During the 19th century, London grew enormously to become a global city of immense importance. It was the largest city in the world from about 1825, the world’s largest port, and the heart of international finance and trade. Railways connecting London to the rest of Britain, as well as the London Underground, were built, as were roads, a modern sewer system and many famous sites.
These amazing photos from
LSE Library were taken by John Thomson and Adolphe Smith that show street scenes of London in 1877.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvIDAOn6rmxOg1Y07Rnys8i6Fn6mWo98R11NORkZjuNjruwv1B6LxrPTozb1KEESiGDkrbfTHEiesBjgUYZlrsi_7nNEmsijPcL8KA__WwjDSioW9qE3D5ulrrUoNvotNRVFUMcNVgvqQXFZPPgQLNsGWS_vKRp-7D5oxEEYjUpbm3FDA5PKLzl9kLAg/w640-h494-rw/london-1800s-1.jpeg) |
"A convicts home, London, 1877 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpCC5HRiQ3TbYx0T3H4T4WnrJlNUGH4v2XMMtiWCIKtvCEIz95YQ6IawKyzliNoy8Yo6ap4mtrYFucDbC4mYnueQdaJdu_FMHQV97jgstnSTXG7wBQLnwBmeC4RMf7PTVfl-aWXMfJcorutIsMO3pR2xvszRmcuF3M7Nvq5YpDdBErDgFy32s2IcR-WQ/s16000-rw/london-1800s-2.jpeg) |
"Hookey Alf" of Whitechapel, London, 1877 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzfl7b-pLGywjbaPv7qnoV_CDCxLqsZ7at_z73TKfXHZFZvVdZqnGBsAFCzVRowt_37u3Vde1adkahvXNvJuvzjaRC-InxBmZYV2_UwwtsnSOFEbranehE_xP7x8Dyjg0SZoe0Sw8kC2Pss4N6J4LrapqIe4gntB-Vt14M4zWKoE9hgB9z4Wx_t8tdkA/s16000-rw/london-1800s-3.jpeg) |
"Mush-fakers" and ginger-beer makers, London, 1877 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSordRwgcbccCJbqdsya4kRhvV8UaSBKbwdTzF05IUL4CvE-gNS6_b_ReMmwc7Com9I_7DASVVwPtxY57KUgrA1dsK3zrw5u5vz-72px78bCz6icdFVY-1jdWciPTpaYoufakaCV6BWpVlKbvo5UXah1NpSFXbjMi0SbJiqnZQP6in4S0X8ds3STXcAg/w640-h500-rw/london-1800s-4.jpeg) |
"Strawberries. All ripe! All ripe!” - The street fruit trade, London, 1877 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxD2RXdIh1-SUDA3o5ovdSQTtL0zVHr6DuKp_C3cO_s03lLxIEnKy6lnbW2tFbjHBtWbb0sByAimz6MowdIl4IddtMwE8CL2wIJDH6S-uKJ1f2ZZQ1XI_nI4hd4mE9MYCRGXtZRYqhMbsYbpIOROL1w4o-G1WZnlv069CCrgRlddS9MZasBhBFahyxSA/s16000-rw/london-1800s-5.jpeg) |
"Tickets" the card-dealer, London, 1877 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3wPSB36WEHbfyOc6ks4_n62WuJfbPGzNdVkHs0bSfc4sbdEZp5WthEoHc9T2kfTPiw_860WosEJaNxthmPLi9wpNGapsXcVrjfvBq0TOxSduQ8TFmlPC4TRLZQL76GOh0dZVrzRAx0SuTAuV8gX7f8TeYSHMpMmWpYK-JmN9qLoioJ3Ua0CG1iKR7Ug/s16000-rw/london-1800s-6.jpeg) |
