‘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 Stephen Andrade, described in the exhibition guide as “Butcher, D Andrade & Sons, Smithfield Market”
Each Londoner was asked to provide answers to four questions. These are the answers provided by Stephen Andrade: Question: “Where do you go to show people the real London?” Answer: “Pudding Lane springs to mind when I think of the real London. The streets are narrow, it’s surrounded by historic buildings and it’s near the river.” Question: “If you sent a postcard from London, what view would you choose?” Answer: “My postcard from London would be a view from the London Eye on a clear day. It gives you a fish eye view of the whole place.” Question: “If there was another Great Fire of London, what historic building or place would you save?” Answer: “My primary concern if there was another Great Fire would be my place of work so I’d save Smithfield. I’m sure a lot of people would rather see their workplace burnt down but I enjoy my job and I’d miss it greatly. Bear in mind we’ve been on the same site since 1868.” Question: “What do you owe London?” Answer: “I owe London everything really. London was the first city my ancestors decided to settle in. They came from Portugal. We owe everything going back five generations. We work hard and it provides us with a reasonable living. Without London, I don’t know where we’d be as a family.”
This is part of the Job: 2K/27195 'I Am London' Exhibition - Stephen Andrade, Butcher; 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
Meat Market, People Posed, People At Work