James Gray: The ‘Blackman Street Area’ was the name given to a number of narrow streets hemmed together between Cheapside and Trafalgar Street. In addition to Blackman Street itself, it included Wood Street, Whitecross Street, Redcross Street and parts of Station Street and Pelham Street. These were mean streets, built with the coming of the railway and dating from the 1840s and 50s. They were worn out years ago but were not bad enough to be included in slum clearances of the 1930s.
James Gray: A view of the east side of Blackman Street, looking to Trafalgar Street in 1958. jgc_25_245
2018: Blackman Street looking south to Trafalgar Street. In the foreground to the left is The Skiff, a co-working space. Behind this lies Theobald House which can just be seen towering above its surroundings. To the right, a car park that was created following the demolition of the housing is now being developed into offices with retail space on the ground floor. These are scheduled for completion in March 2019. Britannia House is just visible behind the construction site. (Photographer: Jane Jordan)
James Gray: View of St. Barts Church from the cleared area of Wood Street and Blackman Street in November 1962. jgc_25_251
2018: Wood Street has been completely cleared and replaced by Trafalgar Street Car Park and Theobald House. Due to restricted access, the nearest possible image to match the original has been taken from the first floor of the Trafalgar Street Car Park looking north across Whitecross Street. The corrugated metal clad building in the foreground is Halfords Autocentre. (Photographer: Jane Jordan)
James Gray: A later photograph of this area, which emphasises the dilapidated state of these mid-Victorian houses, then more than a hundred years old. This photograph shows what was left of these old houses after the comprehensive redevelopment of this area had started. The year is not known, but probably 1962/64 period. jgc_25_247