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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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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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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