Fog in London.

This evocative black‑and‑white image by George Edward Malindine captures the legendary “pea‑soupers” of 1930s London. A lone traffic constable stands poised amid glistening cobbles, directing a line of saloon cars and London taxis. In the background, the blurred trails of double‑deckers race past the famous Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain (Eros), while the grand façade of Swan & Edgar emerges like a phantom through the thick coal‑smoke haze.

Historical Context
Before clean‑air legislation, London’s winter evenings were often cloaked in dense smog from domestic and industrial coal fires. These “pea‑soup” fogs not only reduced visibility but also posed serious health risks. In 1936, motorists, cyclists and traffic officers relied on headlights, lamp‑lit streets and the vigilant signals of policemen to navigate the murk. Such scenes became emblematic of interwar London’s gritty character and its residents’ resilience in the face of industrial pollution.

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