Category: London

Admiralty Arch, The Mall, London

Admiralty arch was designed by Aston Webb and completed in 1912. Webb also designed the Victoria Memorial and the façade of Buckingham Palace. It is called Admiralty Arch because it adjoins the Old Admiralty Building. The building was commissioned by King Edward VII in memory of his mother Queen Victoria, and has been the official residence of the First Sea Lord (including Lord Mountbatten). It has also been the home of various government offices.
Under the building is a network of tunnels and chambers, including vaults which used to house the government archives and (reputedly) an underground passage connecting it to 10 Downing Street. In 2011, the building was offered for sale for £75 million. It was purchased by a Spanish real estate developer with a 125-year lease. The building is currently being converted into a 100-room hotel, with a number of apartments, and a private members’ club.
Image: Photographer unknown
In February 2022, the building is virtually unchanged (externally) and the statue of Captain James Cook can still be seen just behind the tree – which has grown a great deal in the intervening years.
Image: © Steven Miell (TimeViews)
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Trafalgar Square, London

This building – now known as Canada House was built between 1824 and 1827 and was originally two buildings occupied by the Union Club, and the Royal College of Physicians. It was acquired by the Canadian government in 1923 – at a cost of £223,000. The building was officially opened on 29 June 1925 by King George V. 
A bomb fell near the building during WW2, narrowly missing future Canadian PM Lester Pearson. Many renovations followed over the years and in December 2014 the Canadian High Commission transferred all of its diplomatic functions to Canada House. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh officially reopened Canada House in February 2015.
Image: Photographer unknown (1926)
I took this photograph in February 2022 having tried last Summer – when the trees were in full bloom!
Image: © Steven Miell (TimeViews)
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Marylebone Road, London

The London Planetarium was opened in 1958 by the Duke of Edinburgh. It was positioned on the site of a cinema which had been destroyed in WW2. For 50 years, it featured a show based on a view of the night sky, as seen from earth.
In January 2006, it was announced that the London Planetarium was to be renamed the Auditorium and that the astronomical presentations were to be replaced with entertainment shows. 
Image: Photographer unknown
A photograph taken from the same spot in January 2022.
Image: © Steven Miell (TimeViews)
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High Road, Leyton, London

A view of Lea Bridge Road from Leyton High Road in London’s east end from the 1900s. The Bakers Arms pub is on the left.
Image: Photographer unknown
In November 2020, there were very few people around (due to COVID-19). The Bakers Arms pub has added a level, and is now a bookmakers.
Image: © Steven Miell (TimeViews)
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Blackhorse Lane, London

The Royal Standard Public House was first mentioned in the census of 1861. The pub was situated at the crossroads of the London to Woodford, and the Stratford to Waltham Abbey routes. At the time, the ‘victualler’ (Charles Dabbs) employed an ostler which implies that stables were maintained here to ensure that travellers could have their horses catered for.
By the time that this photograph was taken (1910) the pub was doing well with quite a few staff who lived on the premises. In the second half of the 20th century, the Royal Standard became a music venue.
Image: Footsteps
The Royal Standard finally closed in 2011 and now finds itself in the middle of huge regeneration in the Blackhorse Road/Lane area.
Image: © Steven Miell (TimeViews)
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Tooley Street, London

A photograph of Tooley Street in 1900 – with London Bridge station on the right-hand side. The station was originally called Tooley Street and it opened in 1836. The station has recently been the subject of a massive redevelopment which was completed in 2018.
Image: Photographer unknown
The same view in February 2020. I took my chance and stood in the middle of the road! At that time, the walkway was under threat of demolition, as its use had diminished following the station’s upgrade.
Image: © Steven Miell (TimeViews)
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Aldford Street, London

Looking east down Aldford Street in Mayfair, this photograph was taken by Charles Butterfield in 1949. Park Lane is behind the photographer.
Image: Photo by Charles Butterfield
There has been little change in the intervening 71 years (this photograph – September 2020) with the exception of the entrance to an underpass to allow safe crossing of Park Lane.
Image: © Steven Miell (TimeViews)
A merged version of the two images. Use the slider in the centre.