a company of stockbrokers in Cornhill in the City and then for General Electric in Holborn –“I hated offices but I aways got jobs in them” – before becoming a photographic lab technician at St Martins School of Art and finally working for the Inner London Education authority in Media Resources, a role that enabled him to pursue his photography as he pleased throughout his career.
Over all this time, Colin O’Brien has pursued his talent and created a monumental body of photography that amounts to over half a million negatives, although his work is barely known because he never worked for publication or even for money, devoting himself single-mindedly to taking pictures for their own sake. Yet over the passage of time, as a consequence of the purism of his approach, the authority of Colin O’Brien’s superlative photography – distinguished by its human sympathy and aesthetic flair – stands comparison with any of the masters of twentieth century British photography.
Members of the Leinweber family playing darts at the Metropolitan Tavern, Clerkenwell Rd, 1954.
Girl in a party dress in the Clerkwenwell Rd, nineteen fifties.
Solmans Secondhand Shop, Skinner St, Clerkwenwell, 1963.
Colin’s mother puts tea in the teapot, in the scullery at Victoria Dwellings, nineteen fifties.
Linda Leinweber takes a nap, 117 Victoria Dwellings, nineteen fifties.
Colin’s father eats breakfast before work at the Mount Pleasant Sorting Office.
Jimmy Wragg and Bernard Roth jumping on a bomb site in Clerkenwell, late fifties.
Accident at the junction of Clerkwell Rd and Faringdon Rd, 1957.
Mrs Leinweber divides the Shepherd’s Pie among her family, Victoria Dwellings, 1959.
Rio Cinema, Skinner St, Clerkenwell, 1954.
Hazel Leinweber, Victoria Dwellings, nineteen fifties.
Fire at Victoria Dwellings, mid-fifties.
Colin’s mother outside her door, 99 Victoria Dwellings, nineteen fifties.
Boy at Woolworths, Exmouth Market, 1954.
Two women with a baby in Woolworths, Exmouth Market, 1954.
Cleaning the windows in the snow, Clerkenwell Rd, 1957.
Cowboy and girlfriend, 1960.
Nun sweeping in the Clerkenwell Rd, nineteen sixties.
Colin’s window at Victoria Dwellings was on the far right on the top floor.
An old lady listens, awaiting meals on wheels in Northcliffe House, Clerkenwell, late seventies.
The demolition of Victoria Dwellings in the nineteen seventies.
Photographs copyright © Colin O’Brien
Oh wow – what a photographer! These images just sing.
I love these types of images that essentially show the evolution of an urban landscape. These images make me want to step through them just to experience what that era was like. The people within are so expressive.
The portrait of Hazel is a favourite.
Another stunning post. I loved this. And how terrific that Colin’s parents had the vision to support his creativity. Not to mention the price of bananas have come full circle and could well be snatched by another in the street! I don’t always have the time to leave a comment but I always enjoy receiving your posts by email.
enjoyed with some saddness these lovely evocative shots thankyou
Aren’t these the most evocative photos? Black and white images really do capture the past. Brilliant record of London life.
I love these black and white pictures especially of ev eryday life in the kitchen.
A fabulous record.
What a brilliant photographer, I certainly love these days when such great work appears to the public and is able to say in your memory forever.
Great work, thanks for this fantastic post.
A few years ago I conversations with an artist who had grown up in London and described it in detail. These photos seem to closely depict the life he described…they are so striking, a window into that time and place.
Wonderful pictures. They really do speak a thousand words.
every single picture contains so many many details that it is impossible to read this post in one sitting
Fabulous photographs!
Thankyou so much for these wonderful pictures. I have been busy with genealogy and find that my great-great-great grandparents lived in Skinner Street. The family also lived in Northampton Road. The 1901 Census gives details that my great-grandparents and their baby daughter, with my great-great-grandfather, lived at 43 Victoria Dwellings.
Due to the fact that these buildings have been demolished, I had given up hope of ever really finding out exactly where they were – until, sitting up late tonight and just about to give up searching for anyting else – I found these pictures. I just searched for Victoria Dwellings, Clerkenwell and AT LAST got some results. I could not have hoped for a better glimpse of the area and although these pictures were taken many years after my family left Victoria Dwellings, at least I got to see what they looked like and where my family lived all those years ago.
I can’t tell you how very pleased and thankful I am that these pictures were taken – it makes me feel closer to my family just to see where they lived. I will be making a bit of a pilgrimage to Clerkenwell to see the Italian Church (St.Peter’s) that they attended (they weren’t Italian however), and to search for other clues to my own history.
