Category: Uncategorized

Whitehall, London

The Cenotaph in Whitehall was originally a temporary structure which was erected at the end of the first World War to be the centrepiece of a peace parade. Following public demand, it was replaced by a permanent structure in 1920 and became the UK’s official national war memorial.
Edwin Lutyens designed the Cenotaph which is made of Portland stone. The annual Service of Remembrance is held here (led by the Monarch) on the closest Sunday to Armistice Day (November 11th) every year. Lutyens’s design has been replicated in other locations in the UK and in other countries including Australia and Canada.
Image: Old UK Photos (1935)
The Cenotaph from the same position in May 2019.
Image: © Steven Miell (TimeViews)
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Forest Road, Walthamstow, London

The William Morris Gallery is located in a Georgian house which was built in the 1740s. It is set in Lloyd Park in Walthamstow (N.E. London). The house was Morris’s family home in the 1850s. It is the only public Gallery devoted to William Morris.
The building is a wonderful example of Georgian domestic architecture. Records imply that there was a house on the same site going back to the 15th century.
Image: Photographer unknown (1890s)
Following a major refurbishment, the Gallery reopened in 2012. This photograph was taken in March 2017.
Image: © Steven Miell (TimeViews)
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Albertinaplatz, Vienna

Albertinaplatz in Vienna – this photograph was taken in around 1889. The photographer was standing near to the front of the Sacher Hotel.
Image: Sammlung Hubmann
The same view of the square in December 2019. The equestrian statue of Archduke Albrecht (in the centre) was added in 1899. Following extensive bombing in 1945, some of the surrounding buildings have been rebuilt.
Image: © Steven Miell (TimeViews)
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Bishopsgate, London

Photographed in the early 1900s, this is Dirty Dick’s, a pub in London’s Bishopsgate. First established in 1745, it was originally called ‘The Old Jerusalem’ and took the name ‘Dirty Dick’s in 1814. According to legend, it was named after the original Dirty Dick – Nathaniel Bentley, a successful mid-18th century merchant. Following the death of his bride on their wedding day, apparently Bentley never washed or changed his clothes for the rest of his life. He died in 1809. Charles Dickens knew the drinking establishment and was interested in Bentley’s story. Some say that Nathaniel Bentley inspired the character of Miss Havisham in Dickens’s novel ‘Great Expectations’.
In 1866, the pub was described thus – “A small public house or rather a tap of a wholesale wine and spirit business…a warehouse or barn without floorboards – a low ceiling, with cobweb festoons dangling from the black rafters – a pewter bar battered and dirty, floating with beer – numberless gas pipes tied anyhow along the struts and posts to conduct the spirits from the barrels to the taps – sample phials and labelled bottles of wine and spirits on shelves – everything covered with virgin dust and cobwebs.”
Dirty Dick’s was rebuilt in the 1870s, though the cellars are from an earlier time. The pub was also renowned for displaying some strange artefacts, including a number of dead cats. Some artefacts are now displayed in a glass cabinet.
Image: Bishopsgate Institute
The March 2021 version of the same location.
Image: © Steven Miell (TimeViews)
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Charing Cross Road, London

The Garrick Theatre – named after the actor David Garrick – is located in Charing Cross Road, London. The theatre opened in 1889 and played host to many long-running comedies including ‘No Sex Please, We’re British’, which ran for four years in the 1980s. The Garrick Theatre was initially financed by W.S. Gilbert and designed by Walter Emden. During construction, an underground river was discovered on the site. This photograph was taken around 1960 when the musical ‘Fings Ain’t Wot They Used T’Be’ was playing.
In 1968, the theatre was threatened with demolition due to the proposed redevelopment of Covent Garden. However, the scheme was later abandoned. The theatre is currently owned by Nimax Theatres (along with the Lyric, Apollo, Vaudeville and Duchess Theatres).
Image: Photographer unknown
Almost 60 years later (November 2017), the trees are larger but still recognisable.
Image: © Steven Miell (TimeViews)
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Marble Arch, London

Marble Arch was designed by John Nash as a triumphal arch, and the principal entrance to Buckingham Palace. It was constructed in 1827 and originally stood near the central part of the front of the palace – just below the balcony used on state occasions.
In 1851, the Arch was relocated to the junction of Park Lane, Oxford Street and Edgware Road. When Park Lane was widened in the 1960s, it was effectively in the middle of a huge traffic island. The area surrounding the arch is called ‘Marble Arch’, as is the nearby London Underground station. From the cars and dress styles, I assume that this photograph was taken in the 1910s.
Image: Photographer unknown
I took this photograph in January 2018. Again, the growth of the trees in the intervening 100 years is noticeable. I had to be very careful as cars are much quicker these days!
Image: © Steven Miell (TimeViews)
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Russell Square, London

An imposing presence in Russell Square, The Hotel Russell was built in 1898, and opened in 1900 – this photograph was taken around that time. Based on the design of the Chateau de Madrid in Paris, the architect was Charles Doll. The Hotel’s restaurant resembles the dining room on the Titanic – also designed by Doll.
A sister hotel (The Imperial Hotel) also designed by Doll was built in Russell Square. The Imperial was demolished in the 1960s.
The hotel survived the Second World War more or less intact with the exception of the large dome on the roof (see above). The dome was badly damaged during an air raid in 1941 and was never replaced.
 The hotel was renamed as the ‘Kimpton Fitzroy London’ in October 2018.
Image: Photographer unknown
A rainy day in September 2017 and the hotel still dominates the square. In 2002, the square was re-designed based on the layout as it was in the early part of the 19th century.
Image: © Steven Miell (TimeViews)
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Spur Road, London

Because of the stands erected behind the Victoria Memorial, and the scaffolding around the Memorial itself, it would appear that this photograph was taken in 1953 – either before or after the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth ll. Note the sentry standing outside the confines of the Palace Yard. This was the case until 1959. At that time, there was an incident involving a female tourist and a Coldstream Guardsman. Following constant pestering, the guardsman kicked the female tourist on the ankle. She complained and the guardsman was confined to barracks for ten days. Soon after this incident, sentries were moved inside the gates.
Image: Photographer unknown
From the same position in February 2019. It is noticeable that the trees are much larger now.
Image: © Steven Miell (TimeViews)
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Trafalgar Square, London

This photograph shows the famous statues of four lions in Trafalgar Square, at the base of Nelson’s Column. There are also known as the ‘Landseer Lions’ after the artist who created them. Landseer was famous for his paintings of horses and dogs, but was asked to design the lions in 1858. Landseer worked very slowly and the four lions were finally put in place in 1867 – nearly a decade after the commission was awarded. This photograph was taken in 1884.
Image: Tekniska museet
From approximately the same position in November 2019.
Image: © Steven Miell (TimeViews)
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