‘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 Peigi MacKay, described in the exhibition guide as “Volunteer, Canal & River Trust, Regent’s Canal, Camden Lock”
Each Londoner was asked to provide answers to four questions. These are the answers provided by Peigi MacKay: Question: “Where do you go to show people the real London?” Answer: “The walk along the canal from King’s Cross to Camden Road is where I take people to show them the real London.” Question: “If you sent a postcard from London, what view would you choose?” Answer: “My postcard from London is the view from Hungerford Bridge. It opened up the city for pedestrians, it broke down the divide and opened up the area. On one side you have the history of London and on the other the Southbank which is post-WWII and a celebration of culture, music and art which is very important in my life.” Question: “If there was another Great Fire of London, what historic building or place would you save?” Answer: “I’d save the London Coliseum from another Great Fire, but I’d really like to save the whole stretch north from Trafalgar Square up towards Soho and Covent Garden.” Question: “What do you owe London?” Answer: “I owe London a lot of opportunity. London offered us social housing without which life would have been incredibly difficult for my mother. This area was our playground, the canals and the parks; we must save them.”
This is part of the Job: 2K/27178 'I Am London' Exhibition - Peigi Mackay, Volunteer Lock Keeper, The Canal & River Trust; 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
Canal Lock, People Posed