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DISAPPEARING LONDON |
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london-footprints.co.uk |
This page has some info from my knowledge on topics featured in a TV series of 2007.
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CAB
SHELTERS There are 13 of these little buildings left in London including the one in Warwick Avenue that appeared in the programme. See my webpage for more info. |
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TELEPHONE
BOXES Despite mobile phones a familiar site on London streets are red telephone boxes. However their designer Giles Gilbert Scott intended them to be silver with a greeny-blue interior. The K2s that remain (with cut-out crown & regular windows - as pictured left) are listed 'buildings'. These were introduced in 1926 in Metropolitan Boroughs. The smaller K6s of 1936 (with raised crown & irregular windows - as pictured right) were designed to commemorate the silver jubilee of George V and were sited in the whole country. K1s were non-standard, K3s concrete (by Scott) & K4s included a stamp machine. More information on telephone boxes is available on the GLIAS website [click here] |
LIDOS
'Lido' comes from the Italian for 'seashore' and these were built
for people who couldn't afford to go to the seaside at a time
when sun-worshipping became fashionable. In their heyday they
were extremely popular but high maintenance costs made them
uneconomic and only a few examples remain. The
programme showed Tooting Bec Lido in SW17, one of the largest in
Europe. Designed in the 1930s by H J Martin the blue cafe was
added in 1936. There are functioning lidos in Brockwell Park SE24
and at Paliament Hill and the one in London Fields re-opened in
2006. There is a website devoted to lidos past & present and
the London Pools Campaign has a website.
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TURKISH
BATHS The baths in Ironmonger Row behind St Luke's Old Street were featured [Finsbury walk] The building pictured was the entrance to baths in Bishopsgate Churchyard. The premises are now used by a restaurant and are much more spacious than they look. The lovely tiles have been retained inside [Spitalfields walk] |
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RIVER
TRAFFIC Some historic craft can still be seen in London [webpage]. A good place to visit to find out more is the Museum of London Docklands [website]. [East to West India walk] |
HIGHGATE GARDEN
The large house and garden on Highgate West Hill is 'Witanhurst'
built by millionaire soapmaker Sir Arthur Crosfield in 1920 for
his young socialite wife. The house and grounds are private
property
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UNDERGROUND
TOILETS On TV bolt cutters were used to gain access to the toilets at Kennington Cross. Plenty of closed ones still exist and a few have been converted to other uses including an eating place outside Christ Church Spitalfields. The ones you may still be able to use are in West Smithfield and the south end of Gracechurch Street. The Gents pictured (closed of course!) is in Star Yard. [Inns of Court walk] |
PREFABS
I've come across isolated examples in East Dulwich and Peckham [Peckham
walk] but didn't realise
there was a whole estate in Catford. The Excaliber Estate is
located between Forster Memorial Park and Hither Green Cemetery.
A battle keep them has been lost and they are due to be removed
for redevolpment but 6 have been listed by English Heritage and
will remain. Wikipedia article
I can remember going to visit an uncle who had one on Hilly
Fields - long since demolished.
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WELSH
DAIRIES I know of old dairy buildings on Warren Street/Conway Street (pictured), Rugby Street off Lamb's Conduit Street in Bloomsbury [Bloomsbury walk] and River Street/Amwell Street in Islington (seen on the programme) [New River walk]. However despite the giveaway names I hadn't associated them with the Welsh before now! |
WELSH CHAPELS
There is one on Southwark Bridge Road near Great Guildford Street
[Southwark walk] and a Welsh Church off St Mary's Terrace in
Paddington [Paddington walk].
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OLD SHOPS There are lots of examples of lovely old shops in London including Smiths Tobacconist at 74 Charing Cross Road and Ede & Ravenscroft legal outfitters in Chancery Lane/Star Yard (pictured) [Inns of Court walk]. The St James's area is particularly good. [St James's walk] |
FUNERAL DIRECTORS
The family firm of Cribb still offer traditional horse-drawn
funerals. [Beckton walk].
At number 24 London Road, Kingston are the historic premises of
Fredrick W Paine (Undertakers). Mr Paine lived above the shop and
their records date back to 1896. [Kingston
walk]
RIVOLI BALLROOM
I used to live just round the corner from this place (sited
opposite Crofton Park Station) but never went inside. Nice to
know it is still flourishing however. [website]
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CLASSIC
CAFES The example pictured in Regency Street near Horseferry Road is popular with cabbies. [Victoria walk]. There is a website devoted to the subject which includes a feature on the New Piccadilly at 8 Denman Street. |
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CINEMAS The Granada Tooting is at 50 Mitcham Road SW17. The Italianate front of white stone was designed by Cecil Masey in 1931. The interior by Theodore Komisarjevsky has a foyer in the style of a baronial hall and an auditorium of Venetian Gothic design. It is now a Gala Bingo Hall. Many other cinemas of the 1930s remain, some with lavish interiors. Some Art Deco examples are listed on my webpage including the former Woolwich Odeon (pictured). Opposite is another ex-cinema (now bingo) with a Komisarjevsky interior [Woolwich walk]. |
BOOKS
London Oddities by J Edward Hart
London: Sight Unseen by Snowdon
London Peculiars by Peter Ashley
Secret London by Andrew Duncan
Still Open - the guide to traditional London shops
Inside London by Joe Friedman
london-footprints.co.uk 2007 (revised 2019)