An old clothes shop, Seven Dials, London, 1877 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8zEzna6AdhI4dMS6AU3l7enOyw8xSjvOcshWgL8Y0XgZLBo4dHwLPzX-qKu3npmFm8FASJsz4q5cgtRcsaUo1FqseaN1uqM6nsYIw1jiP3yaH9gXwL92xEiMMTO5gExXG9JGrp1c90a3kempF8NTp8-2SxUAshghb4Q9n_b-uNQChbtQa1YF532Eupw/w640-h552-rw/london-1800s-7.jpeg) |
Black Jack, London, 1877 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi215UOZ_PXUdDNJxdUtU7aYGlrqIC_DHcAFVei60FDPQXIVgKDoCUqWAJ6d3pNn_HDJg5f1YDrDjV2ZWPF0cnY5UFZdbj0Ojk0sDUxpLCVehN8OWq0Z9TM4QKC_9EV5cbLNJEWvM3dHHbd-Az0JAH33HZOFb5tcKw45Z3oyJxEIORq41LWbpPNPAe2aA/s16000-rw/london-1800s-8.jpeg) |
Caney the clown, London, 1877 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDP8bNVzJ5WiEH84jFA1tlbtRhyg1pFv9efqQeFblZz82X28_F36cPWIlqAmb3MPMj01WZwLM-LGIYtHnzWp4bBw7vKdcx9r29rS90jmXdEj-Pua2L-NiTueGwX6ynW3W8SUFx1IJH-mEcKiT4ZsGfrYL2aelBd-PwC9vbTzzKtfl9UqntgKlvsA6HRg/s16000-rw/london-1800s-9.jpeg) |
Cast-iron Billy, London, 1877 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRiTuLs00lTIbo1-29kzeJuSQ8T32KZ_0X1DXcLiRk6lRfZf-tQoFdY4VqL_dWtWN6Iz4Le5zOsZ0BRxCRtvqXm5TDDpp8O0s1Zegk729daCpd0DBNBssXuPUFZrN0i5BvEf-pBHq_iYi9TzhjK51ZGRhRkT27AnHHI6XI6rrhTmTwaT1446Qy7nAEqA/w640-h438-rw/london-1800s-10.jpeg) |
Clapham Common industries, London, 1877 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1s3OG8mGI4Q_rIE_SvboJcfnGbRu-DLlY8yiyEPFWPNwT9xxi9X5H3Y41k1YtS9q21tWoKk3nrCAuj6FrZnXpuXmVRFpVJxZNZwpa7xwn-ncBf3J_qlR2zkjS71r2hxFgRgqq2UikDnUa-4ouckTohb0hjVq9fZnHsJPAk6MAMXJRbTYN6JUwz3kPUg/s16000-rw/london-1800s-11.jpeg) |
Covent Garden flower women, London, 1877 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIW9-dalwzEg_yNoggtSSK-nBi5BA2sYAjnVK4CWmZjdNQk197tJ67Qn3Enop26vcPMZoloVvXyqCRbKdaA9dwer7ZzH8_WLQwk1AeQIA7_tEbgSg6z_TmtumFIiA6Pd-njdGI7F2h6gqD3rEU8ZZ32CWxVjAd61FuihrEnBldrRrvo4-r3HVai_lrsA/s16000-rw/london-1800s-12.jpeg) |
Covent Garden laborers, London, 1877 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-GGH_uCQLPEYjeL9_jbgmYSpzhYasUKk-HlTv1T-3qkHLQ1t1FLJ7o-yD7Y8ElkmUcr784r0yQfEo_iUue8whC0sGwctff9b5kW9PhSzobZXmgpTfD3BIMqvbA3PLcGtYgTLmueDP_Hgd7l-Wjhmk5vDW92P8tx-uMq7IE0VBeArk-xOcNnDNmI1thQ/w640-h498-rw/london-1800s-13.jpeg) |
