LONDON 1974

 

Peter Marshall

 

My First Day with a camera in London:

 

 


These pictures come from my first day out with a camera in London and were probably taken at around the time I moved to Staines in August 1974, but possibly the previous year while I was still living in Bracknell. The Golden Hinde II seen moored in some images was launched in Appledore in April 1973, and came to London before her 'maiden voyage' in late 1974 - with a crowd here queuing to visit her. They were probably made with a Zenith B, for which I had the standard 58mm f2 lens along with another Russian telephoto.

I can recall little of that day even with the aid of the contact sheets, but I appear to have started taking pictures from London Bridge (probably having taken a train to the station there from Waterloo East) before making my way along the south bank to Tower Bridge, then crossing that to St Katharine's Dock beofre wandering back through the city along the north bank to St Pauls Cathedral and on along Fleet St to Trafalgar Square, then going back to the Thames and the Albert Embankment, probably on my way back to Waterloo Station.

I took remarkably few pictures - 49 in all, on two Tri-X 36 exposure rolls. About half are shown here; a few of the images - of St Paul's and in Trafalgar Square hold little or no interest, but most of the rest have at least some details. It's surprising to look at some and remember how much has changed. There were then no walkways beside the river on either bank in the City or opposite in Southwark, with only short lengths accessible. Many of the former industrial buildings have now been replaced by large office blocks, and in one image, smoke emerges from the towering chimney of the Bankside Power Station. Of least interest are the more touristic pictures - such as those of the Tower of London.

A few of the images here have appeared in my various books on London, but most are shown here for the first time.