County Hall & the South Bank Lion, London 1971
$20.00
Instant royalty-free digital download. No watermark. You will receive a JPG image of between 3000 and 4000 pixels on the longest side. Perfect for prints, books, media, creative projects, and more. The download link will appear in the checkout after successful purchase.
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A wonderfully clear 1971 view of one of the South Bank’s most recognisable landmarks: the South Bank Lion, standing proudly outside the riverside façade of County Hall.
The magnificent white lion — cast in 1837 from Coade stone, an artificial ceramic material famed for its durability — originally stood atop the Lion Brewery, which once occupied the site of today’s Royal Festival Hall. When the brewery was demolished in the 1940s, the lion was saved and moved here in 1966, becoming a familiar guardian of Westminster Bridge.
In the background is County Hall, opened in 1922 as the headquarters of the London County Council (and later the GLC). Its grand Edwardian Baroque design, copper-roofed dormers and monumental arches give the South Bank some of its most striking architecture.
A classic red Routemaster bus passes in the foreground, adding a perfect 1970s London touch.
A crisp, timeless street scene capturing the South Bank just before County Hall’s political dramas of the 1980s — and long before the building’s modern reinvention as hotels, attractions and businesses.
About Retro Stock Photography
Retro Stock Photography specializes in genuine vintage color photographs from the 1950s through the 1990s, all available as royalty-free instant downloads. Our photos are popular for editorial features, books, magazines, websites, documentaries, advertising, social media, local history projects, creative design, and as unique gifts when printed.
All of our images are scanned directly from original slides and negatives, preserving their authenticity, detail, and character. And because we own the original photographs and copyrights, all of our collection is exclusive to us and not available elsewhere.
Buy any 5 downloads and receive 15% off your entire order.