Gallery: Watch How London’s Skyline Has Changed Over 400 or so Years – Shaped by Fire, Bombs and Water

Apr 24, 2014 By jonathan

Here’s a great gallery of pictures that illustrate how London’s beautiful skyline has changed since the 1600’s. It’s been changed by fire, bombs and water. It’s a pretty amazing collection of pictures.

Old London Bridge, c 1630 by Claude Jongh

1647 --- An engraving of the Tower of London in the 17th century, by the Czech draughtsman and engraver Wenceslaus Hollar (1607-1677). --- Image by © Historical Picture Archive/CORBIS — 1647 — An engraving of the Tower of London in the 17th century, by the Czech draughtsman and engraver Wenceslaus Hollar (1607-1677). — Image by © Historical Picture Archive/CORBIS

The Great Fire of London as seen from Southwark, 1666

A panoramic view of London, c.1670 by Wenceslaus Hollar.

1859: St Paul's Cathedral as seen from Southwark, across the River Thames. (Photo by William England/London Stereoscopic Company/Getty Images) — 1859: St Paul’s Cathedral as seen from Southwark, across the River Thames. (Photo by William England/London Stereoscopic Company/Getty Images)

ca. 1904, London, England, UK --- Traffic on London Bridge. Photo shows: A view of London Bridge. The bridge is full of pedestrians, horse drawn omnibuses and horse drawn carriages. Various wharfs and warehouses are visible on the left of the shot across the river. --- Image by © Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS — ca. 1904, London, England, UK — Traffic on London Bridge. Photo shows: A view of London Bridge. The bridge is full of pedestrians, horse drawn omnibuses and horse drawn carriages. Various wharfs and warehouses are visible on the left of the shot across the river. — Image by © Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS

Four women have lunch in the roof garden on Adelaide House, overlooking the River Thames and Tower Bridge, c. 1934.

1750, England, UK --- A small group of men unloading esparto grass from barges at a wharf near Lambeth on the River Thames. The grass is used for making bank notes and stockings. The photo shows this rural scene on the banks of the Thames with Westminster Bridge, Houses of Parliament and Big Ben in the background. --- Image by © Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS — England, UK — A small group of men unloading esparto grass from barges at a wharf near Lambeth on the River Thames. The grass is used for making bank notes and stockings. The photo shows this rural scene on the banks of the Thames with Westminster Bridge, Houses of Parliament and Big Ben in the background. — Image by © Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS

Original caption: 2/2/1942-London, England: With historic St. Paul's Cathedral- virtually unscathed -rising like a monument to the indomitable spirit of the city, the heart of London is still being tidied up after ceaseless German Air Raids, preparing for the new city that will rise when the war is over. Photo shows Cannon Street, looking toward the cathedral, as demolition squads still labored. London, England — Original caption: 2/2/1942-London, England: With historic St. Paul’s Cathedral- virtually unscathed -rising like a monument to the indomitable spirit of the city, the heart of London is still being tidied up after ceaseless German Air Raids, preparing for the new city that will rise when the war is over. Photo shows Cannon Street, looking toward the cathedral, as demolition squads still labored. London, England

The Royal Festival Hall, South Bank, during the Festival of Britain, 1951.

August 1961, London, England, UK --- London: Trafalgar Square: Left to right, National Gallery with dome, St. Martins-in-the-Fields, with spire, South Africa House, and The Strand. --- Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS — August 1961, London, England, UK — London: Trafalgar Square: Left to right, National Gallery with dome, St. Martins-in-the-Fields, with spire, South Africa House, and The Strand. — Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS

Canary Wharf tower in London's Docklands in 2001 as seen from one of the new towers under construction. — Canary Wharf tower in London’s Docklands in 2001 as seen from one of the new towers under construction.

Photo by High Level Photography / Rex Features (1736603o) Aerial view of London skyline Aerial Views of London, Britain - 13 Jun 2012 These aerial photos offer a breathtaking bird's eye of London's world famous skyline. Taken at dawn as the city slowly woke, roads and pavements are eerily quiet - a very different scene to the usual hustle and bustle. With buildings stretching as far as the eye can seen, the images, which were taken from a helicopter, also show off the vast size of the city. Landmarks such as the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge and the Albert Hall can all been seen. Meanwhile, some of the newer additions to the skyline - such as the London Eye and the Shard - are also shown. Of course, the newest construction to grace London is the Olympic Stadium in Stratford, which is currently being prepared for the grand opening ceremony. This ceremony, stage managed by director Danny Boyle, will feature a re-creation of England's green and pleasant pastures. — Photo by High Level Photography / Rex Features (1736603o)
Aerial view of London skyline
Aerial Views of London, Britain – 13 Jun 2012
These aerial photos offer a breathtaking bird’s eye of London’s world famous skyline. Taken at dawn as the city slowly woke, roads and pavements are eerily quiet – a very different scene to the usual hustle and bustle. With buildings stretching as far as the eye can seen, the images, which were taken from a helicopter, also show off the vast size of the city. Landmarks such as the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge and the Albert Hall can all been seen. Meanwhile, some of the newer additions to the skyline – such as the London Eye and the Shard – are also shown.

Which one is your favorite? Let us know in the comments!

Author: jonathan

Jonathan is a consummate Anglophile who launched Anglotopia.net in 2007 to channel his passion for Britain. Londontopia is its sister publication dedicated to everything London.

About jonathan

Jonathan is a consummate Anglophile who launched Anglotopia.net in 2007 to channel his passion for Britain. Londontopia is its sister publication dedicated to everything London.

Comments

Phil says

May 9, 2014 at 12:00 pm

Hey, Jonathan, on one of the photos ‘men unloading esparto grass’ …being the eagle eye person I am, I noticed you have it dated 1750?, photography was not invented until a hundred years (approximately) later mate!
- jonathan says
  
  May 9, 2014 at 1:27 pm
  
  Good eye!
paul sexton says

Jan 12, 2017 at 6:04 am

Four women on roof top!