This remarkable genuine colour photograph from 1963 captures the historic church of St Giles Cripplegate standing amid the vast cleared landscape of the City of London, shortly before the construction of the Barbican Estate transformed the surrounding district. To the left stands the surviving Red Cross Street Fire Station, while the modern office blocks to the right illustrate the dramatic changes already taking place along the newly constructed London Wall dual carriageway. The photograph preserves an extraordinary moment in London’s post-war reconstruction, when the remains of the old Cripplegate neighbourhood were gradually giving way to one of Britain’s most ambitious urban redevelopment projects.
St Giles Cripplegate, also known as St Giles-without-Cripplegate, is one of the few surviving medieval churches in the City of London. A church has stood on the site for approximately a thousand years, with the present building largely dating from a rebuilding in 1394 and its distinctive tower from the seventeenth century. The church has an especially important place in London’s literary history, being the burial place of the poet John Milton, author of Paradise Lost. Although severely damaged by incendiary bombing during the Second World War, the church’s medieval walls and tower survived the devastation of the surrounding district. Restoration work began in 1960, allowing the historic building to continue serving its parish during the years of redevelopment.
On the left of the photograph stands Red Cross Street Fire Station, an imposing red-brick building completed in 1900. Remarkably, the fire station survived the bombing of the Second World War, even though much of the surrounding Cripplegate district was reduced to ruins. Its survival was ultimately short-lived, however. The station closed in 1964 and was subsequently demolished as part of the clearance required for the Barbican development. The photograph therefore provides a particularly valuable colour record of a lost London fire station during its final years.
The modern office blocks dominating the right-hand side of the photograph formed part of the extensive post-war redevelopment along London Wall. The new dual carriageway was created as a major east-west route through the northern City, accompanied by large modern office buildings that contrasted sharply with the narrow streets and older architecture they replaced. Several of these early post-war office blocks have themselves since been demolished and replaced, illustrating how even the supposedly modern buildings of the 1960s have become part of London’s disappearing architectural history.
Perhaps the most striking feature of the photograph is the enormous expanse of cleared ground in the foreground. Before the Second World War, this area had been occupied by a densely populated network of streets, shops, workshops and commercial buildings, particularly associated with the clothing and textile trades. The Blitz devastated Cripplegate so severely that by 1951 only 48 residents remained in the ward. Following years of debate over the future of the district, the City of London Corporation approved plans for a major residential redevelopment in 1957, with architects Chamberlin, Powell and Bon responsible for the ambitious Barbican scheme.
Construction of the Barbican development began during the early 1960s, eventually transforming the bomb-damaged district into an extraordinary complex of residential towers, elevated walkways, gardens, lakes and cultural facilities. St Giles Cripplegate was deliberately retained as a historic centrepiece of the scheme, and today the church stands surrounded by the distinctive Brutalist architecture of the Barbican Estate. The residential complex was developed principally during the 1960s and 1970s, while the Barbican Arts Centre was officially opened in 1982.
Reproduced from a genuine vintage colour photograph in the Places Remembered archive, this historic London wall art offers a fascinating glimpse of the City during a period of enormous architectural change. Ideal for anyone interested in St Giles Cripplegate, the Barbican Estate, London’s lost fire stations, wartime bomb damage, post-war redevelopment or vintage photographs of the capital, this distinctive image preserves a largely vanished London streetscape.
Genuine Vintage Colour Photography, Carefully Restored
Every Places Remembered print begins with a genuine vintage colour slide or negative from our private photographic archive. These are real photographs of real places, captured decades ago on colour film. We do not artificially colourise black-and-white photographs. The colours were present in the original images, rather than invented afterwards.
To bring these historic photographs back to life, we use modern digital restoration techniques, including AI-assisted enhancement, to improve sharpness, colour, brightness and clarity, and reduce dust, scratches and other age-related imperfections.
Our aim is restoration, not reinvention. We do not deliberately add or remove people, buildings, vehicles or other features, or dramatically alter scenes simply to make them more appealing. We may brighten a dull sky, enhance faded colours or improve clarity, but we strive to preserve the original photograph's historical character rather than create an idealised version of the past. AI-assisted enhancement can occasionally affect small details, even when that is not intended.
History is important to us. We're not trying to change it, but to preserve it through careful restoration. Our prints reproduce genuine historical colour photographs, not AI-generated recreations.
Whether you choose a photographic poster, a ready-to-hang canvas or a wood-framed print, the same authentic vintage photograph is at the heart of every option.
Three Ways to Enjoy Your Favourite Photograph
Our vintage photographs are available in three different print formats, allowing you to choose the presentation, finish and price that best suits your home.
Premium Matte Photographic Posters
Our photographic posters offer an affordable way to enjoy genuine vintage photography without compromising on print quality. Each photograph is reproduced on premium heavyweight 200 gsm (80 lb) white matte paper, giving it a substantial, high-quality feel.
The smooth, uncoated paper has a luxuriously soft finish and a non-reflective surface, helping to reproduce the rich colors and fine details of the original photograph without distracting reflections. At approximately 0.26 mm thick, it is considerably more substantial than ordinary lightweight poster paper.
