‘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 Professor A.C. Grayling, described in the exhibition guide as “Philosopher and Master, New College of the Humanities, Bedford Square”
Each Londoner was asked to provide answers to four questions. These are the answers provided by Professor A.C. Grayling: Question: “Where do you go to show people the real London?” Answer: “To see the real London you have to go to Bloomsbury. Within its environs it has so many important figures: the Bloomsbury Group, Lenin, the Shelleys. To walk these one or two square miles, the whole history of our culture unfolds.” Question: “If you sent a postcard from London, what view would you choose?” Answer: “If someone was unfamiliar with London, I’d send them a view of a very familiar landmark. It might be Big Ben. Or Trafalgar Square with the National Gallery in it. Two places that are good for starting to explore London.” Question: “If there was another Great Fire of London, what historic building or place would you save?” Answer: “I’d save The British Museum from another Great Fire. I have a very fond recollection of the reading room in the middle, where I did a great deal of studying and wrote a number of books.” Question: “What do you owe London?” Answer: “I came to London as a teenager having been brought up in Africa and spent almost every night in the theatre and every day in its bookshops. One way or another, what little I have in the way of interest in knowledge and life, a very great deal of it is owed to London.”
This is part of the Job: 2K/27168 'I Am London' Exhibition - Professor A C Grayling, Philosopher, Author And Master Of New College Of Humanities; 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
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