Londonist: Time Machine

Welcome to Londonist: Time Machine, the newsletter for London history. A short one today, as I’m gearing up for a family break next week (I’ll have a guest article about Samuel Pepys on Wednesday). Today’s newsletter is a roundup of a few London history tidbits that have caught my eye recently, including a new museum, a little-known museum, some new books and a threat to an old London landmark.

Welcome to Londonist: Time Machine, the newsletter that takes a playful approach to London history. It’s time for another instalment in our multi-year mission to colour in the 1746 John Rocque map of London. And today, we reach the outer limits of London as the Mile End Road reaches out to Essex. Click or tap for larger image. I’ve uploaded a second version here, in case Substack mangles it.

Welcome to Londonist: Time Machine, the newsletter of London history. Fitzrovia Chapel. Image by Will Noble. This edition’s my pick of the historic buildings and spaces throwing their doors open to the public in September, as part of London’s Open House Festival.

Welcome to Londonist: Time Machine’s Friday newsletter for paying subscribers, with a tasty teaser for everyone else. Much has been written about Joseph Bazalgette and the Victorian sewers. What often gets left out of those accounts is the “what are they actually like?” bit. Having enjoyed a paddle or two myself, I thought I’d compile my thoughts and photos. You might not want to read this over lunch. That’s for the main section. First the History Radar… Upcoming events for fans of London history.

Welcome to Londonist: Time Machine, the newsletter of London history. Win £350 for your and see your writing published on Londonist: Time Machine… Today, we’re launching the first annual Londonist: Time Machine writing competition, and ☝️that there ☝️ is what awaits the winner. London history is an infinite topic. Week by week, I do my best to tease out the little-known, intriguing stories, as does Lydia with her wonderful editions.

Welcome to Londonist: Time Machine’s Friday edition for paying subscribers, with a generous teaser for everyone else. A couple of weeks ago, I chanced across an enigmatic plaque. “The smallest man from the smallest county,” it read. I couldn’t resist delving deeper. It turns out that the ‘smallest man’, Jeffery Hudson, led one of the biggest lives imaginable, much of it in London. That’s for the main section. First, the History Radar… Upcoming events for those who enjoy London history.

Welcome to Londonist: Time Machine, the newsletter of London history. About a year ago, this newsletter published a series of photographs of London taken from an aircraft in 1984. It was a rare glimpse of the city on the cusp of transformation, yet still within recent living memory. Today, I have another set of aerial photographs, captured a year earlier in 1983 by Bob Newberry of Maidstone.

Welcome to Londonist: Time Machine’s Friday edition for paying subscribers, with a solid first-half for everyone else. I don’t usually write about sport. As a man who has eliminated all forms of exercise from his personal fitness regime, the kicking and hitting of balls does not usually fall within the compass of my interests. Yet this World Cup has me captivated. With my head in a footbally place, I thought I’d look into the many ways in which London has helped to shape the game.

Welcome to Londonist: Time Machine, the newsletter of London history. Once upon a time, not so long ago, this was the tallest building in London. Today, many Londoners couldn't even name it. The NatWest Tower in 1983. Image: , creative commons licence Indeed, the NatWest Tower was the tallest building in the country. Many will remember its profile on the City skyline.

Welcome to Londonist: Time Machine, the newsletter of London history. It’s giving early-modern Gryffindor. This weekend’s edition’s escaping the city via a short train ride from east London - to the Mermaid Inn in Rye, a 1420 grade II-listed building with medieval cellars, creaking floorboards, a scattering of hidden tunnels, and a crooked past.