Posters are supplied unframed and are sent rolled in a tube, making them an excellent choice if you already own a suitable frame or prefer to select your own framing style. They are also ideal for gifts, gallery walls and collections of several photographs.
Printed on FSC-certified or equivalent sustainably sourced paper.
Premium Ready-to-Hang Canvas Prints
Our premium canvas prints offer a more traditional wall-art presentation, with a subtly textured surface that adds depth and character to each vintage photograph. Printed on a durable 300–350 gsm cotton-polyester blend canvas, they reproduce the rich colors and fine details of the original image while providing the distinctive look and feel of canvas artwork.
The canvas has a beautiful matte, low-reflection finish that looks attractive under a wide range of lighting conditions. Unlike traditional framed prints, there is no glass or plexiglass covering the image, so you can enjoy the photograph without distracting reflections from windows or overhead lighting.
Each print is carefully stretched over a slim 2 cm (approximately 3/4-inch) wooden frame, made using responsibly sourced FSC-certified wood. The slim profile creates a clean, understated appearance that suits both traditional and contemporary interiors.
The photograph is softly mirrored around the edges, allowing the image to continue naturally around the sides without cropping important details from the front. Each canvas also includes a fitted sawtooth hanging bracket, so it can be displayed straight from the box.
Premium Wood-Framed Photographic Prints
For a beautifully finished presentation, our framed photographic prints combine premium heavyweight matte paper with a durable genuine pine wood frame. Each photograph is protected behind shatterproof plexiglass, helping to guard against dust and accidental damage while keeping the image clearly visible.
The photograph is printed on heavyweight 200 gsm (80 lb) white matte paper with a smooth, luxurious, non-reflective surface. The paper measures approximately 0.22 mm thick and reproduces the colors and fine details of the original vintage photograph beautifully.
The wooden frame has a slim, elegant profile, measuring approximately 20–25 mm deep and 10–14 mm wide. It complements the photograph without overpowering it, making these framed prints suitable for a wide range of interiors.
Choose from Black, White or Natural Wood frame finishes to suit your decor. Every framed print includes a hanging kit and arrives ready to display, making it a convenient choice for homes, offices, gifts and hospitality interiors.
The heavyweight paper is made using FSC-certified materials or equivalent. The protective plexiglass may produce some reflections depending on the lighting conditions in your room.
Which Print Format Is Right for You?
All three options reproduce the same genuine vintage photograph, but each offers a different look and presentation.
| Feature | Poster | Canvas | Framed Print |
|---|---|---|---|
| Print Material | Premium matte paper | Textured cotton-polyester canvas | Premium matte paper |
| Material Weight | 200 gsm | 300–350 gsm | 200 gsm |
| Finish | Smooth matte | Textured matte | Smooth matte |
| Presentation | Unframed | Stretched over wood | Solid pine frame |
| Protective Glazing | None | None | Shatterproof plexiglass |
| Ready to Hang | No | Yes | Yes |
| Frame Colours | Not applicable | Not applicable | Black, White, Natural Wood |
Posters are ideal if you want an affordable photographic print or prefer your own framing. Canvas prints offer a textured, low-reflection appearance without glass. Framed prints provide an elegant, ready-to-hang presentation with protective plexiglass.
From Our Original Photographic Archive
Every print is reproduced from a genuine vintage colour photograph in our own private archive. We own the original slides or negatives and the rights to the images, making these photographs exclusive to Places Remembered.
Wherever possible, our photographs are scanned directly from the original film, then carefully restored with digital tools, including AI-assisted enhancement. The original scenes were photographed in colour; they are not modern illustrations, artificially colourised black-and-white photographs or AI-generated recreations.
These are genuine moments from the past, carefully preserved and reproduced for today's walls.
Choose the Perfect Size
Whether you are decorating a smaller room or creating a striking feature wall, all three print formats are available in three sizes.
12×18" 30×45 cm
A versatile choice for bedrooms, kitchens, home offices, smaller walls and thoughtful gifts.
16×24" 40×60 cm
Ideal for creating a focal point in living rooms, bedrooms, offices and gallery walls.
24×36" 60×90 cm
Perfect above sofas, fireplaces and beds, or anywhere you want a historic photograph to become a conversation piece.
All sizes are approximate. The dimensions refer to the printed artwork. The overall external dimensions of framed prints will be slightly larger due to the frame.
Bulk Discount Available
Buying several prints for your home, workplace, vacation rental or hospitality interior? Purchase five or more prints and receive 15% off your order.
Our vintage photographic prints are also well suited to gift shops, cafés, hotels, restaurants, galleries and businesses looking for distinctive historic wall art.
Made to Order with Free Shipping
Every photographic poster, canvas and framed print is produced individually to order. This avoids unnecessary stock and ensures that each print is made specifically for you.
We offer free shipping to the USA and UK. Please allow approximately 7–14 days for production and delivery, although times may vary depending on the destination and print format.
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