Society for Photographing Relics of Old London

The Society for Photographing Relics of Old London [SPROL] was established in response to the perceived disappearance of London in an age of great change and expansion of the capital city. Other groups who shared this concern for the protection of architectural heritage were the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (1877), London Topographical Society (1880) and National Trust (1895), with the London County Council also having an interest.

The Oxford Arms

On 6 March 1875 a letter appeared in 'The Times' from Mr Alfred Marks about the sale and probable destruction of the Oxford Arms, Warwick Lane, in the City of London and the photographing of the inn before its destruction. Marks invited anyone interested in acquiring a set of photographs to contact him with a view to subscribe to the project.

Old London. – Mr. Alfred Marks writes to us from Long Ditton:- ‘Will you allow me to say with reference to ‘J.B.’s’ letter in The Times of Thursday, that the very picturesque old inn (of the 16th century, as I am told by architects), the Oxford Arms, Warwick-lane, is advertised for sale by auction. As its destruction at no distant date is, therefore, certain, a few gentlemen have combined in order to have a set of photographic views of it taken, and should any readers of The Times interested in London antiquities desire to join the subscription, I shall be happy to hear from them’

The Oxford Arms was an old coaching inn down a short lane on the west side of Warwick Lane, off Newgate Street, located behind what is now the Old Bailey. The inn had a galleried first floor with chambers and carved fireplaces. By the time of the photographs it was considerably beyond its heyday – it was being used as a carriers’ business and many rooms were let.

Six photographs of the Oxford Arms were produced. The negatives were made by Alfred and John Bool of Pimlico and the prints by Henry Dixon of 112 Albany Street. These were distributed among subscribers in 1875. Such was the success, that the resulting society continued its work and recorded many buildings considered at threat of demolition during the following 12 years. 120 photographs were produced, mostly by Henry Dixon. Some of the buildings they recorded remain but many were demolished including the Oxford Arms in 1877, and the society was an early organisation instrumental in raising awareness of the changes to the London cityscape.

You can search the full set of pictures from the SPROL group on the London Picture Archive.

Henry Dixon

Earlier in his career Henry Dixon photographed the Holborn Valley Improvements, one of the largest building projects of the period. The clearance of overcrowded, inner city housing in the 1860s made way for new roads including Holborn Viaduct. Dixon captured images of the building works for the City of London and they can also be seen on the London Picture Archive.