Gezicht op Westminster Bridge en St Thomas' Hospital in Londen before 1896

This is an anonymous photograph of Westminster Bridge and St Thomas' Hospital in London. These two images, likely from the late 19th century, offer glimpses into the social fabric of Victorian London. The upper image, a bustling street scene, shows a society stratified by class, with pedestrians and horse-drawn carriages coexisting in the same space. The architectural backdrop of imposing, colonnaded buildings speaks to the power of institutions like the government and the bank, which were often housed in such monumental structures. The lower image depicts the Westminster Bridge and St Thomas' Hospital, a site of healing and care in the city. The bridge itself symbolizes connection and passage, but also the division between different parts of the city. Understanding these images requires delving into the archives, examining maps, census records, and newspapers to reconstruct the lives of the people who lived and worked here. It is the role of the historian to decode these visual clues, revealing the complex social, economic, and political forces that shaped the world.