Category: Uncategorized

Tower Bridge Approach, London

Taken by Harold Slatore in 1970, this photograph shows the approach to Tower Bridge (northern side). The Tower of London is to the right of the photograph, behind the railings.
Image: Harold Slatore
Fifty years later (in August 2020) the view from the same spot is largely unchanged. Some crosses seem to have been added onto some of the Bridge’s turrets.
Image: © Steven Miell (TimeViews)
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Highams Park Station, London

A view of the Highams Park station car park from the 1970s.
Image: Photographer unknown
In the modern (September 2018) view, the Garden Shop has gone and the area is now used by the cafe on the right.
Image: © Steven Miell (TimeViews)
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Trafalgar Square, London

A photograph of Trafalgar Square taken (probably) in the 1890s or early 1900s. The statue of King Charles I is present in both photographs, as is the building on the right.
Image: Photographer unknown
In the October 2020 image, the lamppost (foreground, right) can be seen. This was previously positioned near to the statue. It was moved to its current location when the traffic flow was changed.
Image: © Steven Miell (TimeViews)
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Old Church Road, Chingford, London

A church was first mentioned on this site in 1181. The oldest part of the church – the north wall of the nave – was probably built in the 12th century, and the south aisle are from the end of the 13th century. The bell tower was constructed around 1400. The porch was added in the early 16th century.
The church was dedicated to ‘All Saints’ in 1397. However, it had changed to ‘Saint Peter and Saint Paul’ by 1710. When a new church (about 1 mile away) was built in 1844 for Chingford’s growing population, that dedication (along with this church’s bells) was transferred to the new church, and the old church became ‘All Saints’ again. During the 19th century, the church was covered in ivy and was known as the ‘green church’ – an appearance popular with contemporary artists.
In 1904, the church’s roof collapsed leading to a complete restoration which lasted until 1930. This photograph was taken in around 1910. The three bells dated 1626, 1657 and 1835 (which had been taken to the new Chingford church) were returned, together with other monuments.
Image: Chingford Historical Society
I took this photograph in November 2020 and the effect of the restoration is clear. In recent years, the graveyard of the church (behind me) became known for the burials of the Kray twins – Ronald in 1995, and Reginald in 2000.
Image: © Steven Miell (TimeViews)
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High Street, Wanstead, London

The George public house in Wanstead has been on this site since 1903. It replaced an earlier ‘George and Dragon Inn’ which had been on a nearby site since 1716. This photograph was taken in 1907.
Image: Photographer unknown
In November 2020, The George is obscured by autumnal trees. It remains a pub, but part of the building has been converted into flats.
Image: © Steven Miell (TimeViews)
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High Street, Newnham, Gloucestershire

 Records for the house in the photograph (from the 1930s) can be seen as far back as 1086. However, the only real evidence of an early house on the site can be seen on a carved stone fireplace lintel which apparently shows the date – 1547. It was known as Hill House between the 1500s and the early 1900s. In 1908, the house was owned by Walburga, Lady Paget, who renamed it Unlawater House. Lady Paget (1839-1929) was born in Germany and was one of Queen Victoria’s intimate friends. She died at the age of 90 when she fell asleep in front of a fire. The newspaper she was reading slipped out of her fingers and caught alight. This fell into the grate and set her clothing on fire. Her butler attempted to put out the fire and she was taken to hospital where she died a few hours later.
In 1938, Unlawater House became a residential hotel and, during World War 2, was occupied by an assurance company. After that, it became a children’s home called Newnham House. 
Image: Photographer unknown
In recent years, Unlawater House has been divided into flats. A ‘For Sale’ sign can be seen in this photograph from March 2017.
Image: © Steven Miell (TimeViews)
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Cambridge Circus, London

Cambridge Circus in the 1890s was dominated by the Palace Theatre – built in 1891. The theatre was constructed for Richard D’Oyly Carte with a ‘chateau-esque’ design.
Image: Photographer unknown
The facade was restored for Andrew Lloyd-Webber in 1990. The current capacity is 1,400. I took this photograph in October 2020.
Image: © Steven Miell (TimeViews)
A merged version of the two images above. Use the slider in the centre.

Lea Bridge Road, London

A few years ago, Torfaen Corvine found around 30 photographs of the Leyton area of London in a charity shop. The photographs depicted daily life in the area and were probably taken in the early 1960s.
This one shows the Bakers Arms public house (on the left) and an arcade of shops on the right, including a branch of Manzes (a pie and mash shop).
The district shown is named ‘Bakers Arms’ and is named after the pub, which closed in 2010 and is now a betting shop. The pub was named after the nearby almshouses (built in 1866) which were for members of London’s baking trade and were intended for “any respectable member of the baking trade fallen into poverty, eligible according to the rules, or to the widow of such”. The pub opened a couple of years later.
Image: Photographer unknown

This photograph was taken on a sunny day in November 2020. Although the pub is no more, the arcade opposite has retained the look from the earlier photograph.
Image: © Steven Miell (TimeViews)
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The Avenue, Highams Park, London

This photograph – probably taken in the 1910s – shows what looks like the start of an outing. All the men (and there are only men) are well-dressed and could be on their way to a wedding?
Image: Photographer unknown
A different looking arcade of shops in October 2018. Plumb’s Refreshment Rooms and the London & Provincial Bank are long gone.
Image: © Steven Miell (TimeViews)
A merged version of the two images above. Use the slider in the centre.