A database of several hundred historical descriptions and references to London's sounds. They're drawn mainly from primary sources such as autobiographies, diaries and statutes, as well as novels written around the times they depict.
Period referred to: 1974
Sound category: Religious > Street preachers and meetings
Title of work: Soft City
Type of publication: Popular sociology
Author: Jonathan Raban
Year of publication: 1974
Page/volume number: Chapter 5, pp 120–121
Jonathan Raban describes London’s Krishna devotees
In New York, Los Angeles and London, there is a wandering tribe of street folk; they live in Radha Krishna temples, their heads are shaved except for a scrubby tuft on their crowns, they process through the streets in sandals and saffron-dyed sheets, chanting the 'Hare Krishna' mantra and beating on tambourines. On Oxford Street, motorists caught in the continual traffic jam yell cheerful obscenities at these outlandish communards. They seem indifferent. [. . .] Yet they are not without dignity: their voices are gentle, hazed, their accents invariably English urban, and patches of Manchester and Stepney show through their stiff, devoted impersonation of the mystic east. They are keen to evangelise, and methodically explain themselves with the rehearsed precision of a telephone answering service.
Period referred to: 1740s
Sound category: Religious > Street preachers and meetings
Title of work: John Wesley's Journal
Type of publication: Diary
Author: John Wesley
Year of publication: 1742
Page/volume number: Not known
John Wesley is attacked while preaching near Whitechapel
I was desired to preach in an open place, commonly called the Great Gardens, lying between Whitechapel and Coverlet Fields, where I found a vast multitude gathered together. Taking knowledge that a great part of them were little acquainted with the things of God, I called upon them in the words of our Lord, 'Repent ye, and believe the gospel.'
Many of the beasts of the people laboured much to disturb those who were of a better mind. They endeavoured to drive in a herd of cows among them; but the brutes were wiser than their masters. Then they threw whole showers of stones, of which struck me between the eyes: but I felt no pain at all; and, when I had wiped away the blood, went on testifying with a loud voice that God hath given to them that believe 'not the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.'
Period referred to: 1930s
Sound category: Religious > Street preachers and meetings
Title of work: Down and Out in Paris and London
Type of publication: Autobiographical/Social investigation
Author: George Orwell
Year of publication: 1933
Page/volume number: Chapter XXV
A Mormon street meeting at Tower Hill is disrupted by hecklers
Here and there were street meetings. In Whitechapel somebody called The Singing Evangel undertook to save you from hell for the charge of sixpence. In the East India Dock Road the Salvation Army were holding a service. They were singing 'Anybody here like sneaking Judas?' to the tune of 'What's to be done with a drunken sailor?' On Tower Hill two Mormons were trying to address a meeting. Round their platform struggled a mob of men, shouting and interrupting. Someone was denouncing them for polygamists. A lame, bearded man, evidently an atheist, had heard the word God and was heckling angrily. There was a confused uproar of voices.
'My dear friends, if you would only let us finish what we were saying – ! – That's right, give 'em a say. Don't get on the argue! – No, no, you answer me. Can you show me God? You show 'im me, then I'll believe in 'im. – Oh, shut up, don't keep interrupting of 'em! – Interrupt yourself! — polygamists! – Well, there's a lot to be said for polygamy. Take the — women out of industry, anyway. – My dear friends, if you would just – No, no, don't you slip out of it. 'Ave you seen God? 'Ave you touched 'im? 'Ave you shook 'ands with 'im? – Oh, don't get on the argue, for Christ's sake don't get on the argue!' etc. etc. I listened for twenty minutes, anxious to learn something about Mormonism, but the meeting never got beyond shouts. It is the general fate of street meetings.