Street View for History is a brilliant idea that deserves support from London Museum, London Archives and the Corporation's Destination City programme.
Closure of the Museum two years ago prompted me to muse on how to create a Museum of the Streets, and I discovered that back in 2010 the Museum launched an app called Streetmuseum that matched views of today and yesterday. Unfortunately operating system changes mean it isn't now available. However, there are other developments that chime well with a historical Street View, which I've noted in updates to the original MotS idea https://connections.commons.london/museum-of-the-streets/
Thanks for the endorsement David! I'd forgotten about the Street Museum app. That was wonderful. And I'm still very interested in your own ideas... (I'm just a bit useless at replying to emails.)
I'm 100% with you. Fascinating! I didn't realise that the street facades had been documented to such an extent. One of my favourite games is to superimpose Victorian maps onto the modern equivalent (via the Nat Library of Scotland online), which gives you an idea of old road patterns and topography- but 3D street view is the obvious next step.
Cheers Luke. Yes, I love playing with the Scottish site. Layers of London has even more overlays, although it is a bit clunky to use until you get used to it.
I have often thought of this. I think that the technology underneath the gaming industry is a way to go.
The brilliant Anthony Guther using "Transport Fever 2" took 1900 era Ordnance Survey maps to recreate the Uxbridge branch of the Metropolitan Line - every farmhouse, every village, every station goes by as a train rides through the landscape.
Then there's "Assassin's Creed Syndicate" which has recreated the London of 1867. It's absolutely not perfect as an accurate view of London but it's got semi-authentic styles of building.
I used both of these to create videos myself. But - although nearly there - they are always ultimately unsatisfying.
We just need some experts to play with the engines beneath the reconstructions. I reckon this will happen in the next couple of years.
I think you're right about the gaming industry. They have the tools; they have the talent, though perhaps not the motivation. I bought Assassin's Creed, and while it was fun for a while, it's more of a "good pastiche" city than an attempt to be accurate.
Did you ever play The Getaway in the Noughties? That made a good stab at recreating modern London, right down to the Fryer's Delight on Theobald's Road. Obviously, the graphics weren't so hot back then, but it was a laudable attempt at a proper playable London.
If I did start on 'Virtual London', it would be based on the crossroads at Golders Green. There's an OS map showing few buildings which would be easy to do, some great 'Topical Press' photos of the crossroads showing 'Buildings Coming Soon'. Meanwhile the London Borough of Barnet (Hugh Petrie) has photos of nearly all the big houses up Golders Green Road before their demolition. And then there is the standalone terrace of houses on North End Road - still there but then in the countryside incongruously.
Like your Rocque map, I have made a coloured-in version of the area in 1900 down to the "which fields were meadows; which were arable" level.
Wow Matt, what an exciting idea. It would be wonderful. As David Wilcox has said, it deserves support from London Museum and other organisations. It would be a truly fantastic resource - and fun, too, to wander the streets. I very much hope it comes to fruition.
This is BRILLIANT and oh how sweet it would be if it existed. Until then, I'll continue dreaming through those beautiful hand drawn streets of old. Thank you for exploring this idea
On the contrary, I can think of no better day to turn our attention away from the present. But taking your walk-to-the-office suggestion, mine was basically New Change in 1980. The west side is Little Change - I think some of the outbuildings by the churchyard are new - but the east side is All Change, not an inch remaining. And that's just 200 yards and a time span of less than 30 years (most of the work was done by 2010). So multiply that by about a zillion...
For a start, I see the four buildings on the corner of Wood St have coalesced into three. That would involve so much internal rewiring I suspect the whole lot were pulled down by Goering and started over.
Anyway, happy to chip in a fiver. Google might be more generous; but I'd hate to see it all in the hands of some commercial outfit like Alamy, on a pay-per-view basis.
Not quite All Change. Some Boris Anrep mosaics from the previous building were retained in the ONe New Change development (they can be seen on the roof and basement). But, yes, otherwise a total rewrite of the street.
Street View for History is a brilliant idea that deserves support from London Museum, London Archives and the Corporation's Destination City programme.
