Millbank Tower under construction, London 1961

This authentic 1960s colour photograph captures a significant moment in London’s architectural history: the construction of the Vickers Building, now known as Millbank Tower, in 1961. Rising high above the River Thames, the skyscraper’s skeletal steel frame and glass curtain walls are visible as it nears its full height of 118 metres. Two large construction cranes are perched atop the summit, while a third crane operates at a lower level to the right. The foreground shows the reflective waters of the Thames and the muddy riverbank at low tide, providing a stark contrast to the modern industrial feat in the background. Upon completion in 1963, this landmark was briefly the tallest building in the United Kingdom, representing the post-war shift toward high-rise office developments. This digital download is a powerful record of the capital’s changing skyline, perfect to print for yourself as a piece of mid-century industrial wall art.