Thank you once again.
Lynne Smith
Brilliant. My mum was born in Ferringdon rd buildings and her grand parents lived in victoria Dwellings in the 1920-1950. My great grand parents lived at number 98 victoria dwellings where my great grandad died in 1933. . now i know how it looked and thats made my day. Thanks.
GR8 photos, they are just how I remember it. Mum Italian (Napolitano) and lived there, I walked in the Poss. in the 50s and my older Bro. still does (40 years ) mum 86 will be there again this year with all the family. again good to see all the old places..
John Powell
Colin’s father worked at Mount Pleasant Sorting Office at the same time as my Grandfather, Fred Sced! He used to cycle every day from Mount Pleasant Villas, Crouch Hill It’s weird staring at the photo of Colin’s Father thinking that he probably knew him.
Great to see the photo of the Rio Cinema,
spent time in this old place when a boy , brings back memories.
john page
my mum lived in victoria dwellings before, during and after the war her father was italian (decosimo) and she was married in the italian church, her uncle owned the cafe opposite the church. She has on many occassions talk about her life there. These pictures bring to life her stories and now that she has dementia i will be able to show her these photos as her long long term memory is all that she has.
Really enjoyed looking through these photo’s, me and my two brothers went to school on the corner of Herbal Hill, St Catherine Laboure in the 1960’s, there were quite a few kids that lived in Victoria Dwelings that also went to the same school, Great memories of those school days.
I just love your website, at first glance it is so personal to me. My nan and grandad lived at 113 Victoria Dwellings, that may well have been the flat below yours. Most of my family are Italian and my mum lived there until she married in St Peters in 1937, I went to the Italian School as did most of my relations, thank you so much for bringing back so many lovely memories.
What a fantastic moment for me to see these pictures…Went to St Catherines in Herbal Hill, served on the altar at St Peters and remember fondly what it was like in the mid 50’s and early sixtees. These photo’s are sweet memories. Thank you.
Hey brilliant pics ! My Great Grandfather George Elliott Moore lived at 27 Victoria Dwellings in 1878 together with the Tagg Family.
Thanks. My mother grew up in Victoria Dwellings in the 1910s and 1920s. This is the first time I’ve seen a photo of them.
i remember living at number 26 victoria dwellings. playing in the bomb sites,an old piece of stick as a playhorse, and going to the catholic school oppersite.all this in 1960, i was a boy of 6.
Brilliant photos. My family lived at 92 Victoria Dwellings long before I was born. My Grandparents (Lizzie and Denis Donoghue) lived there , I don’t know when they moved there but they were married in St. Peters in 1894, as did my parents(John and Elizabeth(Lizzie) Hollingdale) after they were married at St Peters Italian church in 1921. My older brothers and sisters were all christened at St. Peters and went to St. Peters Italian school and were evacuated with the school. Although I wasn’t born there I can remember going to see my grandad up until 1955 and the smell in the flat from the tobacco factory oposite (I think it was the ‘Old Holborn’ factory). We always went back for the Italian procession.
Absolutely wonderful! Having spent the first few years of my life in Edwardian tenement housing in East London during the early ’60s, I am now fascinated at researching the history of tenement and social housing within the City of London boundary (mainly Farringdon, Clerkenwell, and Holborn).
I would love to see more pictures of tenement housing in these areas during the ’50s and ’60s, and am particularly keen on early pics of the Bourne Estate, Leather Lane, Cavendish Mansions, Clerkenwell Road, Grays Inn Buildings,Grays Inn Road, and Sandringham Buildings in Charing Cross Road. Colin was indeed gifted from a very young age. His work is so evocative of the City of London during that bygone era.
Gene Robertson
London
I went to the italian school and was married in the Italian church, what memories your photos bring back, Miss Moloney and many of the nuns especially Sister Agnes , I also remember there was a murder in the building opposite the school, the old lady who sold the religious pictures and rosarys, I will have to take a trip back up there to refresh the many good memories of the area , shame the old Holborn smell won’t be there now
Colin’s photographs are fantastic and bring back a world I had forgotten. I’m from South London and these pictures could just as easily have been taken there. Congratulations Colin
Thank you for your lovely photographs which are very nostalgic
We lived at No. 81 Victoria Dwellings from autumn 1962
until December 1962 but my parents remember the properties
very well.
It was nice for my brothers and myself to see where
we lived so thanks for sharing your photos.
