‘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 Mark Morris, described in the exhibition guide as “Managing Director, Leleu & Morris Ltd, Billingsgate Market, Canary Wharf”
Each Londoner was asked to provide answers to four questions. These are the answers provided by Mark Morris: Question: “Where do you go to show people the real London?” Answer: “Greenwich is a favourite of mine to show people the real London. One of my first memories is of being in Greenwich Park with my granddad in the 70s.” Question: “If you sent a postcard from London, what view would you choose?” Answer: “I’d send a postcard from the hilltop in Greenwich Park, looking across the river. You get that panoramic view from the East End right the way to the City. It has a personal connection for me: my family originally came from the East End.” Question: “If there was another Great Fire of London, what historic building or place would you save?” Answer: “I’d save the Old Billingsgate Market from another Great Fire. That’s where everything started, where my great grandfather had the original business.” Question: “What do you owe London?” Answer: “I owe London my family history. My great-grandfather, grandfather, my dad and now I have all run this business. I owe it a living. I owe Billingsgate Market, and with it London, everything. Billingsgate is a little version of London with all the noise, vibrancy and colours. To me that’s what London is.”
This is part of the Job: 2K/27176 'I Am London' Exhibition - Mark Morris, Managing Director, Leleu & Morris Ltd; 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
Fish Market, People Posed, People At Work