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Photos: Christmas past and present in London through composite images
A series of digital composites spanning 1920s-2017, compares and contrasts the celebration and fervour around Christmas in London, United Kingdom over the decades.
Updated on: Dec 17, 2017 2:23 PM IST
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A digital composite image depicts a comparison of London at Regent Street in 1955 (Archive, Keystone) and at 2014 during Christmas time. The 1955 Regent street is decorated with snow crystal stars to give the effect of a snowstorm while the newer photo shows shoppers along the street. While some Christmas traditions dating to the Victorian era are still alive, others more recent have also become part of festivities over the decades. (Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)
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Father Christmas arrives at the Arding and Hobbs store on November 2, 1926 in Clapham Junction, London overlayed with a recent photo of shoppers walking past the same location on December 15, 2014 in London. (Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)
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A comparison is made of London at Watling Street in 1923 and 2014 during Christmas time. Christmas turkeys hanging outside poultries here were once a common sight but have been replaced with shops and gifts stores today. While the festival is celebrated with same fervor, the tradition of gifts on Christmas day is a rather recent phenomenon which was earlier confined to New Year. (Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)
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Regent Street in 1955 and overlayed with 2017 Christmas time. Regent Street holds a special significance as it is claimed to have installed London’s first ever display of Christmas lights in 1954. (Chris J Ratcliffe /Getty Images)
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Parliament Square in 1938 and 2017 during Christmas time. While the 1938 photo shows the statue of Lord Beaconsfield in front of the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, Parliament Square; bustling traffic has taken over this location in present day. (Chris J Ratcliffe /Getty Images)
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Selfridges around Christmas in 1935 is digitally overlayed with a photo of the same location in 2017. The Selfridges Department Store on Oxford Street is known for its Christmas light decorations, a tradition that is still observed by the store. (Chris J Ratcliffe /Getty Images)
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Old Curiosity Shop seen in 1956 and 2014 at Christmas time. In 1956, students of King’s College are seen singing Christmas carols outside the Old Curiosity Shop while the present photo depicts a stark contrasts of a more subdued storefront. (Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)
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