Author Archives: adrianprockter

St Olave’s Grammar School – Assembly Hall Painting

Posted on 27 Jan 2023 by adrianprockter

“Reminiscing the Past” In 1953, St Olave’s Grammar School commissioned a famous artist, Alan Sorrell, to visit the school on several occasions and paint four watercolours – one of the exterior and three of the interior scenes. Sorrell was an … Continue reading →

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Posted in /Sou-Bermondsey | 1 Comment

Longton Hall, Sydenham (Post Card)

Posted on 23 Jan 2023 by adrianprockter

Above: Postcard showing Longton Hall after it had become a school. Westwood Hill is to the left and Longton Avenue slopes away from it. Longton Hall was a large rambling house that stood between Taylor’s Lane and Longton Avenue where … Continue reading →

Posted in /Lew-Lewisham | Leave a comment

Sydenham Road (Post Card)

Posted on 20 Jan 2023 by adrianprockter

Above: Postcard showing part of Sydenham Road. The ‘Penny Post’ was inaugurated in 1840 by Sir Rowland Hill, who was an English teacher, inventor, and social reformer. He campaigned for a comprehensive reform of the postal system, based on the … Continue reading →

Posted in /Lew-Lewisham | Leave a comment

Riverdale Mill

Posted on 16 Jan 2023 by adrianprockter

Above: The renovated mill building stands beside Molesworth Street. The site of this mill has a history going back to the Domesday Book (1086) when it was one of eleven mills recorded as being on the River Ravensbourne. Water power … Continue reading →

Posted in /Lew-Lewisham | Leave a comment

Faringdon Elizabeth Line Station

Posted on 13 Jan 2023 by adrianprockter

Above: The impressive concrete ceiling, formed in a diamond shape. The name Farringdon Station was first used for the underground line. It opened in 1863 as the terminus of the Metropolitan Railway which then ran just four miles (6 km), … Continue reading →

Posted in /Isl-Finsbury, Subj_Railways | Leave a comment

Strand at the Western End

Posted on 9 Jan 2023 by adrianprockter

Above: Photograph taken on 18 August 1970 looks east from Trafalgar Square. The above picture was taken by a photographer standing with their back to Trafalgar Square at the junction of Strand with the SE corner of Trafalgar Square. You … Continue reading →

Posted in /Wes-Strand | 1 Comment

Camberwell Old Cemetery New Gates

Posted on 6 Jan 2023 by adrianprockter

Above: Cemetery gates at the corner of Wood Vale and Langton Rise. Camberwell Old Cemetery is situated beside Forest Hill Road. Its main entrance stands beside that road with a second entrance to be found in Wood Vale, at the … Continue reading →

Posted in /Sou-Camberwell, Subj_Cemeteries | Leave a comment

Express Dairy Tea Rooms, Borough High Street

Posted on 2 Jan 2023 by adrianprockter

Above: The mosaic on the east side of Borough High Street, under the railway girder bridge. Do you remember the time when your milk was delivered to your doorstep? It was a long time ago. Only a very few milk … Continue reading →

Posted in /Sou-Southwark | 2 Comments

Mail Coach Floundering in Snow

Posted on 30 Dec 2022 by adrianprockter

This painting by E Cook is titled “Mail Coach Floundering in Snow”. It shows a really terrifying scene on a country road in the depths of winter. There is no doubt that the coach is owned by the Royal Mail. … Continue reading →

Posted in Subj_Coaching Days | Leave a comment

Mail Coach Delayed by a Snow Storm

Posted on 28 Dec 2022 by adrianprockter

One of the main problems of traveling by stagecoach was that its fragile structure was woefully inadequate to cope with deep snow. Even today, heavy snow can render roads impassable for cars and even for really heavy transport lorries. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Subj_Coaching Days | 6 Comments