Category: Uncategorized

Water House, Walthamstow, London

This is a photograph (taken in the 1900s) of the garden side of Water House – a listed Georgian building constructed in 1762. This was the home of William Morris’ family during his teenage years (1848 – 1856). The house, together with its grounds were bought by a newspaper proprietor, Edward Lloyd, in 1856. Lloyd’s son donated the house and grounds to Walthamstow in 1900. The grounds were then renames Lloyd Park. The building became a museum in 1950 – opened by Clement Attlee.
Image: Photographer unknown
In 2011, the building was closed for refurbishment and redevelopment, reopening in in 2011 and was reopened in August 2012. The redevelopment of Water House included a new wing as well as a tearoom with a balcony overlooking the gardens.
This photograph, taken in November 2020, shows the new extension.
Image: © Steven Miell (TimeViews)
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Aldersgate Street, London

Taken in the 1980s, this photograph shows the view from the western end of London Wall towards Aldersgate Street (on the left). The name ‘Aldersgate’ was first recorded around the year 1000 as Ealdredesgate – i.e. “a gate associated with a man named Ealdrād”. James VI of Scotland entered the City of London through Aldersgate when he came to England to take the crowns of England and Scotland. The old gate was removed in 1617 and its replacement was damaged in London’s Great Fire (1666). However, it remained until 1761.
To the right of the photograph is one of the entrances to the Museum of London.
Image: Malcolm Tremain
In this photograph – taken in December 2020 – the only recognisable features from the first image are the entrance to the Museum and the furthest footbridge.
Image: © Steven Miell (TimeViews)
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Trafalgar Square, London

Allan Hailstone’s photograph of Trafalgar Square was taken in 1955 and shows a crowded and bustling area. Probably a warm summer’s day, judging by the men in shirtsleeves. A number of the buildings on the right didn’t survive into the 21st century. Image: Alan Hailstone
I took this photograph from the same position in October 2020. A few pedestrians can be seen, but this was during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Image: © Steven Miell (TimeViews)
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St. Paul’s Cathedral, London

St. Paul’s Cathedral – a photograph taken in the 1910s from St. Paul’s Church Yard. The building on the right-hand side was destroyed during the Blitz in World War 2.
Image: Photographer unknown

The same view in December 2020.
Image: © Steven Miell (TimeViews)
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Trafalgar Square, London

Taken during the 1950s, this photograph shows the base of Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square. The photographer is looking towards the west, and Whitehall is on the photographer’s left. The National Gallery is on the right, at the north end of the square.
Image: Photographer unknown

A quieter Trafalgar Square in October 2020, at the height of the Coronavirus pandemic.
Image: © Steven Miell (TimeViews)
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Great Russell Street, London

The Treasures of Tutankhamun exhibition was shown at the British Museum in London in 1972. Following lengthy negotiations between the Egyptian and British authorities, it was agreed that 50 pieces could be exhibited, including the gold death mask of Tutankhamun. HM The Queen opened the exhibition on March 29 1972 and, in the first week, more than 30,000 people had seen it. The queues (pictured above) were long and constant. By the time the exhibition closed at the end of 1972, over 1.5 million people (including me on a school trip) had visited.
The Treasures of Tutankhamun exhibition was the most popular in the museum’s history. It later moved on to other countries including the Soviet Union, the United States, Canada and West Germany.
Image: Photographer unknown
I took this photograph in December 2020 and was impressed by how much the five trees in the 1972 photograph have grown in the intervening years. The main façade of the British Museum is obscured due to building work.
Image: © Steven Miell (TimeViews)
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Bankside, London

The original power station at Bankside was built on Meredith Wharf in 1891. Its purpose was to supply electricity to the City of London, and to north Southwark. The redevelopment of Bankside power station, which was suspended during the war, started again in 1944. The building was designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott – also known for designing the Liverpool Anglican Cathedral and some of the red telephone boxes.
Bankside power station is 155m long and 73m wide. The central chimney stands at 99m, and was designed to be less than the height of the dome of St. Paul’s, which is directly opposite on the northern side of the Thames.
Construction on Bankside ‘B’ (pictured above) was completed in the early 1960s. The original (Bankside ‘A’) continued to operate until the new power station was completed. I would estimate that this photograph was taken in the late 1960s or early 1970s. The power station closed in the early 1980s.
Image: Photographer unknown
Following closure, proposals were made to redevelop the site as a museum, an entertainment complex, an hotel, an opera house, and a conference/exhibition centre. However, none of these were considered to be financially viable.
In April 1994, it was announced that Bankside would house the new Tate Modern. A multi-million pound conversion started in 1995 and was completed in January 2000. Some of Bankside’s internal structure is still there, including the vast turbine hall.
To the left of this photograph (taken in December 2020) is the London Millennium Footbridge, linking the City of London in the north, to Bankside in the south. Construction of the bridge started in 1998 and it opened in June 2000. However, it had its problems and was nicknamed the ‘Wobbly Bridge’ after an alarming swaying motion was observed by early users. The bridge closed on the same day and it remained closed for a further two years for repairs – eventually reopening in February 2002. From the south side of the bridge, there is a clear view of St. Paul’s Cathedral’s southern elevation.
Image: © Steven Miell (TimeViews)
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Russell Square, London

Taken by Chris Guy in 1985, this photograph shows the northern side of Russell Square – London’s second largest square. The area where the square is located was owned by the Russell family (the earls of Bedford) from around 1550, and was was largely open fields until the 1750s.
Humphry Repton was responsible for laying out the formal square in 1801, and James Burton designed the original buildings – very few of which remain. The are quickly became a fashionable and desirable place to live. In 1843, Charles Knight wrote that “…the tide of fashion has rolled westward,” and had “…left Russell Square to be inhabited by the aristocracy of the City and the Inns of Court”. The square is very close to the British Museum, and to London University. The square also has one of the few remaining cabmen’s shelters – erected in 1897.
Image: © Chris Guy – http://www.gidsey.com
The gardens in Russell Square were re-laid around 20 years ago – the idea being to return them to how they looked in the early 1800s. The original twisting paths were recreated, and new lime trees were planted. Lighting was improved and new gates and rails installed. The cabmen’s shelter (mentioned above) is behind me in this photograph – which I took in December 2020.
Image: © Steven Miell (TimeViews)
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National Theatre, London

The Royal National Theatre (also known as the National Theatre) was founded by Laurence Olivier in 1963. From that date until 1976 (when this photograph was taken), it was based at the Old Vic in Waterloo. The current building (above) stands on the South Bank of the Thames in London.
Image: nationaltheatre.org.uk

The same view (from Waterloo Bridge) in February 2019.
Image: © Steven Miell (TimeViews)
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