Dealers in fancy-ware, London, 1877 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8nsuK-QGvn98cVsNhS7aZuYSTPSQISVznDg353OVpUwbcictsS9H97Kh0q3p5-hPWLFfKD4Ey6WX7s0rjDXVBdGLvN2IT0bW3IKo1vwax0WHlljfy7sjL5LLcJb7PR94y5gy_t7x9_jXID6nIn2-sGxZ8V86ysRT3YLV1LNLVTADaTPqIUjDaCXDBEQ/w640-h496-rw/london-1800s-14.jpeg) |
Flying dustmen, London, 1877 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6cLjFA32isnoKAEnYwsLq466MleEo86WWgyrTVr-HY7aFbvM68XJ8sYyG3r_WLQl2Q5HYrQCirbgMHwr77ZLiWnTCvdRF32pt0mGIQtpuziucKFqRFVvMQIsUqxavidSuLNbVdrOKDVupkj-JSEpvE66XH_-0aOHyOov0RRVQc2d1a636hYmXlFzG0g/s16000-rw/london-1800s-15.jpeg) |
Halfpenny ices, London, 1877 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-jom4gulOb2iMWdfzaYGoDrKYlS_tis1dFsP1I792Yn9aJx0HNr0gkIkKhyd7-jwwzWr1Hpv_7dXHDpjiHMENtqW8WGyKNC8oOB_-O11HoF3Uc7OIDX383h7VKcBLsmVgjmsIft8IdPPGT5xxLP8viMTHcOtc7eW4-fGxLymCUyh4tPoFONmGoSVHSQ/w640-h490-rw/london-1800s-16.jpeg) |
Italian street musicians, London, 1877 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_f090NufCsFLryVYDHjrm-V_b4W7_RgGXluJ0J3amgP_Md6XPW-g4jBSjLqzLAWv1L5j-lvJiR09mNvweVxSD-rDMVPEU62qSgkNmmGGVkHByzhpEGgR4nsIpc5NH6_FykA2K6yL5DM6ouOjjYYSbxh77abjXLsyRs_c_zjFlnB47B3dpTbAntJMF0Q/s16000-rw/london-1800s-17.jpeg) |
London boardmen, London, 1877 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwThxiuu7PdJ6exdHmvzlo5vGBmNF_Acm7_FzGzWiS_rRFyc4tD5mBnM-wHqcexwMnUKgv65BS49JAjG5oL8X8iFR2MgKfnq5jeXqZ-7WV4S-y2iKNgfJYVkngcLoD7kidRmqccAIznfCCzIO1aFlDKhOujNAZNoMbQE6C7UanxRG9eRs20s7OhFdctA/s16000-rw/london-1800s-18.jpeg) |
London cabmen, 1877 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOXFEUXyT0Ctd7SZwyJV4ivxnn_eu136T_OlW0Fn33ao2poj2iO6az8DQB02o4H00eqS9qw8j422pyZhsBwhQ1wtNO5fxIG42aVFi3zJNP3XpON4ubp-NN2ESy69ExOipU_NQ264_kBgEYn57qH-zlMQT0CBRUpmS2FuRGRv7zE8JFyx_5p2P4QnR-DA/s16000-rw/london-1800s-19.jpeg) |
London nomades, 1877 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmguenuAKJSjD70-AvpIkajP2ih3kZUamN_5RLNrLBhzZS0CR1Jz-Yu4xne8dTlDkyI7xt38hnBGgSOuvZDPzoZ4c3jERwLX0XQAuyuGDs4jGLQzPJgZWof5YgdhPvO_8AHtkJGJihZtZxucoIM61RFJjpSlHcoQhvJRgDdakj3NLfQv5MKf8ToFmXfg/w640-h492-rw/london-1800s-20.jpeg) |
November effigies, London, 1877 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8oJDqjYwNvGlPx4FbnwNP9DAO8PkniFxwPf-t4k8cdV2mep12u5ZqfxgB6drDb9mZFQgYfhXzPqUbWFUF8lx77pXeb9pWJBMXoXeYIxkT5YBMWMsKWb6GqdAsxSKoBQkC9vjWi3O5OEGJtvVcLfN86t6pWja9NSdjoT5RvI2B85Kms8o_si8AKISR8Q/s16000-rw/london-1800s-21.jpeg) |
