London In Colour 1970-1971: The Photos Of David Wisdom

~ beetleypete

David Wisdom took these pictures in 1970 and 1971 while he was sharing a luxury flat in Holly Hill, Hampstead with a group of friends from Vancouver. He was born in post-war England to a couple of touring actors of the repertory stage. In 1952 he moved to Vancouver with his parents, and has spent most of his life there.

All photos © David Wisdom

Evangelical street preachers in Trafalgar Square.

Primrose Gardens. An up-market area in North London.

A fashionable woman attracting attention on Kings Road, Chelsea.

Speaker’s Corner, Hyde Park. Traditionally a place where people would promote their beliefs in public.

A seasonal funfair in North London.

Street busker with his trained parrot. The bird would hold the cup for any donation money.

Elderly shoppers at a busy street market.

The last shop trading in Stepney Green.

33 thoughts on “London In Colour 1970-1971: The Photos Of David Wisdom”

  5. Pingback: London In Colour 1970-1971: The Photos Of David Wisdom — beetleypete | Ned Hamson's Second Line View of the News

  9. So many details in these. The evangelical lady with her fur coat (ladies in my family all had one, complete with fox head 😦 ) The two lads on the left in that picture look as if they are more interested in naughtiness! Primrose Gardens and phone box. I wonder if it has been repurposed. If you like architecture I suppose it is attractive but I prefer a rural landscape. At least they had the little garden. Bare bottom lady has very nice legs but women who dress like that are asking for it. I love busker man and parrot, the way they are looking at each other and Mona Lisa on his instrument. I can almost hear the conversation of the old couple in the market. They look a little worn down by life but quite smart. I’d love to know about them. Great selection Pete.

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    1. Thanks, Carolyn. Primrose Gardens in Hampstead is a very swish place to live now. A house would cost you £2.5 million, and a two-bed flat £1 million plus. They have private access to the central garden because the houses do not have one.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  13. Lovely photos, Pete. My first car was a Ford Thames van, like the one in the Primrose Gardens scene, except mine was dark blue, made in 1958, bought in 1973; the engine blew in Bristol when I was a student there—my own fault, of course, for not checking the oil!
    I wonder why the fashionable woman was attracting attention? 😉
    I think the money campaigner’s message was a bit confused, but he was possibly also ahead of this time. Cheers, Jon.

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      1. All a decade before me but yes I can relate. They are plain & simple, no Union Jacks or horse guards or cameras for Eastenders here. Talking of that soapy, the first scriptwriter wrote it while in LAS & showed some to me before it was known.

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    1. I found this on Rightmove, relating to 2021-2022.
      ‘Properties in Primrose Gardens had an overall average price of £2,200,000 over the last year.’
      I knew a Senior Nursing Officer who bought a 2-bed flat there in 1999. I don’t remember what she paid for it, but she undoubtedly made a good profit when she sold up and moved to Bedfordshire.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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