Discovering an Unsung Hero of the London Blitz:
but who was Sir Thomas Peirson Frank?

Gustav Milne 14/04/25

In May 2025, the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, the Post Office will issue a new set of stamps, the VICTORY & VALOUR collection.

The Three Wise Men of Gotham

Low Hall Depot (Low Hall Manor), South Access Road, Walthamstow, E17

Ian Blair

Forum and Huggin Hill Baths Models

Trevor Brigham

Workshop and gallery slides of the Huggin Hill Baths and forum models in the MoL Roman gallery, variously taken by Kandor Modelmakers Ltd, Valhalla Ltd, and Jenny Hall.

Photos supplied by Trevor Brigham, who also did the design drawings for both models in 1995/6.

Kevin Flude and Derek Gadd Photos

 LORD MAYOR'S SHOW - DAY OUT - COUPLE OF PARTIES

40 Years On: The development of the Greater London Historic Environment Record 

Peter James

As many will know, the Historic Environment Records (HERs) which now serve the information needs of archaeologists, planners, and academic or amateur researchers across the UK are the successors to the ‘Sites and Monuments Records’ (SMRs) which local authorities first began to develop in the 1970s.

‘Reaching for the sky’: the pioneering aeronauts of the DUA

Ian Blair

In the formative early years of the DUA, most notably on Trig Lane (TL74), the ability to gain altitude to take aerial photographs was a problem that was overcome in a variety of ingenious, if now deemed ever-so-slightly unsafe ways.

Bonhill Finds Dept 1974

Photos from Mike Rhodes

Bonhill Street, Shoreditch, EC2 (Now in Islington)

In 1974 the DUA office was in Gillette House on the London Wall High Walk. The Finds Department was in Bonhill Street until the move a year or so later to Basinghall Street which had enough area for the DUA Departments. At that time.

The Big Dig

Archaeology and the Jubilee Line Extension

1992 - 1998

Trevor Brigham Days Out

Trevor Brigham

In 1991, in the dying days of the DUA, an intrepid group of Heroes set sail on the good ship 'June' into unknown territory - well, the River Trent - to search out new lands and have a last bash at experimental archaeology.

1973: the Birth of the DUA

Gustav Milne

The ground-breaking Museum of London brought together the collections and expertise of the former London Museum (founded 1911) and the City’s own Guildhall Museum (founded 1826).

Shutters come down on MOLA photographic:
Maggie & Andy leave the building after long exposure

Ian Blair

Today was Andy Chopping’s last day at MOLA with Maggie Cox having left in recent weeks, both opting to take voluntary redundancy following the latest downturn in work and pursuant financial belt-tightening across the organisation.

The Whisper Dictionary

Edited by Jamie Muir who writes,

"A lot of [misplaced] youthful energy went into the devising of the attached. Everybody had a hand. I don’t think it’s libellous."

Devised at the Custom House, Seal House, Angel Court, Trig Lane, St Magnus, and New Fresh Wharf Sites 1974-5