Piccadilly Circus, London

Another fantastic photograph taken by Allan Hailstone in 1962. Jack Warner (centre) is seen with some of his friends in the Piccadilly Circus area. Warner was a well-known British film and television actor who was born in 1895 and died in 1981. He is widely known for portraying P.C. George Dixon – initially in a film (The Blue Lamp – 1950) and on TV from 1955 until 1976. He was also one of this country’s most popular film stars for many years. The arc of Regent Street can be seen behind the buses. Credit: © Allan Hailstone
Due to Covid-19, there were very few people about when I recreated the photograph in September 2020. The Shaftesbury Memorial (commonly known as ‘Eros’) is now clearly visible in the modern photograph. It cannot be seen in the 1962 version as it was moved to its present location in the 1980s. Photograph: © Steven Miell (TimeViews)

Carting Lane, London

A still taken from the film ‘The London Nobody Knows’. Shot in 1967 and released in 1969, it featured the actor James Mason exploring some of London’s lesser-known areas. In this shot, he is walking down Carting Lane (a side road off Strand, running down to the Thames). A rear entrance to the Coal Hole pub can be seen behind Mason. Also, a direction sign for the Savoy Theatre is above the actor’s head. Credit: Norman Cohen (The London Nobody Knows)
In September 2020, despite the building works, the view is very similar – especially the building to the right. Photograph: © Steven Miell (TimeViews)

Strand, London

A photograph taken by David E. Sherman – an American photographer in September 1941. A policeman is seen directing traffic outside the Wellington pub in London’s Strand. Just to the right of the pub, the columns of the Lyceum Theatre can be seen. Credit: David E. Sherman
From the same position in September 2020. Photograph: © Steven Miell (TimeViews)

Kingsway, London

Taken in 1950, this photograph of the W H Smith branch at 11 Kingsway shows that there was a commercial Lending Library on the floor above the store. This used to be a fairly common sight with Boots the Chemist also offering a similar service. Credit: Photographer unknown.

A branch of Costa Coffee in September 2020, the ‘WHS’ symbols can still be seen to the left and right of the nine windows. Photograph: © Steven Miell (TimeViews)

Bush House, Aldwych, London

Bush House is situated in Aldwych at the southern end of Kingsway in London. It’s a Grade ll listed building constructed between 1925 and 1935. It was envisaged as a trade centre by an American industrialist – Irving Bush.
Bush House was the HQ of BBC World Service from 1941 until the BBC’s lease expired in 2015. It is now used by King’s College London as part of their ‘Strand’ Campus.
The building’s opening ceremony was on July 4th 1925. The two statues (seen in both photographs were unveiled at the same time and represent Anglo-American friendship. The building bears the inscription “To the friendship of English speaking peoples”.
During the latter stages of WW2, Bush House suffered some external damage from a V1 flying bomb.
I would estimate that this photograph of Bush House was taken in the late 1960s or early 1970s. Credit: Photographer unknown
If you ignore the temporary roadworks in the foreground, the view of Bush House in September 2020 looks much greener and cleaner. Photograph: © Steven Miell (TimeViews)

Winchester Road, Highams Park, London

Early in the 20th century, Winchester Road was a tree-lined road with around 40 new houses on both sides and the train line from Liverpool Street to Chingford running to the left of this photograph (taken in 1925). The primary employer in the area was British Xylonite – around 500 yards along Winchester Road. A small corrugated iron chapel was built in 1903 and was replaced a year later by the present structure (on the left). It is now known as the Winchester Road United Methodist Church. Credit: History-In-Pictures

From the same position in March 2020. Photograph: © Steven Miell (TimeViews)

Hale End Road, Highams Park, London

Probably taken in the 1910s, this view looking along Hale End Road shows the Royal Oak public house on the right-hand side. In the distance (past the five cyclists) is the Highams Park railway station which opened in 1873. Until 1894, the station was called Hale End. Credit: Photographer unknown
A much busier scene in March 2020. The Royal Oak is still there but the development in the previous 100 years is apparent. Photograph: © Steven Miell (TimeViews)