Guestbook page | The London Sound Survey

Posted by
Name: Allison
From: That's complicated!
E-mail: Contact

Message
Hi there, I have some 19th Russian Cries cards that I'm attempting to learn more about, and I wonder if you'd like to have a look, as you also have an interest.

Admin reply: Hello Allison and a belated thanks for sharing those old card images with me via email. As I stated in my reply, I would guess them to date from the early 19th century. Best wishes, Ian

Added: May 30, 2021

Posted by
Name: Andy Popperwell
From: South Woodford
E-mail: Contact

Message
Dear Ian,
I think we met at a Robin the Fox gig at Cafe oto a while ago. I'm just finishing my MRes in historical sounds at LSBU - sounds of the 1750s at Copped Hall in Essex - and I thought this extract from Henry Fielding’s 1734 two-act comedy, The Intriguing Chambermaid, might find a place in your quotations section:
"All the wild noises in the universe, the squeaking of pigs, the grinding of knives, the whetting of saws, the whistling of winds, the roaring of seas, the hooting of owls, the howling of wolves, the braying of asses, the squalling of children, and the scolding of wives."
I have recordings of Clapping for Carers last year - all but one of those events - in E18. Yours for the asking.
Best wishes,
Andy

Admin reply: Hello Andy and many thanks indeed for getting touch. That's an excellent quote from Fielding and reminiscent of the long list of sounds given in William Baldwin's 1561 novel 'Beware the Cat' where the protagonist magically becomes aware of every sound happening in and around London. I would be delighted to feature your recordings of Clap for Carers and they would surely deserve a section to themselves among the sound categories webpages. I now have to work away from home for the next few days but will email you on Sunday if I may. Warmest regards, Ian.

Added: March 8, 2021

Posted by
Name: Geoffrey Maher
From: Arlington Heights, IL
E-mail: Contact

Message
Fantastic site! I believe your recording of Lavender seller Robert Penfold of Battersea, London, is my grandfather. He passed away in 1946, long before I could ever get a chance to meet him. We’ve played the recording for my mother Julia 3rd of Robert’s 10 children, and the only one to emigrate to the US), and she said it’s very possible that recording is of her Dad. If so, what a gift you have given us. Thank you!

Admin reply: What a fantastic message and thanks ever so much for it! The recording of Robert Penfold the lavender seller is my favourite of all the archival BBC sounds reproduced here, and it is wonderful to hear from you, one of his descendents. Early last year I went to look at Culvert Road in Battersea where the recording notes state he lived. It has obviously been extensively redeveloped since his day, much of it now running through a 1960s-era housing estate of blocks of flats. However, the southernmost end of the road meets the old railway viaduct where there are scrapyards and scaffolders' yards. Perhaps here is still an echo of the London that your grandfather might have recognised as home. Very best wishes, Ian.

Added: March 6, 2021

Posted by
Name: Martin Johnson
From: Teddington SW London
E-mail: Contact

Message
I just stumbled across your fascinating website, earlier today, following a post on our local Nextdoor platform about the siren that wakes us up every Tuesday morning. Thanks for your recording and detailed explanation of the Hampton water works.

By a strange coincidence I have also just finished reading ’The Liar’s dictionary’ by Eley Williams, which mentions a lot of very interesting sound words (and also appears to have very similar end-papers to your book). Do you still have any copies of Honk, Conk and Squacket for sale, or will you be republishing it again soon?

Thanks, Martin

Admin reply: Hello Martin and many thanks for your message. I hadn't heard of Eley Williams's new novel, and having had a quick look at the preface online see that it has at least one unusual sound-word which you'll find in 'Honk, Conk and Squacket', namely 'psithurism', which is the dry, rustling sound made by the stirring of dead leaves.

I do have a few dozen copies of my book for sale and am about to send you an email detailing how you can buy one from me via PayPal.

Best wishes
Ian

Added: February 24, 2021

Posted by
Name: Ben
From: Europe
E-mail: Contact

Message
Greetins,
As a fan of your recordings, I noticed that your channel was removed from soundcloud. Is this permanent?
All the best,
Ben

Admin reply: Hello Ben and thanks for dropping by. I have indeed just shut down the London Sound Survey's Soundcloud account as I didn't judge it to be worth the annual fee any more.

Cheers, Ian

Added: February 20, 2021

Posted by
Name: Lisa
From: Essex
E-mail: Contact

Message
Utter genius!

Admin reply: That's what I like to hear Lisa!

Added: January 18, 2021

Posted by
Name: Winnie Wong
From: London
E-mail: Contact

Message
Hi there. I am the Gift Shop Manager of the London Canal Museum at Kings Cross. I saw your image of London's Waterway, the tribute to Harry Beck and love it! We could be interested in making postcards / cards for our shop with this image. I have read your link on cc licensing. I wonder if we could have chat? Thanks.

Admin reply: Hello Winnie and many thanks for your message. It's always good to hear when someone is intrigued by or enjoys the Waterways Sound Map featured on this website.

I am not sure that you would be able to make commercial use of even my pastiche of the London tube map, since Transport for London exercise a firm control over their intellectual property rights.

My adaptation of the map only constitutes an attributed and completely non-commercial effort on an obscure website. Selling gifts at the London Canal Museum would surely be a different matter.

Nonetheless I would be pleased to contribute somehow to the Canal Museum, which I have visited and enjoyed. But another approach would be needed. Do you think that might be possible? Please feel free to contact me by email via the Site Info page.

Ian Rawes

Added: November 5, 2020

Posted by
Name: Daniele
E-mail: Contact

Message
Hello, I am a shortwave listener from Italy and got to know about this website thanks to Swling blog.
Would like to be updated about blog posts.
Any chance to subscribe to a newsletter?
Thanks!
Daniele

Admin reply: Hello Daniele and thanks for your message. I should have set up an email newsletter when I launched this website back in 2009. People who know about marketing have told me it's the single best way for a small website to promote its contents in the long run, better than social media.

Unfortunately it now seems a bit late to do this as I am now concentrating my efforts on setting up a new website project, which will also feature sound recordings. Blog posts here won't appear very often for the next couple of years.

Best wishes, Ian

Added: June 18, 2020

Posted by
Name: Hou
From: New York and China
E-mail: Contact

Message
Full of imagination. This is art!

Admin reply: Thanks for your kind comment!

Added: June 8, 2020

Posted by
Name: Geoff
From: Yorkshire (via London)
E-mail: Contact

Message
Hello!

Fantastic project! Any copies of the book going? I found a copy secondhand on ebay but thought I'd ask you first so you get the cash if you do!

Geoff

Admin reply: Hello Geoff and thanks for dropping by and especially for asking about copies of 'Honk, Conk and Squacket'. I have a box with about two dozen left, so have sent you an email with more details.

Cheers, Ian

Added: May 10, 2020