35 Amazing Vintage Photos of London during the 1960s

Historical Photos of Gymnasts at the 1908 Summer Olympics

The 1908 Summer Olympics were an international multi-sport event held in London from April 27 to October 31, 1908. The 1908 Games were originally scheduled to be held in Rome, but were relocated on financial grounds following the violent eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 1906, which claimed over 100 lives. At the 1908 Summer Olympics,Continue reading “Historical Photos of Gymnasts at the 1908 Summer Olympics”

Vintage Photos of London in the 1970s

These evocative snapshots of London were taken by Swedish tourist Mats Örn in 1971 and 1977. They reveal what the capital city looked like in this bygone era, which is well known for being a time of cultural and political change – especially due to high inflation levels, IRA bomb threats, widespread trade union strikesContinue reading “Vintage Photos of London in the 1970s”

Family Ride on a Five Seat Bike in England, 1950

Who needs a van when you can ride as a family! How cool is this family circa 1950. Mr. Eric Jewell, of Dukes Avenue, Finchley, London, finds the solution to go with his whole family to the countryside: a five seat bike. Here, Jewell with his wife and children on a “quinticycle” – adapted fromContinue reading “Family Ride on a Five Seat Bike in England, 1950”

Earthmen From the South of Africa, Exhibited in England, 1853

Flora and Martinus, a 14-year-old boy and 16-year-old girl from South Africa, were exhibited as ‘earthmen’ in private drawing rooms in 1853, in central London. As so-called ‘human curiosities’, the orphaned San children posed in traditional costume, danced, sang and mimed to entertain visitors… Different to most other variety acts of the time, they performedContinue reading “Earthmen From the South of Africa, Exhibited in England, 1853”

Women Paint “Stockings” on Their Legs at a Store in Croydon, London, 1941

Wallace Carothers produced the first nylon fiber in 1935, but it was the 1939 World’s Fair that first introduced the nylon stocking to the public. It was marketed as a fabric made from “carbon, water and air.“ Cheap and durable, better in appearance than silk, nylon soon became the material of choice for manufacturing women’sContinue reading “Women Paint “Stockings” on Their Legs at a Store in Croydon, London, 1941”

Portraits of Henry Cyril Paget, 5th Marquess of Anglesey

Henry Cyril Paget, 5th Marquess of Anglesey (1875–1905), styled Lord Paget until 1880 and Earl of Uxbridge between 1880 and 1898, and nicknamed “Toppy”, was a British peer who was notable during his short life for squandering his inheritance on a lavish social life and accumulating massive debts. Regarded as the “black sheep” of theContinue reading “Portraits of Henry Cyril Paget, 5th Marquess of Anglesey”

Extraordinary Aerial Photographs of London From the 1920s

Creating spectacular images in the face of technical and physical adversity, Captain Alfred G Buckham (1879-1956) was the foremost aerial photographer of his day. Between 1908 to the early 1930s, Buckham created aerial portraits that are awe-inspiring, poetic and works of technical brilliance. During the First World War he was Captain in the Royal NavalContinue reading “Extraordinary Aerial Photographs of London From the 1920s”