London’s River

This 9.5mm pathescope film illustrates a 1920s tour down the Thames. From Hampton Court to the Pool of London the viewer is taken on an evocative journey through the historic heart of England’s capital.

Hampton Court lr1 lr1a
“… and downward flows the steam which, besides being liquid history, becomes Liquid Interest, for near Teddington one comes to London’s smallest railway…” lr2t lr2b
“Then passing Richmond bridge…” lr3t lr3b
“…one comes to a quiet stretch of water between Putney and Mortlake…” lr4t lr4a
“…but how different is this same stretch on one particular day of the year!…” lr5a
“… when Oxford vies with Cambridge for supremacy of the river…” lr5t2 lr5b
“Then Chelsea where Whistler lived…” lr6t lr6
“…seeing from his windows the river he loved to paint… dimmed by the mist which was characteristic of his patinings… as this…” lr6t2 lr6d
“And further down is the Tate gallery – where you may see Whistler’s world-famous paintings for yourself…” lr7t lr7a
“Next Lambeth Bridge – a crazy structure …” lr8t lr8a
“…but leading to one of the statliest homes of England – the town residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury since the close of the twelth century….” lr9t lr9a
“Now the London’s river that even the Londoner knows! No need to say what this is!” lr10t lr10a
“Here is a study in contrasts – the lordly embankment…” lr11t lr11a
“…with Cleopatra’s famous needle…” lr12t lr12a
“And opposite the gaunt and dingly wharves of the Surrey side..” lr13t lr13a
“On we go past Blackfiars and St Pauls…” lr14t lr14a
lr15a
“… we come to the pool of London…” lr16t lr16a
lr17a lr17b
“…and so, as it laps the daily flood of merchandise which helps to keep London alive…” “on a sombre charm it flows on – but it seems to flow with a less joyous note – for soon it will be lost in the characterless waters of the sea.” lr18t lr19t