East End Photographs and Drawings

[Limehouse]

Hi Archaic,

Those stairs seem very familiar. Have they featured in a film (films). Les Bicyclettes de Belsize featured something similar.

regards, Bridewell.

Could it have been Oliver! (1968)?

Fantastic photos Bunny!

[Bridewell]

Could it have been Oliver! (1968)?

Possibly. I'm just sure I've seen them before somewhere.

[Stephen Thomas]

From the NY Daily Graphic January 23, 1889

Thanks DRoy

Two terrific contemporary drawings I don't remember seeing before.

Were there more in the article?

[DrummondStreet]

Does this location, Black Raven Alley, still exist? I can't find it in my old A to Z or anywhere on Google maps.

For visual reference, it was one of the photos that Archaic recently linked.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/01/06/article-2258020-16BC63B5000005DC-466_470x649.jpg

Thanks for the gorgeous B&Ws of 1930s London, Archaic

[Archaic]

You're welcome, Drummond.

Funny how murky old black & white photos are so much more evocative than shiny new colored ones...

Or is that just our dark and murky natures??


Archaic

[DrummondStreet]

I think it's a bit of both, Archaic.

When I return to London next, I'd love to seek out these back alleys and obscure perspectives (from the photos) and view them at night. For the life of me, I can't understand why I didn't do more exploring when I lived in London. Maybe it's because the most interesting parts of the city are sometimes dangerous, and the streets are a labyrinthine mess of dead ends and random name changes. I had forgotten how confusing London streets can be. Still love the city's character.

[DrummondStreet]

Bridewell: Which stairs are you referring to? Photo 1 or photo 13?

http://rbkclocalstudies.wordpress.com/2012/12/27/dark-citylondon-in-the-30s/

The key to the photos in Archaic's Library Time Machine link is as follows:

1. Grange Street, the Strand. The original Charing Cross Hospital in the background.

2. The Gateway to the General Post Office

3. Middle Temple Hall

4. The Sanctuary, All Hallows, Lombard Street

5. Path outside St Paul’s Cathedral

6. The Royal Exchange

7. A street in the City

8. Villiers Street, Charing Cross

9. Cul-de-sac, Brompton Road

10. Black Raven Alley

11. Cottage Place, Brompton

12. 55 Broadway, London Transport Headquarters

13. Essex Stairs Temple

14. Adelphi Arches, the Strand

15. St Bartholomew’s Hospital

[Bridewell]

Hi DS,

It was No.13, Essex Stairs, Temple. My query didn't relate to the location, but the possibility that I might have seen them before in a film or television programme. Just idle speculation on my part, but thanks for going to the trouble of pointing me in the right direction.

[Cogidubnus]

Stairs...Shadwell Stair?

I am the ghost of Shadwell Stair.
Along the wharves by the water-house,
And through the cavernous slaughter-house,
I am the shadow that walks there.

Yet I have flesh both firm and cool,
And eyes tumultuous as the gems
Of moons and lamps in the full Thames
When dusk sails wavering down the pool.

Shuddering the purple street-arc burns
Where I watch always; from the banks
Dolorously the shipping clanks
And after me a strange tide turns.

I walk till the stars of London wane
And dawn creeps up the Shadwell Stair.
But when the crowing syrens blare
I with another ghost am lain.

Sorry but the mood took me...Wifred Owen's one of my favourite poets

All the best

Dave

[DRoy]

Two terrific contemporary drawings I don't remember seeing before.

Were there more in the article?

Hi Stephen,

There is the only other location photo from that article. There are other drawings but are not applicable to this thread (although if anyone is interested I can put them somewhere else)

DRoy

[Cogidubnus]

Sinnit...

Hi DRoy

That's surely the Millers Court picture I picked holes in last time?

All the best

Dave

[Rob Clack]

Does this location, Black Raven Alley, still exist? I can't find it in my old A to Z or anywhere on Google maps.

For visual reference, it was one of the photos that Archaic recently linked.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/01/06/article-2258020-16BC63B5000005DC-466_470x649.jpg

Thanks for the gorgeous B&Ws of 1930s London, Archaic

There was one off Upper Thames Street:

http://collage.cityoflondon.gov.uk/collage/app?service=external/Item&sp=I9%3ABlack+Raven+Alley+%28City+of+London+EC4%29++++++++++++++++++++++++++%3A%3AB&sp=33270&sp=X

And there was supposed to be one west off Coleman Street (parallel and west of Moorgate Street).

I think it is probably the Upper Thames Street one.

Rob

[DrummondStreet]

Rob Clack: Thank you so much for the info and link . Looks like the alley is long gone . (Or at least not visible in Google streetview.)

[DRoy]

Hi DRoy

That's surely the Millers Court picture I picked holes in last time?

Hi Dave,

Yes it is!

[Paddy Goose]

Horse with a View



A view across the Thames of the City waterfront taken from a multi-storey stable building close to Southwark Bridge, c. 1930