eishiya reviewed Lost London, 1870-1945 by Davies, Philip
Great art reference
5 stars
Lost London is my go-to visual reference for the built environment of Victorian and Edwardian London, and I cannot recommend it enough for that purpose.
As its name implies, Lost London focuses on buildings that no longer exist, demolished for various development schemes and by war, though a few surviving buildings feature as well. It includes houses great and small, pubs, churches, clubs, banks, hospitals, shops, and others. Most of the photos are grouped into sections based on location and picture Georgian and Victorian buildings along with a few older survivals, while the last two chapters show the interwar period and wartime destruction. The focus is strongly on exteriors, but there are a few interior images.
The text, of which there is not very much, provides some context for each area and period, and chronicles the growth of the preservation movement.
The photo descriptions are brief but informative, and often …
Lost London is my go-to visual reference for the built environment of Victorian and Edwardian London, and I cannot recommend it enough for that purpose.
As its name implies, Lost London focuses on buildings that no longer exist, demolished for various development schemes and by war, though a few surviving buildings feature as well. It includes houses great and small, pubs, churches, clubs, banks, hospitals, shops, and others. Most of the photos are grouped into sections based on location and picture Georgian and Victorian buildings along with a few older survivals, while the last two chapters show the interwar period and wartime destruction. The focus is strongly on exteriors, but there are a few interior images.
The text, of which there is not very much, provides some context for each area and period, and chronicles the growth of the preservation movement.
The photo descriptions are brief but informative, and often point out details you might initially miss. They include addresses and dates both of the buildings' construction (where known) and of the photos, so the images can be cross-referenced with other sources.
The photos are reproduced in high quality and most are quite large - you can even read most of the signage.
Looking through this book always has me eager to go add more building types, details, and street props to my pseudo-Victorian environments.