Pictures of Pimlico

This week's pictures feature Pimlico in London. Adjacent to Westminster and between Victoria and the river, Pimlico could hardly be more central, yet most of its streets are remarkably quiet and empty. Many famous people have lived here and, on the day in May 2007 when these pictures were taken, it was not surprising to see Tony Blair emerging from a health centre in Tachbrook Street. The history of the district, however, is by no means all about the rich and famous. Two hundred years ago, the public gardens of Pimlico were known for drunkenness and in the 1960s the area was rundown and full of brothels. Even now, though the elegant streets built by Thomas Cubitt are filled with exorbitantly priced apartments, there are also housing estates lived in by ordinary Londoners. Shirley Porter did her worst in the 1980s to winkle them out of the Churchill Gardens estate, but Pimlico today still has a proper London mixture, and long may this remain so.

Last week's pictures came from Worthing

Last week's pictures came from the seaside town of Worthing in West Sussex. As seen on an overcast weekday in May 2007, it was not expected to be a vibrant and bustling place. But even so, the contrast with Brighton (just 15 miles to the east) is extraordinarily marked. For a start, everyone in Worthing seems at least 20-30 years older. The pier is almost empty of both visitors and attractions. The Dome cinema on the seafront appears to have been under repair for several years. Worthing has always looked rather nervously over its shoulder at Brighton, seeking to protect itself with a mantle of respectability. The current map and guide describes the resort, in a somewhat desperate tautology, as "uniquely flat". But I am sure there is life in Worthing and - judging from the local news billboard in the first picture in this set - maybe it's not all that respectable either. 

Other recent pictures of the week

A fortnight ago the picture set took a look at ghost trains and similar so-called "dark rides". The first picture shows parts of the old ghost train from Brighton's Palace Pier being loaded onto a lorry to be taken away to a yard in South Wales. This might suggest that ghost trains, like so many other much-loved traditional attractions, have had their day and are being replaced by glitzier gadgetry. This is indeed the general trend, but the pier's old ride is in fact to be restored and sold on to another site, while a new ghost train will take its place in Brighton within a few weeks. Ghost trains and similar scary houses of horror are collectively known as "dark rides" and they remain popular at funfairs around the world. Their origins lie in Victorian "tunnels of love", which used boats rather than trains. The first ride on rails to be actually called a ghost train was built for the Pretzel Amusement Ride Company in New York in the 1920s. So many dark rides remain in operation that conventions for enthusiasts are held regularly in the United States and new, scarier attractions are being developed all the time. There is life in the old ghosts yet.

Whatever happened to April showers this year ? In Southern England, at least, there wasn't any significant rain for weeks and the ground became as baked as you'd expect in August, not early May. The picture feature three weeks ago looked nostalgically at the subject of  wet weather. Of course it'll probably be pouring down by the time anyone is reading this (and it did !), but the remarkable spring of 2007 must have added further evidence of man-made climate change. If April was like July, what on earth will August be like ? The classic English summer used to be described as "three hot days and a thunderstorm". We'd better prepare for six hot months and a drought.

Four weeks ago the pictures featured Lewes, the historic county town of East Sussex. Only ten miles from Brighton, it could be a world away. There's a castle and the streets and alleyways are lined with fine buildings from the 16th to the 19th centuries. With an important regional law court and a good selection of old-fashioned clothes shops, there's a definite establishment feel to Lewes. This is a town that has been prosperous for a long time and today's house prices make it a much desired place to live. But there's much more to Lewes than that. A long and rich tradition of dissent runs through the town's history. Tom Paine, author of "The Rights of Man", lived here. The annual fireworks celebrations on November 5th have their roots in riots and protests against national government. Even today, the biggest story in the local paper in recent months has been a campaign by as yet unidentified local residents to blow up most of the town's parking meters. Another current protest has been by the customers of the Lewes Arms pub objecting to the removal of Harveys beer, an excellent local brew, by the pub's corporate landlord. The parking meters are still being replaced, but the pub customers have just won their battle. Lewes is a classic English county town, but also one with attitude.

About this site and picture library

There are now over 49000 images in the library and they can all be keyword searched from the picture search page. New or updated subjects include Pimlico, Worthing, ghost trains, wet weather, Lewes, Preston Park and roses. The site has several ways to help make relevant and fruitful searches, including index pages for both subjects and events & places.  There is also a useful search guide and information page.

A good showcase of the type and range of photography available can be explored in the pictures of the week series. Published on the site since December 2001, this now totals more than 2600 images. Every week there is a set of ten pictures about a particular place, event or theme. Almost all the library's pictures are available for personal or commercial reproduction. Digital files can be delivered by email or CD, prices start from as little as £8 and there is further information on the prices and terms & conditions pages. You can also contact David Gray for quotations and availability for new photography commissions.