L O N D O N Historian

An archive clip from BBC Heir Hunters talking about my job as a Probate Genealogist. Using family history research to trace missing heirs to unclaimed estates.

Oxford Street in the late 19th century.

The front page of The Star on this day in 1944.The late night edition of the London based newspaper confirms the blackout times for that night but most importantly it provides an account of the Allied D Day Landings, the greatest armada the world has ever known. Closer to home, residents in the s...

From 1873 to 1877, Scottish photographer John Thomson collaborated with journalist Adolphe Smith to document the lives of Londons urban poor.The image, brought to life by colour technician Grant Kemp, shows a street doctor displays his wares. Eighty years before the birth of the NHS, healthcare w...

On this day in 1733: London held the boxing worlds first international boxing match (image 1).Local fighter Bob Whittaker took on The Venetian Gondolier, Tito Alberto di Carini, at James Figgs academy amphitheatre, the Boarded House, located behind Oxford Street, in Marylebone Fields - likely nea...

@lescargotsoho photographed in 1957. The restaurant was opened in 1896 by M. Georges Gaudin at the lower end of Greek Street, and was named Le Bienvenue. The restaurant became famous for its snails and the name was changed to LEscargot Bienvenue when they took residence at 48 Greek Street (compl...

An underground train being transported on wheels through the streets of London, 1926.

A lot of us have walked past this expressive chap whilst descending Westminster Bridge to the Southbank. But whats he all about? The Southbank Lion was cast in 1837 but he hasnt always stood there. Originally he stood a bit further along the Thames adorning the old Lion Brewery, which closed in 1...

Up in the dome area, we felt the shock of it... St Pauls rocked. But only for an instant; then, quivering, settled down in its habitual majesty.- A.S.G Butler, member of the St Pauls Watch.The famous photograph taken of St Pauls rising above the smoke and flames of the Blitz has given rise to the...

Solar eclipse seen over the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, 1858. The picture, viewed from the Isle of Dogs, shows the Royal Naval College and River Thames in the foreground. This particular plate was taken from London Illustrated News, Vol 32, 1858

The Metropolitan police force was established in 1829. The force consisted of 895 constables, 88 sergeants, 20 inspectors and 8 superintendents.The brain child of the then Home Secretary Sir Robert Peel, giving us the nicknames Peelers (Peel) and Bobbies (nickname for Robert). The image shows a P...

Starlight Express, a musical with music by @andrewlloydwebber and lyrics by Richard Stilgoe, opened at @theapollovictoriatheatre 40 years ago today. Running for 7,409 performances in London, Starlight Express is the ninth-longest-running West End show.The show opens again this summer in a special...