Imagine London in the Roaring Twenties and early 1930s: a time of flapper dresses, Art Deco architecture, and horse-drawn carriages sharing the road with the newest automobiles. This era of dramatic change and exciting contrasts was captured beautifully by photographer George Reid. His photographs provide a fascinating window into everyday life in London nearly a century ago.
Reid’s photographs weren’t about famous landmarks or posed portraits. He focused on the ordinary, capturing the hustle and bustle of daily life. He took over 700 pictures of London between 1920 and 1933, creating a remarkable record of the city during this period of transformation. Sadly, he passed away before his ambitious project was complete.
His images show a city in transition. You can see the shift from horse-drawn carts to motor vehicles, the changing fashions of the people, and the development of new buildings alongside older architecture. He captured the energy of the city’s markets, the quiet moments in its parks, and the everyday routines of its residents.
One of the most striking things about Reid’s work is his attention to detail. He captured the textures of cobblestone streets, the advertisements plastered on walls, and the expressions on people’s faces. You can almost hear the sounds of the city – the clip-clop of horses’ hooves, the rumble of early buses, and the chatter of street vendors – just by looking at his photos.
