I’ve just been to see this super pop-up exhibition in St Paul’s Churchyard. It runs until 29 September and I highly recommend it …
If, like myself, you like following London’s history using photographic images some of those on display will be familiar to you, but it’s great to see them again in a nice setting with very informative signage.
This is one of my favourites …
The ‘great and the good’ take the inaugural journey on the new underground railway. The date is 24 May 1862 and they are in an open wagon at Edgware Road Station. ‘Number 16’ is William Ewart Gladstone (1809-1898), later Prime Minister for four terms.
Another image I know well illustrates the vast difference between the lives of our railway passengers and the lives of the poor and destitute …
This photograph of a woman was taken by John Thompson in 1877 and was titled The Crawlers. Reduced to poverty, she explained to him that she was looking after a friend’s baby in exchange for some bread and a cup of tea.
Another image from 1877 along with an example of the excellent exhibition signage …
Wouldn’t it be amazing to be able to travel back in time and tell the these two ladies, and the young lads with their backs to us, that people would be looking at their images and thinking about their lives almost 150 years later …
Street Life by the same photographer …
Pomp at the new Crystal Palace …
And progress – both Bankside Power Station and Tower Bridge under construction …
Another theme – Grand Boulevards …
Do pop along and see it if you can – it’s a great exhibition and my images are just a small sample.
On a similar theme, I have a little collection of old postcards of which these are a few examples.
Tower Bridge gradually taking shape, as seen from the river …
St Paul’s Cathedral from Bankside with a paddle steamer moored in the foreground …
Flower seller ladies outside the Royal Exchange. I like this image, with the top-hatted man on the left having the flower placed in his buttonhole and the lady near the middle shielding her eyes from the sun …
Euston Station with the famous arch which was controversially demolished in 1962 (‘an act of cultural vandalism’ said one commentator!) …
Covent Garden Market …
A busy day at Bank Junction …
Incidentally, just behind the exhibition is a great example of what pollution can do to Portland stone over time …
The plaque reads as follows: HEAD AND SHOULDERS OF PORTLAND STONE STATUE OF SAINT ANDREW SOUTH PEDIMENT. THE COMPLETE STATUE 12 FEET HIGH AND WEIGHS SIX TON. CARVED BY FRANCIS BIRD IN 1724 FOR £140. THIS PART WAS REPLACED IN 1923 AND VACUUM IMPREGNATED WITH SILANE RESIN.
STOP PRESS, the latest City Banksy has been removed from its street setting and installed in Guildhall Yard. For how long I do not know …
Finally, whilst walking along Chalk Farm Road yesterday, I saw this sweet request taped to a shop window near the 31 bus stop …
I don’t suppose he subscribes to my blog but you never know!
Remember you can follow me on Instagram …
