Category: Uncategorized

Ordnance Hill, St. John’s Wood, London

The Ordnance Arms in St. John’s Wood, London, NW8 – on the corner of Acacia Road and Ordnance Road. This photograph was taken in 1966.
Image: Photographer unknown
In September 2019, the road’s name has been changed to Ordnance Hill.
Image: © Steven Miell (TimeViews)
A merged version of the 1966 and 2019 photographs. Use the slider in the centre.
A merged version of an earlier photograph (1930) and the modern version. Use the slider in the centre.

Aldwych, London

The Aldwych London Underground station was opened in 1907 and was called ‘Strand’. It sits on the street of that name and was the end of a short branch line (Piccadilly line) which ran From Holborn station. The station was served by a shuttle train and was open only during peak hours. This situation persisted between 1962 and 1994 when the station closed. This photograph (I would guess) was taken in the 1920s.
During World War 2, tunnels at the station were used to store works of art from London’s galleries and museums. In recent years, it has been used as a location for filming – for both TV and cinema.
Image: Photographer unknown
T he same location in June 2018. Now a tourist attraction and film location.
Image: © Steven Miell (TimeViews)
A merged version of the two photographs. Use the slider in the centre.

Holborn Circus, London

An equestrian statue of Prince Albert (1819-1861) is situated in Holborn Circus – which lies between Chancery Lane and St. Paul’s. He is shown with his hat raised as if he is saluting a cheering crowd. The statue was placed here in 1874 (when this photograph was taken) and is on a granite plinth. Albert is in military uniform and is easily recognisable. At either end of the statue are two female figures which represent ‘History’ and ‘Peace’. There are also panels depicting –
‘The Prince laying the first stone of the Royal Exchange, Jan 17, 1842’ and
‘Exhibition of All Nations, 1851, Britannia distributing awards’
Image: Photographer unknown
The statue, despite being repositioned in 2014 to facilitate road improvements, has remained unchanged but look at the buildings behind it – by October 2017 the background is unrecognisable from the 1874 photograph.
Image: © Steven Miell (TimeViews)
A merged version of the two photographs. Use the slider in the centre.

Westminster School, London

A misty day in a courtyard (Little Dean’s Yard) at Westminster School in 1936 with an exercise class in progress. Victoria Tower (Houses of Parliament) can be glimpsed through the mist. The school has been on the same site since 1461.
Image: Photographer unknown
When I took this photograph in September 2019, the Victoria Tower can be clearly seen. The school buildings have not changed a great deal in the intervening 80 years.
Image: © Steven Miell (TimeViews)
A merged version of the two photographs above. Use the slider in the centre.

Fleet Street, London

Taken in 1885, this photograph shows the location of one of the main ceremonial entrances to the City of London. The photographer is looking east, towards Fleet Street. In the middle ages, a series of gates (or ‘bars’) were erected on the main thoroughfares. The one at this location was known as ‘Temple Bar’.
This term refers to a notional bar on the route but was also used to describe the 17th century arched gateway which was designed by Sir Christopher Wren. That was removed in 1878, preserved, and now stands in Paternoster Square near St. Paul’s cathedral. This memorial pedestal, which contains a statue of Queen Victoria and a dragon symbol was erected in 1880 to mark the location of the ‘bar’.
Image: Photographer unknown
The majority of the buildings have been replaced by November 2019 and there is a great deal more traffic.
Image: © Steven Miell (TimeViews)
A merged version of the images above. Use the slider in the centre.

King’s Cross Station, London

King’s Cross Station in north London was built between 1851 and 1852 for the Great Northern Railway (GNR). The station was named after the King’s Cross Building which was a monument erected to the memory of King George IV. The building was demolished in 1845. The station was planned in 1848 and eventually opened in October 1852.
Image: Getty Images (Photographer unknown)
Over the years, the station has been extensively restored and modernised. I took this photograph in March 2019.
Image: © Steven Miell (TimeViews)
A merged version of the images above. Use the slider in the centre.

Victoria Embankment, London

A ‘Sphinx’ adjacent to Cleopatra’s Needle on the Victoria Embankment, London. The photograph was taken between 1910 and the 1930s by the photographer E. O. Hoppé. The old Waterloo Bridge can be seen in the background.
Image: Photographer – E. O. Hoppé 
My photograph (taken in August 2019) shows a mature tree in front of the sphinx, the ‘new’ Waterloo Bridge (opened in 1945) and a dramatically altered London City skyline. Someone has chosen the Sphinx’s feet to have a rest.
Image: © Steven Miell (TimeViews)
A merged version of the two images above. Use the slider in the centre.

Lord’s Cricket Ground, London

I am not sure of the date (assume 1930s), but I believe it to be an early attempt to televise Test cricket from Lord’s. The cameramen and the photographer are positioned on top of a previous version of the Mound Stand. The Pavilion can be seen to the left of the photograph with an early Warner Stand towards the centre. The stand to the right is the 1926 Grand Stand.
Image: Photographer unknown
In this photograph (taken in October 2019), the Pavilion remains but there are new Warner (2017) and Grand (1997) Stands. The main camera positions these days are behind the bowlers’ arms at both ends.
Image: © Steven Miell (TimeViews)
A merged version of the two images above. Use the slider in the centre

Coventry Street, London

A photograph taken from Coventry Street, looking towards Piccadilly Circus. On the right, the cinema is showing ‘Goldfinger’ and ‘For A Few Dollars More’, which would date the photograph at around 1964/65.
Image: Photographer unknown
The same scene in March 2019 shows a completely different traffic system, although the majority of the buildings remain unchanged.
Image: © Steven Miell (TimeViews)
A merged version of the two images above. Use the slider in the centre.