Rob Baker
@robnitm.bsky.social
Author of two London history books - 'Beautiful Idiots and Brilliant Lunatics' and 'High Buildings, Low Morals' - I'm currently doing up a 18th Century cottage in the Brecon Beacons which seems to be taking an inordinate amount of time.
The menu c.1955 at Wheeler and Co. on Old Compton Street. A year or so before, Donald Maclean ate oysters and drank Chablis for lunch there during his last day in London.
November 9, 2025 at 9:04 PM
The menu c.1955 at Wheeler and Co. on Old Compton Street. A year or so before, Donald Maclean ate oysters and drank Chablis for lunch there during his last day in London.
Menu at the Café Royal on Regent Street, June 1942. Only three courses allowed and Kipper sur Toast a mere 2 shillings…
November 9, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Menu at the Café Royal on Regent Street, June 1942. Only three courses allowed and Kipper sur Toast a mere 2 shillings…
The menu for the Vita Sun Café at the Coventry Street Lyons Cornerhouse, c.1926. The café was sponsored by the New Health Society whose main aim was 'to teach the advantages of the right food, fresh air, sunshine and exercise'.
November 8, 2025 at 3:18 PM
The menu for the Vita Sun Café at the Coventry Street Lyons Cornerhouse, c.1926. The café was sponsored by the New Health Society whose main aim was 'to teach the advantages of the right food, fresh air, sunshine and exercise'.
The British Museum’s ‘refreshment department’ menu from 1900
November 8, 2025 at 5:58 AM
The British Museum’s ‘refreshment department’ menu from 1900
Now in recovery Billy the Cat rewatches his favourite scene in Truffaut’s Day for Night.
June 22, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Now in recovery Billy the Cat rewatches his favourite scene in Truffaut’s Day for Night.
1960. Cleo Laine performing at the Flamingo Club’s 'Jazz Nursery' on Wardour Street.
June 20, 2025 at 4:20 AM
1960. Cleo Laine performing at the Flamingo Club’s 'Jazz Nursery' on Wardour Street.
Billy the cat went AWOL for 36 hours but came back this morning with terrible deep cuts all over. Just taken him to vets who said that he’s been run over but will be ok he thinks.
June 18, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Billy the cat went AWOL for 36 hours but came back this morning with terrible deep cuts all over. Just taken him to vets who said that he’s been run over but will be ok he thinks.
Sleeping lamb in the early morning sun up the road from my house in the Senni valley. bannaubrycheiniogbreconbeacons
June 17, 2025 at 6:29 AM
Sleeping lamb in the early morning sun up the road from my house in the Senni valley. bannaubrycheiniogbreconbeacons
Victoria Station in 1974, my first bank account was with Midland. In 1934, apparently, it was the biggest deposit bank in the world
June 16, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Victoria Station in 1974, my first bank account was with Midland. In 1934, apparently, it was the biggest deposit bank in the world
Preparing to build Sir Giles Gilbert Scott's Bankside Power Station (now the Tate Modern) in 1947
June 16, 2025 at 5:57 AM
Preparing to build Sir Giles Gilbert Scott's Bankside Power Station (now the Tate Modern) in 1947
Glass covered central heating tower on Pimlico council estate near Dolphin Sq, 1950.
June 15, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Glass covered central heating tower on Pimlico council estate near Dolphin Sq, 1950.
The Gateways lesbian club at 239 King's Road on the corner of Bramerton Street - c.1953, unknown photographer
June 13, 2025 at 9:45 AM
The Gateways lesbian club at 239 King's Road on the corner of Bramerton Street - c.1953, unknown photographer
Legalise Freedom? St Agnes Place, Vauxhall, 1984 - photo by Peter Marshall.
June 9, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Legalise Freedom? St Agnes Place, Vauxhall, 1984 - photo by Peter Marshall.
Old Compton Street in 1936
June 8, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Old Compton Street in 1936
Brian Jones at his flat on Elm Park Lane in Chelsea, 1965. His favourite records at the time were ‘Baby Please Don’t Go’ by Them, Nina Simone’s ‘Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood’ and ‘Mr Tambourine Man’ by the Byrds - photo Bent Rej
June 8, 2025 at 6:34 AM
Brian Jones at his flat on Elm Park Lane in Chelsea, 1965. His favourite records at the time were ‘Baby Please Don’t Go’ by Them, Nina Simone’s ‘Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood’ and ‘Mr Tambourine Man’ by the Byrds - photo Bent Rej
My book still seen out in the wild occasionally- this time on a tram from Scotland. I hope you’re enjoying it whoever you are
May 31, 2025 at 6:39 PM
My book still seen out in the wild occasionally- this time on a tram from Scotland. I hope you’re enjoying it whoever you are
A nine year old Ian Dury and his mum Peggy at the Festival of Britain in 1951. Ian had contracted Polio two years previously, most likely, he believed, from a swimming pool at Southend-on-Sea during the 1949 polio epidemic.
May 28, 2025 at 9:48 AM
A nine year old Ian Dury and his mum Peggy at the Festival of Britain in 1951. Ian had contracted Polio two years previously, most likely, he believed, from a swimming pool at Southend-on-Sea during the 1949 polio epidemic.
Outside Guy’s Hospital on VE Day May 1945
May 4, 2025 at 9:43 AM
Outside Guy’s Hospital on VE Day May 1945
Joan Crawford asks her assistant to bite off a loose thread from her dress at the Dorchester Hotel, London, July 1956 - photograph by Thurston Hopkins.
May 3, 2025 at 7:15 AM
Joan Crawford asks her assistant to bite off a loose thread from her dress at the Dorchester Hotel, London, July 1956 - photograph by Thurston Hopkins.
Cabaret girls at the Paradise Club in 1939. Situated at 189 Regent St, it described itself as ‘London’s latest and most exclusive niterie’ although the comedian Terry-Thomas described it as the type of place known in the business as an ‘upholstered sewer’.
April 29, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Cabaret girls at the Paradise Club in 1939. Situated at 189 Regent St, it described itself as ‘London’s latest and most exclusive niterie’ although the comedian Terry-Thomas described it as the type of place known in the business as an ‘upholstered sewer’.
Members of the corps de ballet in their dressing room before Cinderella, Sadler's Wells Ballet, 1960. Photo Roger Wood
April 24, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Members of the corps de ballet in their dressing room before Cinderella, Sadler's Wells Ballet, 1960. Photo Roger Wood
Dorset Road in Vauxhall, 10th March 1964 the factory was Morris Singer and co - a bronze foundry business.
April 22, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Dorset Road in Vauxhall, 10th March 1964 the factory was Morris Singer and co - a bronze foundry business.
Alan Whicker at a rather dilapidated Stamford Bridge for the half-time FA cup 6th round draw, March 1982. Spurs went on to beat Chelsea 2-3.
April 21, 2025 at 7:30 AM
Alan Whicker at a rather dilapidated Stamford Bridge for the half-time FA cup 6th round draw, March 1982. Spurs went on to beat Chelsea 2-3.