‘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 John Walters, described in the exhibition guide as “Pearly King of Finsbury, Bunhill Fields, City Road”
Each Londoner was asked to provide answers to four questions. These are the answers provided by John Walters: Question: “Where do you go to show people the real London?” Answer: “There’s only one place to start when you want to see the real London: the Museum of London. Underneath its roof is the very heart of London, from Roman times to the current day. I always call it my museum.” Question: “If you sent a postcard from London, what view would you choose?” Answer: “I thought long and hard about what I’d send as a postcard. I’d have the Tower of London, with Tower Bridge in the background, with the Pearly Kings and Queens in the frame. That’s London to me.” Question: “If there was another Great Fire of London, what historic building or place would you save?” Answer: “I thought of my wallet first when you asked what I’d save from another Great Fire, but I thought I better not say that! Then I thought the British Library, what’s in there can’t be replaced and if you lost that, you’d lose our history.” Question: “What do you owe London?” Answer: “When I was a young lad we had the opportunity to learn about our heritage and go mudlarking down by the Tower. The Thames is wonderful. This is my capital city, I’m proud of it, I’m proud of the heritage that we have in London.”
This is part of 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
Cemetery, People Posed
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