During the 19th century, London was transformed into the world's largest city and capital of the British Empire. Its population expanded from 1 million in 1800 to 6,9 million a century later (10,8% average annual growth). During this period, London became a global political, financial, and trading capital. In this position, it was largely unrivalled until the latter part of the century, when Paris and New York City began to threaten its dominance.
While the city grew wealthy as Britain's holdings expanded, 19th century London was also a city of poverty, where millions lived in overcrowded and unsanitary slums. Life for the poor was immortalized by Charles Dickens in such novels as Oliver Twist.
As the capital of a massive empire, London became a magnet for immigrants from the colonies and poorer parts of Europe. A large Irish population settled in the city during the Victorian era, with many of the newcomers refugees from the Great Famine (1845-1849). At one point, Irish immigrants made up about 20% of London's population. London also became home to a sizable Jewish community, and small communities of Chinese and South Asians settled in the city.
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| The Langbourne Club for women who work in the City of London |
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| On the deck of a Thames Sailing Barge by Walter Benington |
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| Piccadilly Circus in the eighteen-eighties |
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| Leadenhall Poultry Market by Donald McLeish |
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| London by Alfred Buckham, pioneer of aerial photography. Despite nine crashes he said, “If one’s right leg is tied to the seat with a scarf or a piece of rope, it is possible to work in perfect security.” |
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| In Huggin Lane between Victoria St and Lower Thames St by Andrew Paterson |
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| Inigo Jones’ gate at Chiswick House at the time it was in use as a private mental hospital |
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| Hoop & Grapes in Aldgate by Donald McLeish |
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| Book stalls in the Farringdon Rd by Walter Benington |
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| Figureheads of fighting ships in the Grosvenor Rd by William Whiffin |
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| The London Stone by Donald McLeish |
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| Dirty Dick’s in Bishopsgate |
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| Poplar Almshouses by William Whiffin |
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| Old signs in Lombard St by William Whiffin |
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| Penny for the Guy! |
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| Puddledock Blackfriars |
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| Punch & Judy show at Putney |
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| Eighteenth century houses at Borough Market by William Whiffin |
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| A plane tree in Cheapside |
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| Wapping Old Stairs by William Whiffin |
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| Houndsditch Old Clothes Market by William Whiffin |
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| Bunhill Fields |
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| Roman galley discovered during the construction of County Hall in 1910 |
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| Liverpool St Station at nine o’clock six mornings a week |
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| Bridge House in George Row, Bermondsey – constructed over a creek at Jacob’s Island |
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| The Grapes at Limehouse |
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| Wharves at London Bridge |
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| Old houses in the Strand |
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| The garden at the Bank of England that was lost in the reconstruction |
(Photographs courtesy Bishopsgate Institute, via Spitalfields Life)