Bomb damage, Cripplegate, London 1950s

This authentic 1950s colour photograph captures a poignant scene of post-war devastation in the Cripplegate area of the City of London. The image prominently features the side of a partially destroyed pub, still bearing the faded signage of the Mann, Crossman & Paulin brewery. Research indicates this specific pub was likely the White Hart or the Fox & Cock, both historic Mann’s houses in the vicinity of Fore Street and Milton Street that were heavily damaged during the Blitz. Surrounded by the hollowed-out foundations of Victorian warehouses and a carpet of wildflowers growing amongst the brickwork, the scene provides a rare look at the “ghost” landscape that existed before the construction of the Barbican Estate. The presence of the Mann, Crossman & Paulin name—a major East End brewery based at the Albion Brewery in Whitechapel—marks this as a quintessential piece of London’s social and industrial history. This archival image is a superb resource for editorial publishing, historical research on the Blitz, or to print for yourself or as a unique gift for collectors of vintage London photography.