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London Life - A Shoeblack works outside a Station Entrance on The City and South London Railway (C&SLR), the tunnels and lines of which now form the Bank Branch of the Northern line, Date: circa 1910s
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London Life - A Shoeblack works outside a Station Entrance on The City and South London Railway (C&SLR), the tunnels and lines of which now form the Bank Branch of the Northern line, Date: circa 1910s
Mary Evans Picture Library makes available wonderful images created for people to enjoy over the centuries
Media ID 24769891
© Mary Evans / Grenville Collins Postcard Collection
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EDITORS COMMENTS
In this evocative photograph from the 1910s, a shoeblack diligently attends to his customers outside the entrance of a London Underground station. The City and South London Railway (C&SLR), now a part of the Bank Branch of the Northern line, looms in the background, its dark tunnels and labyrinthine lines a testament to the burgeoning transportation network beneath the bustling streets of the city. The shoeblack, with his polishing rag in hand and a gleaming shoe in the foreground, is a familiar sight in London's transportation history. His presence outside the station entrance not only provided a practical service for commuters but also served as a symbol of the city's unique character and charm. The worn signs on the station walls and the pavement, which bear the weight of countless footsteps, add to the sense of history and tradition. The City and South London Railway, the world's first deep-level underground railway, opened in 1890 and revolutionized the way Londoners traveled. This photograph captures a moment in time when the Underground was still a novelty, and the shoeblack's services were an essential part of the daily commute. The tunnels and lines that now form the Bank Branch of the Northern line have come a long way since then, but the spirit of London's transportation history lives on in this charming image. The photograph's muted colors and grainy texture transport us back to a time when the city was a hub of innovation and progress, and the Underground was a symbol of London's enduring resilience and adaptability. The shoeblack's determined expression and the gleam in his eyes as he polishes a shoe remind us of the importance of attention to detail and the small pleasures in life, even in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the city.
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