What a treat to see the old rio cinema again.. I lived in whiskin street during and after the war,the rio was just around the corner to where I lived ,it’s good to see photos of the good (and not so good) old days.
Fantastic, my father had a Cabinet makers corner shop in Clerkenwell called W J Burts opposite Temple press, does anyone no if the road is still there.
I remember st catherines and our head mistress miss maloney…leatherbys where my Dad worked Leather lane where we lived..4th finsbury cubs i was in……st peters church i was an alter boy…..Gamages….Little italy……herbal hill…..woolies in exmouth market and the man on the corner selling standard standard….Oliver retter a family freind who worked at mount pleasant…Attneve street where we also once lived……Much much more…Lovely memories
Can i also add.i lived in Attneve street from 1957 62…..Used to watch the punch and judy shows in the small park there…..In leather lane lived in langdon house till 68……As a 10 year old i used to help the man put away the stalls in the lane……I loved that area and have been on the nostalgia trip there twice..i too was part of the italian procession around 65…..Father mario was the main preist in my day…..Told my mum when i was supposed to serve on the alter but “bunked off” to play on an old bomb site……The 4th finsbury cubs was held in catherine laboure school on tuesdays if i rem correctly….Love this…Anyone remember any o these names Maria malvese..Lorraine mackenzie….franco capocci…………
Just discovered this website. One of my brothers was born in Victoria Dwellings and that’s where we lived when I was born. My eldest brother went to St Cathrine Labore and was in the Italisan Procession and we were all christened and mum and dad were married in the Italian Church. These photographs are wonderful and its very moving to be able to identify with the places and memories left by all the other people from the area, especially the cinema and playing on the ruins!
You have brought back so many wonderful memories. In 1943 I was born at 115 Victoria Dwellings,I was baptised in St. Peters church and went to the Italian school.I was an altar boy
at 4 years of age .I took part in the annual procession accompanied by my dad uncle
and grandfather. my mum’s family came from Italy and her maiden name was Fazzani.
You have already received comments from my cousin…Linda Fazzani
I understand the procession still goes on….I remember the first time i wa in it around 1965 ish i was told to wear sandals for the event by father mario..I wore hushpuppies and he was none too pleased
I was researching my family history and came across your site. I was so surprised to see pictures of Victoria Dwellings. My parents both lived there before they married in 1931. My mother at 19 and my dad at 98. I can remember in the 1940s looking out of the window of 98 and seeing the tops of the trolleybuses. Do you have any more pictures of the building? I am also looking, so far without success, for pictures of the “Metropolitan” pub which adjoined the building at the corner of Clerkenwell Road and Farringdon Road. I can still see myself standing outside with a glass of lemonade in one hand and a packet of crisps in the other. Thank you for sharing your pictures. They have brought back memories of my childhood visits to my grandparents.
Wonderful blog and photos. Take me back to a different world. My family lived in there for many years, we went to the Italian Church school and in the processions. The photos are so evocative of what seems like another world. Victorian Dwellings was opposite my school, with the High Holborn tobacco factory across the road. Thanks for recording all of this!
Incredible to see the old Rio, what memories. Northampton buildings, Hugh Mydleton school, memories from decades ago. Thanks
Great memories of the area , We used to live in Griffin mansions Clerkenwell rd from 1961-67, Hatton gdn , St peters (i had my 1st communion there ) Katherine Laboure , home made go carts going full pelt down the hill outside the school , Happy days .
My Italian grandparents came to London in 1911 and found a place to live at 1 Little Saffron Hill, just around the corner from St Peter’s Italian Church. My mother was born there and told me many wonderful tales of her life growing up there in the 1920’s, 30’s and 40’s. I am in the process of creating a website, dedicated to my mother, where I would like to write about my mother’s memories of that special era in Clerkenwell. I am in search of photos to illustrate these stories wonderful stories. Colin O’Brien’s photos are so wonderful, capturing the moment so succinctly, they are truly amazing. I wonder if Colin is still alive? It would be wonderful to talk to him. Well, if you can assist me in any way with my Clerkenwell project I would love to hear from you and appreciate any help you could give. Kindest regards, Louise.