Old furniture, London, 1877 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE71rI0cgJTCge08hHQN3nZ2Ejfj02ZH36cbnzNCxdr3K1SFbztxcQ8_dEhiXuNUUcdgJ6AQVvexp4ywWOOjSfePlffbSP91waGjo_10RBxxHc19xh4T61nfUwhkSeiJ1a1vISWVlFP8ZbPM9F0_C0yfDH3jKGpWghcr0MTRQPVc2SzUorU-n3LlsAjQ/s16000-rw/london-1800s-22.jpeg) |
Public disinfectors, London, 1877 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkTaYMcys1gJhh5W1KB2w6pgunQnuGrFhkUGn_OhBffsAXAroYvUIF3Y6qyhIbjBPO_5ClAKG3H7xmcUFQmuFKj6RLZleclZlOeIBgm4i0p06XfiDgoY_feIfG8n59jFZCBKIVyj2BZbGaWy-rWGNiG15xujqds1nFx4OHyAwfXFT1Ne1YEhTeCW5flg/s16000-rw/london-1800s-23.jpeg) |
Recruiting sergeants, London, 1877 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrjoAPz5MN7gjqOiR-mclijUI0fRgzC31pQqb0bxsDd1IFzl9OdWGUwz9xw_YHGqdNw91WVniHubk8z2Tf4_Z9301I1QcUUmAHjQci4isOYJVvNHIEG_DPqpoMGytznI8-sVL5OTIxHJwYsekAFg4PsG3FDG9JKBICKWtJp7oizpNQRKgD0M4-c3bQKA/s16000-rw/london-1800s-24.jpeg) |
Street advertising, London, 1877 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz6MLdtZ6iitBUNxpkV9UzysmptRsv7y3RHZnLIULoU9hXqOdZCKj4e1ja61Ck0S4pmzaZxCWm4Oq9KE_H2kXTLJwxFKbVklJd6Hn9-ij1weOPApRoPtzOhxqOSJ9JGiaKUu37vj_OGR6JPk827pCmqqsvUJe2UCQaWTdBKRRI_WQqIK2UvX2eCD8q0g/s16000-rw/london-1800s-25.jpeg) |
Street doctor, London, 1877 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVuPw0mKmfvTcdezL41itmiEwsBimP0m_PzX0Cmcwqc2GMnVctn0TIcevjsIXlGQcJlD_ftjuiVRx6i_EmDja8s3v7nsrppn_8nsjnMHeBx_wIFH_vrF6FIGWUWDqT5lbmjB0RNvQhIQzF-AFh_SJ_Xbm4dfDNHSOedPIoGDpI23q4ctR8BzZ15Nu9Ew/s16000-rw/london-1800s-26.jpeg) |
The cheap fish of St-Giles, London, 1877 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaiChe40KoJyvH2xaRp5Rwu8WDnZWLd53H4mqDTKporqnRWVtYvwGzUw88UeUKruYzrKOdsPWoRSPXcVo7Go-Jgdqiq8Oj1JisPr0bzV-saawYQYnTn-IkTHadCyGEm4P_qrwYcfZglHu6wGlroXtlUEzRRx3Rys-b4vmbpB0rDb_jRLm_0xSZELojdA/s16000-rw/london-1800s-27.jpeg) |
The crawlers, London, 1877 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5U1rmsNnQpZ0Sr_V6nIvUkVMezUHCbU7j4kwwMe2cYPf8UKIaSr5N1SqydBsKIJqgQ2qpv5qxLhbResfIGpuMLQtX2MEtscZJz10Kid5HnGZWF-AxbFbtNmbBf7Apw1mL7N_w68tNl_kTOivLCDxvO6nxYULykj_DG9AI97vWpDEpGGRiQ2ilrkyZCw/w640-h494-rw/london-1800s-28.jpeg) |
The dramatic shoe-black, London, 1877 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFJPiQQ80N_xDrqNTFvvR_umLwFvXMu4Cq78SkKjP_xY9zAQlJMBDQqKQxfYdWv8dui0110WgOc02sF7i34ZY2H3e3Nb4x_ISUBA2zhhbARmNFjZ9A8jrdMLQxs_wzctvCT7IqsgpugWcuI4stYqKNQ2Mkuz7peWllSy2-kEjYHlwXr21TxMWdTVnEKw/s16000-rw/london-1800s-29.jpeg) |
