Vivid Vintage Color Photos of London in 1979

Back in 1979, Swedish photographer George Kindbom, then a 27-year-old man who was eager to travel the world, visited London. During his holiday he captured a city on the cusp of a new decade. Through his images, a generation of eccentric characters from a bygone era vividly appeared.

“It’s a different culture from what we have in Sweden,” Kindbom told the Standard. “I am from a small town called Huskvarna and everyone looks the same and they all know each other. The people in London were less friendly but it was such a shock to see how everyone was so different and unique. But it was amazing. I really wish I could go back someday.”

More of Kindbom’s amazing photographs could be viewed at kindbom.se and his Flickr site.

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The Oldest Tavern in London: Vintage Photos of the Old Dick Whittington in the Early 20th Century

The Old Dick Whittington was situated at 24 Cloth Fair. This beerhouse opened in 1846 in a 16th century timber framed house. It was allegedly the oldest Inn in London although it was actually only given a license in 1848 and there are many pubs in London older than this, one of the oldest is believed to be the Seven Stars on Carey street Holborn.

The building was acquired by the Corporation of London and along with many other medieval houses along Cloth Fair which had stood for hundreds of years they were demolished in 1916 for ‘slum clearance’. On the opposite end of the terrace there is one survivor of the slum clearance which was restored instead of demolished showing that they could all have been retained without too much effort.

Today the space is taken by a dull modern building showing that the replacement for this priceless piece of history did not even last one century.

Vivid Vintage Photos of Life in London in the 1970s

The nostalgic images show the capital’s landmarks in the 1970s, a decade of feminism, Arsenal’s FA cup win and the launch of the concord. The era is known for being a time of cultural and political change – especially due to high inflation levels, IRA bomb threats and widespread trade union strikes. These fascinating collection of pictures, taken by photographer David Rostance, reveal what the capital looked like in this bygone era.

Fulham Broadway into Harwood Road, June 1977.

“I have been a keen amateur photographer since the age of 13, focussing mainly but not exclusively, on railway subjects,” Rostance told the Standard. He specialised in taking pictures of the UK’s railway and bus routes and began snapping quintessential British scenes in the sixties, armed with his Kodak Brownie 44A. “I began taking photographs in 1963 in a bid to record the rapidly disappearing steam locomotives then still in use at that time,” he said. “My interest waned following the demise of steam operations on British Railways in 1968 and went through an hiatus which lasted until 1975.”

More fascinating vintage photographs could be found at Rostance’s amazing Flickr site.

West Norwood, March 1975.

West Dulwich Station, March 1975.

Ice Cream for Crow, Gypsy Hill, March 1975.

Norwood Garage, March 1975.

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London in the 1950s Through Amazing Color Photos

The 1950s London was the heyday of the baby boomers. There was no longer rationing post war and the city was undergoing huge social and economic change. A new Queen was in charge of the country who was vibrantly popular and hope hung in the air for a new era.

London in the 1950s

It was also the decade when televisions and washing machines first appeared in houses, something that would transform the housewives day-to-day, and the standard of living was generally improving as council houses offered respected alternatives to slums and the welfare state was in full bloom.

A set of amazing color photos from foundin_a_attic that shows what London looked like in the 1950s.

Admiralty Arch from the Mall, London

Admiralty Arch, London

Beefeaters, London

Buckingham Palace, London

Coronation of Elizabeth II, London

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Intriguing Vintage Photos of London in 1973 and 1974

A decade of cultural and political change — these nostalgic and splendid images, taken by Mary Brown while she was living in London for two years in the early seventies — show the capital in an era known for feminism, high inflation levels, IRA bomb threats and widespread trade union strikes.

More of her fascinating vintage photographs could be found at Mary’s Flickr site.

Evening News.

Trafalgar Square.

Eton St.

The Cock Pit Restaurant.

Spring.

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Fascinating Vintage Photos of Richmond’s Magical Funfairs in the 1980s

“The Richmond Old Deer Park funfair was situated between a railway line and a main road, with a car park at one end and trees and River Thames at the other. Yet inside this inauspicious setting fairground people created a magic kingdom. The fair, despite a few modern innovations, preserved many of the traditions so many of my pictures looked as if they were taken in the previous 50 years. Children adored the old-fashioned roundabouts, large crowds swarmed aboard the bumper cars and everyone enjoyed the sideshows. In those days you could win cigarettes, LP records and gold fish as prizes, plus cuddly toys.