I was wondering if you knew the names of the children in the photograph called “Cowboy and girlfriend” or where the photo was taken please.
hi the boy is my brother shefki and the girl I think is hazel and they are in ray street at the bottom of herbal hill he got the hat and gun for his birthday
Fantastic photos, my Grandmother lived in Victoria Dwellings as a young girl, never moving very far away, just to Clerkenwell Green. All my family went to the Italian School and I have very fond memories of my time there, especially of Miss Maloney. What a difference she made to so many children . I can remember Angela Mansi (who has commented above ) giving a rendition of “There’s a hole in my bucket” at a school assembled. These photographs have brought back so many memories. It stills feels like a very special area.
Fantastic photos they made me cry with joy as it brought back my lovely childhood!
My Mum Queenie my Dad Tony brother John and Sister Susan all lived at 389 Northampton Buildings and our ground floor flat looked out onto Skinner Street and the Rio (I never thought that I would see the Rio again)
I went to Sir Hugh Myddleton School just behind the Rio and now live in Surrey but visit the Clerkenwell/Finsbury area as much as I can and I walk through Clerkenwell visit the Italian Church walk through Exmouth market and around the former site of Northampton buildings and the Rio.
I am so pleased that I had an upbringing in Clerkenwell/Finsbury.
loved these photo’s especially the one of the nun sweeping the Street outside the St. PETER’S ITALIAN CHURCH were I was baptised in the 60’s.
I saw a comment from a Linda Fazzani above – I went to S.Catherine Laboure School next to St. Peter’s Italian church and I knew a Linda Fazzani – we were both prefects there about 1958-59, and she was my “girlfriend” – a very innocent time as I recall – I don’t suppose we even had one kiss!! I’d love to send her an email but I have no idea how to get in touch. Any suggestions?
Con Rea
I noticed a comment by Michael Migliorini … I wonder if you were at St. Catherine’s the same time I was there – 1957 – 59 ? I remember the head mistress Miss Maloney and Mr Donovan was the Head Master … it would be good to hear from anyone who was there back in “the good old days” .. the photos are wonderful (I only have a few pictures of my class from that period that I could share)
Cheers,
Con Rea
Can’t believe I found these photos! I, too, was brought up in Clerkenwell in the sixties. I lived in Corporation Buildings in Ray Street, The Guardian offices are now there. So many memories!
I love this site – I came to London in 1959 and attended St. Catherine’s with Mr Donovan as the Headteacher. I remember the playground on the roof and us girls had to stand by the wall whilst the boys played ‘Bulldog’ ! I also remember being sent out to the café across the road to fetch sandwiches for Mr Byrne, the Geography teacher! That couldn’t happen now! I also remember when the old lady selling holy pictures got murdered – an article appeared in the newspaper next day (Saturday) with a picture of a wedding taking place at the Italian Church – does anyone know who got married?
The following year the school got transferred to Gifford Street off the Caledonian Road.
I still am in touch with school friends and a teacher from back then and it’s great to read all the old memories on this site.
Keep it up!
Amazing pictures was very nice to see brought back some memory’s I was born at number 3 Victoria dwellings back in 1962 lived there till they where demolished I remember dragging the old tin bath from the back yard boiling the water on the old stove on bath nights which we had to take turns in! Thanks
Came across this site whilst looking for something else and it brought back so many memories. Miss Maloney the Head walking around with her little dog following on , Sister Agnes and the rocking horse in the infants. Remember going to mass through the back door in the school and one day the door swung back and broke my two front teeth. Don’t live locally anymore but went back to see the Procession last year but sorry I did as it was so much smaller and then I went around to see the old school but it had become The Central School of Ballet in 1982.. I was there 1954 until the 11+ remember Collette Barton and Susan Henagan.
I lived in Bourne Estate during the 50’s and 60’s I went to Hugh Myddleton School and had my photo taken on May Day with Robert Vietro mentioned above, I met my ex husband in the Metropolitan Pub in Clerkwenwell Road and went on to spend the beginning of my married life living just off Clerkenwell Green, I have tried for many years to trace one of my friends from Bourne Estate, Barbara O’Loughlin who had a brother called Paddy but cannot find her, such lovely memories had come back seeing these photos
Dear Colin got the book as a present I could not put it down, the lovely and sometimes sad memories it brought back to me where wonderful. I was born in Skinner Street in 1946, the Rio Picture House was a big part of my life in more ways then one, one side entrance was used as our goal the other side entrance was where I kissed my boyfriend Peter who later became my husband good night. Thank you for the wald down memory land.