Closure of the Museum two years ago prompted me to muse on how to create a Museum of the Streets, and I discovered that back in 2010 the Museum launched an app called Streetmuseum that matched views of today and yesterday. Unfortunately operating system changes mean it isn't now available. However, there are other developments that chime well with a historical Street View, which I've noted in updates to the original MotS idea https://connections.commons.london/museum-of-the-streets/
Here's more on the StreetMuseum app
https://diallingthepast.wordpress.com/2016/08/24/heritage-everyware-streetmuseum-augmented-reality-app-for-citywide-sightseeing/
Thanks for the endorsement David! I'd forgotten about the Street Museum app. That was wonderful. And I'm still very interested in your own ideas... (I'm just a bit useless at replying to emails.)
I'm 100% with you. Fascinating! I didn't realise that the street facades had been documented to such an extent. One of my favourite games is to superimpose Victorian maps onto the modern equivalent (via the Nat Library of Scotland online), which gives you an idea of old road patterns and topography- but 3D street view is the obvious next step.
Cheers Luke. Yes, I love playing with the Scottish site. Layers of London has even more overlays, although it is a bit clunky to use until you get used to it.
Thanks for that- will investigate.
I have often thought of this. I think that the technology underneath the gaming industry is a way to go.
The brilliant Anthony Guther using "Transport Fever 2" took 1900 era Ordnance Survey maps to recreate the Uxbridge branch of the Metropolitan Line - every farmhouse, every village, every station goes by as a train rides through the landscape.
Then there's "Assassin's Creed Syndicate" which has recreated the London of 1867. It's absolutely not perfect as an accurate view of London but it's got semi-authentic styles of building.
I used both of these to create videos myself. But - although nearly there - they are always ultimately unsatisfying.
We just need some experts to play with the engines beneath the reconstructions. I reckon this will happen in the next couple of years.
I think you're right about the gaming industry. They have the tools; they have the talent, though perhaps not the motivation. I bought Assassin's Creed, and while it was fun for a while, it's more of a "good pastiche" city than an attempt to be accurate.
Did you ever play The Getaway in the Noughties? That made a good stab at recreating modern London, right down to the Fryer's Delight on Theobald's Road. Obviously, the graphics weren't so hot back then, but it was a laudable attempt at a proper playable London.
If I did start on 'Virtual London', it would be based on the crossroads at Golders Green. There's an OS map showing few buildings which would be easy to do, some great 'Topical Press' photos of the crossroads showing 'Buildings Coming Soon'. Meanwhile the London Borough of Barnet (Hugh Petrie) has photos of nearly all the big houses up Golders Green Road before their demolition. And then there is the standalone terrace of houses on North End Road - still there but then in the countryside incongruously.
Like your Rocque map, I have made a coloured-in version of the area in 1900 down to the "which fields were meadows; which were arable" level.
(I didn't do the Getaway game)
I think I need to teach myself Transport Fever 2 to achieve this. We should work on "London version 0.1" together some time!
So much love for this idea! Every time I use old maps I wish I could click on Street View.
Please can we fast-forward to the next election Matt 😫
Wow Matt, what an exciting idea. It would be wonderful. As David Wilcox has said, it deserves support from London Museum and other organisations. It would be a truly fantastic resource - and fun, too, to wander the streets. I very much hope it comes to fruition.
Did John Tallis’ sketches reach Spittlefields?
Wow, I totally misspelt Spitalfields!
I don’t think so. Bishopsgate is there, though
Thank you.
Excellent and fascinating, as always.
This is BRILLIANT and oh how sweet it would be if it existed. Until then, I'll continue dreaming through those beautiful hand drawn streets of old. Thank you for exploring this idea
John "Yee Haw" Tallis- he sounds Welsh.
As featured on Londonist, Jack Hines is attempting to produce a contemporary version of your brilliant idea. www.drawingalloflondon.co.uk
Aha, yes, I'd forgotten about that chap. Remarkable work.
On the contrary, I can think of no better day to turn our attention away from the present. But taking your walk-to-the-office suggestion, mine was basically New Change in 1980. The west side is Little Change - I think some of the outbuildings by the churchyard are new - but the east side is All Change, not an inch remaining. And that's just 200 yards and a time span of less than 30 years (most of the work was done by 2010). So multiply that by about a zillion...
For a start, I see the four buildings on the corner of Wood St have coalesced into three. That would involve so much internal rewiring I suspect the whole lot were pulled down by Goering and started over.
Anyway, happy to chip in a fiver. Google might be more generous; but I'd hate to see it all in the hands of some commercial outfit like Alamy, on a pay-per-view basis.
Not quite All Change. Some Boris Anrep mosaics from the previous building were retained in the ONe New Change development (they can be seen on the roof and basement). But, yes, otherwise a total rewrite of the street.