The crowds were more diverse and up-to-date. Funfairs are good places to study everyday fashion. Younger customers wore stylish smart casual clothes. Some Asian women dressed more formally in elegant saris and looked as if they were going to a wedding. The fun atmosphere relaxed everyone – or nearly everyone. Many romances are established at funfairs where, wrote one observer, ‘thrill rides provide ample excuse for embracing. Displays of skill at shooting and winning a cuddly toy for your girlfriend is a rite of passage for many young men.’”

This is how Roger George Clark—a professional broadcaster, writer and photographer—described the two travelling funfairs in Richmond upon Thames where he lived at the time. One was housed on the outskirts of Richmond town in the Old Deer Park and the other near the entrance to Hampton Court Palace. Take a brief look through 23 fascinating vintage photographs of the before-digital-age funfairs below, and keep up-to-date with Clark on his website here:

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Vivid Vintage Photos of London in 1969

These evocative snapshots of London were taken by Bernd Loos, who on the way to visit his friends in Liverpool suddenly felt a bit under the weather, so he decided to stop for one afternoon and a Saturday night in the capital city. It rained cats and dogs that day, still Loos raised his Leica camera and captured the scenes around him.

More amazing photographs could be found at his wonderful Flickr site.

Piccadilly Circus

Piccadilly

King's Road

Carnaby Street

Tottenham Court Road Station

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Pictures of Elton John With His Parents at Their Apartment in London, 1971

Sheila Farebrother gave birth to Reginald Kenneth Dwight, later known as Elton John, on March 25 1947, in Pinner, Middlesex. Shelia married Elton’s dad Stanley Dwight when Elton was six years old, but they divorced when her son was 14.

“I suppose my mum and dad must have been in love once, but there wasn’t much sign they ever had been by the time I came along. They gave every impression of hating each other. My dad was strict and remote and had a terrible temper; my mum was argumentative and prone to dark moods,” John wrote in a personal essay for The Guardian in May 2019. “When they were together, all I can remember are icy silences or screaming rows. The rows were usually about me, how I was being brought up.”

She later married a local painter, Fred Farebrother, who became a supportive step-dad to Elton. When he began to consider a career in music, Elton’s father, who was a flight lieutenant in the Royal Air Force, tried to convince him toward a more conventional career, such as banking.

Both of his parents were musically talented, with his father having been a trumpet player with the Bob Millar Band. His parents were also keen record buyers, showing Elton the popular singers and musicians of the time, and he has spoken of being inspired by the rock and roll records his mother brought home.

Here are some photographs of Elton John with his mother Sheila and stepfather Fred Fairebrother at their apartment in London, 1971.

(Photos by John Olson)

Four Penny Coffin: One of the First Homeless Shelters in Victorian London

The four penny coffin or coffin house was one of the first homeless shelters created for the people of central London. It was operated by the Salvation Army during the late 19th and early 20th centuries to provide comfort and aid to its destitute clients.

The Salvation Army operated other homeless shelters in the area. These shelters charged the clients different amounts depending on the amenities offered. At the low end was a penny sit-up, where a homeless client could get food and shelter from the cold in exchange for a penny. He was allowed to sit on a bench all night, but was not allowed to sleep. For an additional penny, there was the "two penny hangover". It was like a penny sit-up except that a rope was placed in front of the bench. The client was allowed to sleep when he leaned on (or hung over) the rope during the night. He was not allowed to lie down flat on his back and sleep.

For four pennies, a homeless client could stay at a coffin house. He received food and shelter. Moreover, he was allowed to lie down flat on his back and sleep in a coffin-shaped wooden box. The client was given a tarpaulin for covering. What made this unique is that it was the cheapest homeless shelter in London at that time that allowed its clients to lie down on their back and sleep. The Salvation Army also offered shelters that allowed its clients to sleep on a bed for a much higher price. Hence, the coffin house was popular because it offered an economical and mid-range solution for homeless clients looking for relief from the cold.

Compared with modern examples, this shelter is considered inadequate. It was, however, considered an inexpensive and compassionate attempt to deal with the relatively new problem of homelessness. This shelter provided relief from the harsh London winters and was viewed by many at the time as having the benefit of attracting new followers to Christianity.

‘Coffin beds’ at a Salvation Army shelter in London.

Men at the four penny coffin, aka coffin house, ca. 1901.

Contemporary newspaper calls this London homeless shelter a “two penny coffin,” 1906.

These rows of “coffins” were the men’s sleeping quarters in London’s Burne Street hostel, ca. 1900.

Salvation Army homeless clients at Blackfriars, ca. 1900.

Mealtime at the in St. Marylebone workhouse, London, ca. 1900.