London in the 80s/90s

[ChiefPlanner]

I worked in London throughout this period, living in dodgy parts of South London at the beginning of it but mostly travelling in and out through Kings Cross and Liverpool Street.

Liverpool Street and surrounding area were transformed in the 1980s by the impact of the Financial Services Act 1986, the consequent huge amounts of property development including Broadgate, and "all day opening" for pubs in 1988. In particular the City of London was dead after 2100 on weekdays and at weekends until the pub hours changed. One lingering after effect of this was Moorgate-Finsbury Park and Cannon Street-London Bridge shutting down mid evening.

The rejuvenation of Kings Cross and surroundings only came much later, outside the date range set by the OP. Throughout the 1980s/1990s the area around Kings Cross was very dodgy. The station itself wasn't a particularly nice place to hang around in either, though in the 1980s it was still a hive of activity at night with sleeper, mail and news trains.

The Kings Cross track layout changes predate the range set by the OP, having been done in 1977 between the inner and outer suburban electrifications. The only change during the 1980s/90s was the reinstatement of platform 11.

One thing that did make a bit of a difference during this period was Thameslink opening in 1988. This made the walking route between the Thameslink station and the main station slightly less dodgy than the other streets in the area. It was probably around this time that I discovered Eddie's Chip Shop in the Grays Inn Road as an alternative to Casey Jones, which for a long while had been the only safe place to get anything to eat on late evening journeys home via Kings Cross.

The Thameslink station certainly added a lot more footfall to that a stretch twixt KX Main Line and TLK , which in some respect was an economic opportunity for some of the unregulated business transactions in the area , it took a long time for gentrification to take hold in the area. Mentioned before , but it was not a good area , and late evening it was wise to do the transfer via the Underground on foot , which was busy , well lit , CCTV'd and so on.

Drug trade was very obvious (even used to get offered in a suit !) , certain shops sold "injecting kits" , and the level of muggings and pickpocketing was high , especially if you were daft enough to use the cashpoint outside the station.

Kings Cross Thameslink was a station not fit for purpose for the numbers it dealt with , especially the northbound plat from (the busiest) , and a nightmare when things went wrong. Not missed at all.

 

[MP33]

Starting work in the early 1980's I can remember walking along Bishopsgate around 8.00 am. There were old dears standing at the Bus stops leaving the City, who had finished their night shifts office cleaning. Although there were only two or three people at each stop and the Buses arrived empty. Woe betide anyone trying to board the Bus, who the cleaners thought was queue jumping.

 

[duncanp]

This is a highly recommended book on this period

The East End in Colour 1980-1990 (Book 5: Vintage Britain)

FREE UK SHIPPING 'The East End in Colour 1980-1990', 128pp, cloth spine, 156mm x 196mm. Edited by Chris Dorley-Brown. Book 5 in the series 'Vintage Britain' This book is also available in a special book + limited edi

www.hoxtonminipress.com

You know you are getting old when a book about the 1980s qualifies for inclusion in a series called "vintage Britain".

 

[birchesgreen]

You know you are getting old when a book about the 1980s qualifies for inclusion in a series called "vintage Britain".

Well 1980 is 43 years ago now, thats a scary thought

 

[Ediswan]

Mid 1980s, late one Saturday night (tube had finished), I was crossing Pancras Road headed for King's Cross station. Somebody asked if I had change for a £50 note. Quite likely dodgy. The simple and true answer was no I didn't, which was the end of the matter.

At the time, there was an all night hourly service to where I was headed. I say hourly, it was not unusual sit on the train for an hour awaiting a driver.

 

[Trackman]

Thanks - not so sure , I thought there was one episode when a Glasgow officer was despatched south to do some work. Probably wanted to get away from Taggart for a while ! Thanks.

It's this one then

#10.4 One Flew Over The Parents' Nest - Filming Locations

CRONIN MEETS DI STYLES - THEN & NOW - Pictures byeuston
PLATFORM 4, EUSTON STATION, EUSTON RD, NW1 2RT

Location found by: euston

At 18m50s, after being told by Cronin to deal with it before it's too late, DI Styles arrives in London by train.

 

[birchesgreen]

Thanks - not so sure , I thought there was one episode when a Glasgow officer was despatched south to do some work. Probably wanted to get away from Taggart for a while ! Thanks.

Are you thinking of the Sweeney episode "Hard men"?

 

[Halwynd]

It's this one then

#10.4 One Flew Over The Parents' Nest - Filming Locations

The Long Ride Back to Scratchwood, as filmed at Euston, featured an accountant who was a Glaswegian ticket tout's bagman, rather than a policeman.

One Flew Over The Parents Nest, again filmed at Euston, did feature a policeman, but he came from Manchester. The episode contained a few brief clips of the then new Metrolink trams in St Peter's Square.

Sorry if I'm being a bit of a Minder nerd!

 

[ChiefPlanner]

The Long Ride Back to Scratchwood, as filmed at Euston, featured an accountant who was a Glaswegian ticket tout's bagman, rather than a policeman.

One Flew Over The Parents Nest, again filmed at Euston, did feature a policeman, but he came from Manchester. The episode contained a few brief clips of the then new Metrolink trams in St Peter's Square.

Sorry if I'm being a bit of a Minder nerd!

Not at all , I seem to recall someone did a MA (PhD ?) on the Minder series. A deserving study , especially as it (now) is a snapshot of a very different London , and of course much filmed in real time , on real streets !

Worthy of some binge watching on a miserable and cold day. (Like today , but showed good will and did the ordeal of going to Ikea , Brent Park) .....

 

[Halwynd]

Not at all , I seem to recall someone did a MA (PhD ?) on the Minder series. A deserving study , especially as it (now) is a snapshot of a very different London , and of course much filmed in real time , on real streets !

Worthy of some binge watching on a miserable and cold day. (Like today , but showed good will and did the ordeal of going to Ikea , Brent Park) .....

Blimey, an MA or a PhD! - I wonder how many times they watched each episode?!!

As you say, a real snapshot into a very different London.

If interested there's a website that covers Minder in detail including pictures of filming locations then and now:

Minder - The Fans of Minder Website - minder.org

The number 1 site on the web for all things Minder, George Cole, Dennis Waterman, Gary Webster, The Sweeney and The Professionals.

minder.org

Here are the direct links for the two episodes we've mentioned:

One Flew Over The Parents Nest:

#10.4 One Flew Over The Parents' Nest - Filming Locations

The Long Ride Back To Scratchwood:

#5.6 The Long Ride Back To Scratchwood - Filming Locations