I was born in Northampton buildings, think No 304 in 1943. We looked out to the Rio cinema. We moved to the new estate at spa green when I was about 5. I went to High Mydelton primary school.Now live just outside Cambridge, I intend to visit clerkenwell in near future to bring back memories.
my name is franco capocci i was borne in 1956 i was brought up in clearkenwell Rosebery avenue , and went to school at st catherine labouri , opp victoria mansions , plus italian church st peters , my dad had a barber shop in leather lane .
If michael miliorini is reading this , we were in the same class in st catherines school herbal hill
St peters Italian church was connected with our school hence we were forced by our teachers Nuns to go to church every-day .
We were in the same class As loraine mc kenzie ,Linda williams , mathew ryan , Sister agness teacher ,head mistress mss maloney , she allways kept her dog at school plus had shamrock tied to her at st patricks day .
In the 1950 s -60 s much of clerkenwell was still war torn in ruins , allas there was extreme poverty , which is something thats i ll never forget as growing up , it kept my feet on the ground as I /we v grown older .
This photographer has exposed some serious memories . Amazing Nostalgia .
So enjoyed the trip down memory lane, can’t believe l am now so old !! found your site when l was looking for my old school st catherine laboure and Mrs.Maloney did you know she wrote a book about clarkenwell ?
Lovely photos I went to st Catherine Labour’s head was miss Maloney ,Mr Carey helped me to read gratefully to him.
Thank you for the memorys
Sad but great memories, lived at 92 Victoria dwells from a early forties and moved round to
123 other side of pub ,went stpeters Italian
Thank you mario
I went to school at St. Catherine Laboure as did my sister and brother, Niki and Mario. We lived in St Albans Buildings. Miss Maloney was the Headmistress and remember her Yorkshire Terrier that she brought into school every day. Sister Agness was one of the teachers as was a Miss Bianchi.
The school was linked to St Peter’s Italian Church and we would go to mass every Friday. I made my Holy Communion at the alter of the Sacred Heart (on my own) as I was ill on the day the other communicants made theirs.
They were good days. We had good friends in Victoria Dwellings, The Tonna family, Charles, Joey, Ruth & Louise. We would spend our holidays together. Our mothers were “dinner ladies”.
Such fond memories. My mother was also educated at St Catherine Laboure but in her day it was called St Peter’s Italian School. There was a big contingent of Italian families in the area and the best shop was Terronis. It was a shop full of Italian foods, cheeses etc.
The good old days.
What lovely photos they bring back so many memories
Happy ones !I lived in Mount Pleasant. Had lots of friends living in Victoria Dwelllings and surriunding flats.thankyou for posting them xx
Wow!!
I cannot believe I have come across this website. I lived with my family at 125 Victoria Dwellings, it was around the corner on Farringdon Road next to the Metropolitan Pub.
Me and my sisters & Brothers went to St Catherine Laboure School. I was in Class 4 ( Mrs Bianchi). Miss Maloney was Head Mistress, Sister Agnes, Mrs Ryan were all teachers there.
We all went to St Peters Church … all my brothers and I were Alter Servers … the days of Padre Di Fillippi, Padre Mario, Padre Proietti and Padre Morelli … also Fratello Giovanni ( the Brother). Wow, we had so many friends … I have recognised many of those who have left comments. Angela Mansi was my sister Silvana’s best friend. I recognise Capocci … I used to play with Paul Capocci. Wow … I remember the fire were the ‘Ginger Lady died’. Who can remember Mad Mary who used to chuck milk bottles at us kids when we played on Herbal Hill?
I remember the murder of the Holy Lady as she was known. Wow … I could go on and on.
I went to the school in the late 60’s Miss Maloney was the Head teacher, remember Miss Lombard and Mr Egan both teachers happy times.
I came across the Clerkenwell photos some time ago but didn’t scroll down to see the messages that had been left. Tonight I actually looked at these and was very pleased to see a number of names of those who had attended St Catherine’s school. I think I was just pleased to see they were still alive and kicking! When I visit London, I very often visit the area in an attempt to soak up some of those feelings from all those years back. I think the photos are evocative of the time and really do take me back. Much gratitude to Miss Moloney for getting me into the Oratory. I will leave all of the ex pupils of St Catherine’s with this question: who remembers Ranji? All the best to my ex class mates.
Alan Binczak
Lovely pictures
Lived in Farringdon Road buildings ,with my mum and dad ,and twin brothers
And went to St Catherine’s laboure school,next to Italian church,where my mum Jean Boffa went with her brothers Vincent and Paul Boffa
The Boffa family lived on top of the shop 114 Farringdon Road
Beautiful memories, seeing all these pictures
I grew up in Laney buildings, Holborn in the 50’s My bedroom window looked out on to Leather Lane. i loved the daily market & remember the stalls with tilley lamps glowing in the dark evenings. The pubs of which there were many … The Clock House comes to mind but i think there was one called the Glass bottle or something like that ?
