Members of Greenwich Historical Society may be interested to learn of the recent publication of this book: Doors of London: Styles, Stories, Art & Architecture first published, November 2024, by house historian Melanie Backe-Hansen with photographs by Cath Harries, is an anthology of 500 doors ‘selected for their bold colour, interesting design or historical significance’. As its title suggests, it is London-wide in its scope, and features doors of all sorts dating from medieval times to the modern-day. Some have distinct associations with individuals or events, others are included simply for their elegance, grace or curiosity. Tall, short, single, double, polished, graffiti-ed, famous or unknown, they are all portals into the past. Together they comprise a wonderful and intriguing compendium, leaving one glad that they have been brought to our attention.
One chapter, Chapter 8, is dedicated to Greenwich in particular – along with Deptford, Lewisham, New Cross and Blackheath. Some of the doors featured in these localities include:
- The Old Royal Naval College
- The Royal Observatory’s Meridian Building
- St Alfege Church
- Highbridge Wharf (Nos 6, 8 and 10)
- The Junk Shop, South Street
- Warwick Leadlay Gallery, 1 Nelson Arcade
- Houses on Crooms Hill (No 5 and one other)
- Houses on Ballast Quay (Nos 14 and 16)
- Houses on Nevada Street (No.10)
- The Rangers House
- The Prince of Greenwich, Royal Hill
- Eltham Palace
- Deptford High Street (various)
- Albury Street (Nos 27, 29, 35 and 40)
- The Dog and Bell
The book retails at £25.00 but the publisher, Sheldrake Press, offers GHS members a discount of 15% and free postage using the discount code 74LD1225. More details of the book can be found here.
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