Strand, London

Another of Allan Hailstone’s superb photographs of London taken in the mid-1950s. This one is taken from Strand, looking towards the east. The building that dominates the centre of the photograph is the (closed) Gaiety Theatre.
The theatre was first called the Strand Musick Hall in 1864. Four years later, it became the Gaiety Theatre – known for music hall, burlesque, and operetta performances.
In the 1890s, the Gaiety presented Edwardian musical comedy which included female dancers – the famous Gaiety Girls. The theatre closed in 1939 and was badly damaged by German bombs during World War II. The shell of the building was purchased by Lupino Lane in 1946 with the intention of rebuilding the theatre. Some work was started, however, the structural problems proved too much and the building was sold on. It was finally demolished in 1956.
Image: Allan Hailstone
In May 2020, the Gaiety is long gone. It was a replaced in the 1960s by another building. The site is now occupied by an hotel.
Image: © Steven Miell (TimeViews)
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Bank, London

A view of the Royal Exchange building taken in the 1930s. A statue of the Duke of Wellington can be seen in front of the building. Image: Photographer unknown
In this photograph taken in March 2021, the area around the Royal Exchange building has been altered to exclude most traffic. Again, the backdrop is very different to the 1930s view.
Image: © Steven Miell (TimeViews)
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Bank, London

This is the third Royal Exchange building in London – built in the 1840s. The previous two were destroyed by fire. The freehold of the plot of land on which the building stands is jointly owned by the City of London Corporation and the Worshipful Company of Mercers.
The Royal Exchange was founded in the 16th century to act as a centre for the City of London’s commerce. Proclamations are traditionally made from the steps of the Royal Exchange – the dissolution of parliament, the death or abdication of a monarch, and confirmation of a new monarch’s accession.
The building itself has retained the original layout – a four-sided structure with a central courtyard where merchants and tradesmen could transact their business.
The statue in front of the building is that of the Duke of Wellington and was unveiled in June 1844, just before the Royal Exchange building reopened. The bronze used to create the statue came from cannons captured during Wellington’s campaigns.
Image: Photographer unknown (1900s)
In May 2020, the building houses luxury shops, a café, a restaurant, a cocktail bar, as well as offices. The most striking change is to the City of London skyline behind the Royal Exchange building.
Image: © Steven Miell (TimeViews)
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Buckingham Palace, London

The frontage of Buckingham Palace, photographed in 1908. This was before the erection of the Victoria Memorial which was designed by Thomas Brock, and before the changes to the Palace’s frontage.
Image: Photographer unknown
In June 2019, the area in front of the Palace is full of tourists – and the style of taxi has changed. The Victoria Memorial was designed in 1901 after the death of Queen Victoria, unveiled in 1911, and completed in 1924
Image: © Steven Miell (TimeViews)
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Rangers Road, Chingford, London

Henry VIII was responsible for commissioning this building situated on Rangers Road in Chingford. It was completed in 1543 and was then known as ‘Great Standing’. Its original purpose was to observe deer chases in Chingford. Some 50 years later (in 1589), the building was renovated for use by Queen Elizabeth I. This photograph was taken in the 1900s.
Image: Photographer unknown
The Queen Elizabeth hunting lodge has been extensively restored over the years. It is now a three-storey building which houses a museum, and has been managed by the City of London Corporation since 1960.
Image: © Steven Miell (TimeViews)
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Bunhill Fields, London

Bunhill Fields was a burial ground in London – just north of the City of London. It was operational between 1665 and 1854 and around 123,000 burials took place here. It is understood that approximately 2,000 monuments remain.
Many notable individuals’ remains are here including John Bunyan (above – photographed in 1910). Bunyan died in August 1688 and was known as the author of ‘The Pilgrim’s Progress’. Originally the family vault of Bunyan’s friend John Strudwick, it is a large Baroque stone chest. Over the years it fell into disrepair and was eventually completely reconstructed in May 1862 when a recumbent effigy of Bunyan was added to the top. The monument was restored again in 1928, and finally after World War 2 when German bombs damaged the effigy’s face.
Image: Photographer unknown
Bunyan’s grave in August 2017.
Image: © Steven Miell (TimeViews)
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Regent Street, London

This photograph of Regent Street was taken in the 1920s as part of a ‘Sights of London’ series of 48 cigarette cards. The set was produced by J. A. Pattreiouex Ltd. – which later became Gallagher Group. The photograph shows Regent Street looking towards Oxford Circus – Piccadilly Circus is behind the photographer.
Regent Street was laid out in the early 1800s and completed in 1825. It was named after George IV, the the Prince Regent, and was the work of the architects John Nash and James Burton. The street is now a major shopping destination with many flagship retail stores, Burberry, Hamleys, and the Apple Store.
Image: © Brian Thurston
The same scene in October 2016. With the exception of the vehicles, not much has changed.
Image: © Steven Miell (TimeViews)
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High Road, Woodford Green, Essex

I am not sure when The Castle Hotel in Woodford Green was first established. However, the first ‘landlord’ is recorded in 1811. When this photograph was taken (in 1906) the owner/landlord was Frederick Pluck and it seemed to be doing a roaring trade.
Image: Photographer unknown
Following many changes of owners, ‘The Castle’ is now (March 2020) a Miller and Carter Steakhouse. The garage (to the left) was also there in 1906.
Image: © Steven Miell (TimeViews)
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Hyde Park Corner, London

In the 1820s, the Commissioners of Woods and Forests, with the backing of King George IV, set out a plan to renovate Hyde Park and the surrounding area. The intention was to mirror the splendour of other major European cities and to create a triumphal approach to the recently completed Buckingham Palace.  Lord Liverpool (the Prime Minister) and the committee responsible for the project chose Decimus Burton to be the project’s architect. Burton’s goal was to create an urban space in which the nation’s heroes and (in deference to his Royal patron) the House of Hanover could be celebrated.
Work started in 1825 after the King had accepted Burton’s proposal to construct a gateway, a classical screen, and a triumphal arch (Wellington Arch) – all designed to impress visitors to Buckingham Palace.
To the right of the screen is Apsley House which was originally built in the 1770s (by Robert Adam) for Lord Apsley. The house was popularly known as ‘Number One, London’, as it was the first house visitors from the countryside would have seen after passing the Knightsbridge toll gates. Originally, it was part of a row of great houses, the majority of which were demolished to aid the widening of Park Lane.
In 1807, Apsley House was bought by Richard Wellesley. However, some ten years later, financial difficulties forced him to sell the house to Sir Arthur Wellesley (his brother). Arthur was (at that point) the Duke of Wellington. The house became his London base.
Image: Photographer unknown (1896)
From the same position in May 2018. The screen and Apsley house remain while the changes to Park Lane (extreme right) can be seen.
Image: © Steven Miell (TimeViews)
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Marble Arch, London

A view towards Marble Arch from Park Lane in the 1950s. The old Odeon Cinema (opened in 1928) can be seen on the left-hand side on the corner of Edgware Road. Also, there don’t appear to be any parking restrictions!
Image: Edward Kotun
In March 2018, there was a totally different traffic system and the Odeon (and its subsequent 1960s replacement) has gone. The site is being redeveloped and will include a multi-screen cinema.
Image: © Steven Miell (TimeViews)
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