annieb123's Review of Abandoned London (Abandoned)

by Katie Wignall

It seems bizarre that in a place as crowded, noisy and expensive as London there are still wasted unused spaces. The relentless drive for regeneration across Britain's capital deceives us into thinking that every spare building and patch of ground is under development. But this vast metropolis of more than 10 million people hides many secrets and unexpected treasures from the city's unique 2000-year history.
In Abandoned London, read about the Abbey Mills Pumping Station, a facility created in 1858 to deal with 'the Great Stink', and now London's Italian-Gothic cathedral of sewage; or the subterranean Finsbury Park underground reservoir, a space capable of holding five million gallons of water and today used as an occasional movie location; or the remnants of Highgate's overground steam railway station, now a protected bat habitat; or the Clapham deep-level shelters, constructed in World War II and designed to provide protection for locals against aerial bombing raids; or the Haggerston public baths, part of an early 20th century building programme devised to improve London's hygiene.
These photographs of abandoned places capture a moment in time. Some of the buildings have since been demolished or refurbished,
but many are still there, neglected and uncared for. These places have great value and a rich significance, offering us a glimpse of past worlds.

Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Abandoned London is a useful and fascinating guide to out of the way and hidden destinations in London. Due out in July 2021 from Amber Books, it's 224 pages and will be available in hardcover format.

Instead of fighting the crowds at the well known tourist destinations when traveling I have always preferred the weird, the ignored, the lesser known, more esoteric sightseeing. London is a wonderful place for weird sights, being both ancient and having been rebuilt over millennia. This book is such a cool collection of exactly those oft overlooked things to see in London and environs.

The book's destinations are arranged thematically: industry, transport, public spaces, shops & retail, pubs cafes & restaurants, residential, and sport & leisure. Each entry is comprised of short text explanations and locations with one or more colour photographs. The text is easy to understand and offers tantalising glimpses into the past with almost as much unsaid. There were only a few with which I was previously familiar (Stompie the tank in its garden) and an absolute plethora of others I hadn't heard of before. There are some places pictured which I don't imagine are accessible to the public for safety/health reasons. I found them fascinating nevertheless, and I'm glad the author included them.

Four stars. This is a quirky and beautifully photographed book. Highly recommended it for Anglophiles and lovers of the abandoned out of the way places. It's especially welcome now, when we are prevented from traveling.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Abandoned London (Abandoned)

by Katie Wignall

Reviewed by annieb123 on May 14, 2021

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