‘I am London’ was an exhibition curated in 2016 by Historic England. The description of the exhibition, as published in the accompanying guide, states that: “London’s historic buildings and places are as much a part of the city’s DNA as the people who live and work in it.
I am London is a celebration of the capital’s unique and complex identity; as much about its scientific endeavour, cutting edge art, performance and design, politics and campaigning, as its pubs, Pearly Kings and parks. It’s a snapshot of London in microcosm, told through its people and places.
60 Londoners, each with a different story to tell, have been photographed at a historic building or place that’s special to them. Each person’s unique London story is bound up in the place they have chosen, showing the city’s heritage is inspirational, provocative, frustrating, fun, familiar, humbling and home.
We want Londoners to be alive to their heritage, to ensure that, as London grows and changes, it keeps its essential character. From Soho to Brixton, from city to suburbs, London’s great old places keep on embracing generation after generation of Londoners — in turn, they light up our city with new ideas and fresh thinking. If we lose London’s fabric and character, we will lose something very precious.”
This image shows Matt Pryme, described in the exhibition guide as “Yeoman Warder, Tower of London”
Each Londoner was asked to provide answers to four questions. These are the answers provided by Matt Pryme: Question: “Where do you go to show people the real London?” Answer: “To show someone the real London, I take them along the river through Rotherhithe or Limehouse to end up at Greenwich, that’s my favourite park. London was built on the river.” Question: “If you sent a postcard from London, what view would you choose?” Answer: “The view from the jetty at the back of the Mayflower pub would make a good postcard. You can see the back of the Captain Kidd pub, where they used to hang and drown pirates. You can see the old warehouses of Limehouse and Wapping, which reminds me of what London is and how it came about.” Question: “If there was another Great Fire of London, what historic building or place would you save?” Answer: “I’d save the Tower of London from another Great Fire because it’s got all my things in it… and my dogs! It’s an amazing building too.” Question: “What do you owe London?” Answer: “I owe London myself. My mother’s an East Ender. She was born in Poplar which was bombed out during the war. After being an evacuee in Oxfordshire, where she also met my father, she returned to London. So no London, no me.”
This is part of the Job: 2K/27161 'I am London' exhibition - Matt Pryme, Yeoman Warder; within the Volume: VF000591 'I am London' exhibition; within the Series: HEC01/139 'I am London' exhibition; within the Collection: HEC01 Historic England
© Historic England Archive
Photographer: Redgrave, Christopher: Historic England
Castle, Tower Keep, People At Work, People Posed
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