The independent shoe-black, London, 1877 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipeEOYM6OcOteJfY8lvkqFFJDcOR6FqOtGfUkg4dGNbGEwkWHFTFVwa3Iz5l1wuxb7woE8u5X1c375bORcNNCc1aKjj3qyepb14_WMRL6fJeXPVXbmkn5VlLSgr7L-E6FzLDi0Kbi7q4GE3JBj9XoPh1xR_0IrKMkdL1jxzXX6IfdykOQC940SmPMabg/w640-h490-rw/london-1800s-30.jpeg) |
The sellers of shell-fish, London, 1877 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_GLh4JifDphAdMDR5609_HGgTrGfCTq5NM48TCSnLaa9EY3-wGChRfLypowUAV4lX0yIQFLm5lZRIo-pSvuwkDwEztK5TuOv4N94S668Rqumxlh4iXF6G8YMKbPLZl1n1MX5Bo_o47GoQijXCBwi18e-k56d7mpeoo4azNIR_GysaFNRzeWhuo9LD2A/s16000-rw/london-1800s-31.jpeg) |
The street locksmith, London, 1877 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv5UuR9vsM-2UalIfW9F6DW32cvVIj8jOKjVc8rrRrfT1X_wYatJw7cwKaiJDF56fSpz7ZeuXbamNC2LsbmlC4GIOV-OQRqcMIWGtpJDffnBo0OQtaoLp_Scs64v51AJTRyjSo3FKvfiasRZklikViu2cdguZC_29ggdjZHnucf-WLFIp1cSf736z_Ww/s16000-rw/london-1800s-32.jpeg) |
The temperance sweep, London, 1877 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ntsydSYR2T8y-o9nKDrIbimDmp7c8GIYThTnd74RuvQPPHPv7jj2HmXrNJ_RqNZ7NXBC0Gk3dW2pd7oYKhoVZUbXZORxkbTKVaVFJS9mlXZMJFwcrka5nIimWBjoIjR71bfAx3b-TGHc4I5YX5mVd1FEYbZ8JE5aogKX4fARO6kkDl75pWisnTnDIQ/s16000-rw/london-1800s-33.jpeg) |
The wall worker, London, 1877 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaYuFBtUlseIGW5azn0ysb22vjjBellTPLKEMHAn5Wb1yTEbnv_FxHDuagRGM1Tk2qt5KdKdhIuwbKySJKa_VBGoNIe6EHcwpKx2pfqEebCYhfHo3sPyG4Cb2PBqny8z3g7orOYdny8E-VdU15bJCtx-vMkkMCY6g44EXewYRJIjEwVSH9vakeADHQOA/w640-h486-rw/london-1800s-34.jpeg) |
The water-cart, London, 1877 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJoTn9nltLuJ8oEHhIaSe4yh_ELUlxKPhCAS9G-_0i5-FL9lL0QRjz8DXSveNBsjuTSKyE-kc3GRuzoJuJZzXjqjbInwA8z1Hf5vOlNvK-zImW4Upz2jO7nbRZ7AQm5WESPE9PvXNDz8wxYs9T0rer0D_-hoc2kpHtfWJqHHVwDuC3wj07l3lsSGGSGw/w640-h438-rw/london-1800s-35.jpeg) |
Waiting for a hire, London, 1877 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1zEAT1VY0QCHVBHSvIZRqvohZotqBNya1ckzyiCrbG6TIF774yGHieuV_0BzcRr-P_xzfHT7wTzKefzeR5MVJDd76brcD-iSSUKTn8JKWJb-9BuqtdExtLlhrx9nGwOHhqHYOPcKblBwwrkn8wx-sZ_vaLFk7pjn3uR1N7xFRq69eguyBkvjqVTn3Nw/s16000-rw/london-1800s-36.jpeg) |
Workers on the "silent highway", London, 1877 |
Amazing photographs.
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