Those awful bomb-sites…My friends little sister died from a fall in the Farringdon Road bomb-site.
I went to St Catherine Laboure Catholic school on Italian Hill just off Clerkenwell Road We were all very much ruled by the priests at St Peters church I can recall women all dressed in black doing penance on their knees up the steps to the church. The sad time that the lady in the Holy shop
opposite the school was robbed & murdered for a few pounds
Gamages wasn’t far away & was wonderful at Christmas
Your photos certainly stirred up some memories …Thank you for that
Just to add. I mentioned Italian Hill & i notice in other comments its name is Herbal Hill, I guess that was its nickname The area i lived in Laney Buildings was made up of half Italian & half Irish families
A fantastic time & a wonderful community
I have ancestors who lived in this building in the 1890s, one of them worked as a composite/printer at Ziggurat. I just love all these old buildings it’s a shame so many of them were demolished. I understand Victorian Dwelling was demolished in 1970. Most of my ancestors ended up in London from various places . I’m in the process of writing up my family history in book form so any information about where they lived or how they lived I’m really keen to discover.
I just love this site, some of my more recent family lived in Ossington Buildings in Marylebone, it was great reading an article about this area. At least the buildings are still there. I went to visit with my parents, in 1987, my father grew up there, the buildings were still as they were inside when he lived there. I’ve been up since and they’ve all been renovated. Thanks very much for this site, I just love looking at London as it used to be!
My sister and I went to St. Catherine Labore school. I remember Miss Maloney and her little dog, Sister Agnes who made us stand on our desks to recite our times tables. My last teacher there was Mr. Burke who lost his whole family in the blitz. I also remember St. Peter’s and Friday mass. There
was a tiny holy shop across from the school. I have some pictures. So many memories. My best friend at the time was Catherine Ray would love to find her. My family moved to the US in 1962. Patricia Dullea was my name at that time.
Thank you Mr. O’Brien for such wonderful pictures and so many memories. Con Rae do you have a sister named Catherine? Would love to connect with her. I still have pictures from our class trip with Mr. Burke. Would love to post the pictures if possible they are black and white. Patricia Dullea Reppucci
I’m Margaret Boffa, I lived in Clerkenwell Road, Cavendish Mansions, we had a family business in Leather Lane, H Bailey fruit & veg shop and stalls, (that was my maiden name). My husband was Tony Boffa, Tony and his family lived in Farringdon Road, along with Jeanie, Paul and Vincent. Happy days!
Hello Colin, thank you for your fab pics and great tales, my mum has some great pics to share with all. If you are interested do let me know.
These are great photos and have really captured life in clerkenwell in the 50/60s
I lived in Coldbath Buildings in Rosebery Avenue and I went to St Catherine Laboure and I remember Miss Moloney, Mrs Ryan, Sister Mary Joseph and sister Agnes. My friends were Sheila Cremin (who I would love to meet again) and Linda Tedori and in later years I’ve met up with Richard O’Reilly. Happy days
Who remembers my family? We were rehoused in 1950 to Harold Hill Essex, but had attended the Italian School and my brother Philip and I were altar boys.
I’d love anything on my dad Peter, a noted darts player (though he used the name Johnny Peters for his darts career).
You don’t think you remember things until you see these photos and read the comments.
I was born in Northampton building, moved to the new flats Priory Green Estate 1950/1 went to st Catherine Laboure Catholic School.
The first year I was there the great age of 11yrs I remember coming out of the church vie the mental bridge wearing my green beret and someone started to grab the berets throwing them in the air and a lot of them got caught on the rough cement wall just as Miss Finlay came out the church we was sent to the stock room where one got the cane. I didn’t think the head mistress miss Moloney. I thought it was Miss McCarthy because she gave me an awful lecture how i was letting the name down. I can remember laughing when we was placed in a class. I use to read the four Mary’s in one of the comics and there I was in a class with four Mary’s Mary Duffy, Mary Foyle, Mary Mcloghlin and myself.
I wanted to go to hughe Middleton school but father said no so i rather rebelled against it. I remember the old lady we brought our holy picture from shame her life ended as it did.
My dad got married in St Peter and had his photos taken in the school roof playground that was in the 1920.