‘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 Vaughan Smith, described in the exhibition guide as “Freelance Journalist and Founder, Frontline Club, Norfolk Place, Paddington”
Each Londoner was asked to provide answers to four questions. These are the answers provided by Vaughan Smith: Question: “Where do you go to show people the real London?” Answer: “For me, the real London is the Tower of London. I was in the Grenadier Guards and sometimes guarded the Tower. I find there’s something about the Tower being the original defensive castle of London that is so steeped in history.” Question: “If you sent a postcard from London, what view would you choose?” Answer: “My postcard from London would be from the Southbank across the river at night. You can see the Houses of Parliament, north London and the Thames, this extraordinary artery of London.” Question: “If there was another Great Fire of London, what historic building or place would you save?” Answer: “I’d save St Paul’s Cathedral from another Great Fire. It’s got to be St Paul’s because of that iconic journalistic image of WWII. It represents London’s resistance at the moment of our greatest peril.” Question: “What do you owe London?” Answer: “London still has the most incredible reputation in journalism. I owe London the opportunity that it gave me that isn’t matched anywhere else.”
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
Club, People Posed
Our website works best with the latest version of the browsers below, unfortunately your browser is not supported. Using an old browser means that some parts of our website might not work correctly.
