Costermongers Collection

London Life: Costermonger Pearly Kings and Queens, Southwark Date: circa 1940

Views of Golden Lane, London 1872
Views of Golden Lane, near Smithfield Market, in London, 1872. Illustrations (clockwise from top left): The Earls Barrow; Making trimmings for Soup Kitchens; China Yard on Saturday Afternoon; a

Coster with Dogs (oil on canvas)
5889180 Coster with Dogs (oil on canvas) by Green, Madeline Emily (1884-1947); 50.8x53.3 cm; Private Collection; Photo © The Ms Gallery, London

Self-Portrait as a Costermonger (oil on canvas)
5889181 Self-Portrait as a Costermonger (oil on canvas) by Green, Madeline Emily (1884-1947); 40.6x33 cm; Private Collection; Photo © The Ms Gallery, London

London costermongers (b / w photo)
3637328 London costermongers (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: London costermongers)

Jerusalem, Costermongers (b / w photo)
5214402 Jerusalem, Costermongers (b/w photo) by European Photographer, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Jerusalem, Costermongers)

"Strawberries. All ripe! All ripe!", from Street Life in London, by J
659975 " Strawberries. All ripe! All ripe!", from Street Life in London, by J. Thomson and Adolphe Smith, 1877 (b/w photo) by Thomson

Costermongers in Farringdon Road, threatened with Removal by the Holborn Board of Works (engraving)
1603539 Costermongers in Farringdon Road, threatened with Removal by the Holborn Board of Works (engraving) by Almond, William Douglas (1866-1916); Private Collection; (add.info)

Costermongers jubilee pony and donkey show at the Peoples Palace, East London (engraving)
585576 Costermongers jubilee pony and donkey show at the Peoples Palace, East London (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Costermongers donkey barrow (b / w photo)
3637327 Costermongers donkey barrow (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Costermongers donkey barrow)

Costermongers in high spirits (b / w photo)
3637326 Costermongers in high spirits (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Costermongers in high spirits)

Stables and Stores for Costermongers, near Columbia Market, Hackney Road, erected for the Baroness Burdett-Coutts
2774068 Stables and Stores for Costermongers, near Columbia Market, Hackney Road, erected for the Baroness Burdett-Coutts (engraving) by English School

The London Costermonger (engraving)
602144 The London Costermonger (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: London Labour and the London Poor)

Bishopsgate Street, from London, a Pilgrimage
STC377543 Bishopsgate Street, from London, a Pilgrimage, written by William Blanchard Jerrold (1826-94) & engraved by A. Sargent, pub

Exhibition of Costermongers Donkeys and Ponies at the Peoples Palace, on the Way (engraving)
1603401 Exhibition of Costermongers Donkeys and Ponies at the Peoples Palace, on the Way (engraving) by Aldin, Cecil Charles Windsor (1870-1935); Private Collection; (add.info)

Albert Chevalier - English Comedian and Actor
Albert Onesime Britannicus Gwathveoyd Louis Chevalier (18611923) - English comedian and actor. Had a successful music hall career as a singer of coster songs of his own invention. Date: 1892

The annual Easter Sunday Parade - at Battersea Park, London. A crowd including Pearly Kings and Queens doing the " Knees up Mother Brown " before the parade

Poor Poverty Poverty Stricken Family Man Woman
Untitled work showing poor London family selling goods on the street in the 19th century. After an illustration by Gustave Dore in the 1873 English edition of London: A Pilgrimage

Cockney Argument between a fat man and a thin man
Fat Party (after a War of words) - " If you come our court to-morrer and bring a bit o fat with yer, I ll bloomin well eat yer." !! Date: 1895

Victorian Scrap -- Coster. late 19th century

London street scene - The Coster Girl
A series of postcards showing women (in various jobs) in London - The Coster Girl.. Romanian-born sculptor and illustrator Alexander Popini served in the Royal Air Force during World War I

Victorian Scrap, man with vegetable cart and donkey. circa 1880s

7th Earl Shaftesbury
ANTHONY ASHLEY COOPER, seventh earl of SHAFTESBURY inspecting costermongers donkeys, London. Date: 1801 - 1885

Shaftesbury & Donkeys
ANTHONY ASHLEY COOPER, seventh earl of SHAFTESBURY inspecting costermongers donkeys, London. Date: 1801 - 1885

Source Size = 3777 x 2522
The Street-Vendors Question: a Costermongers Meeting in St. Luke s

Covent Garden market, 1824 (lithograph)
XJF3058173 Covent Garden market, 1824 (lithograph) by Barber, David (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: View of Covent Garden market and St Pauls church before the new building)

Covent Garden market, 1824 (etching)
XJF3058174 Covent Garden market, 1824 (etching) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: View of Covent Garden market and St Pauls church before the new building.); English

Covent Garden Market, 1832 (engraving)
XJF3058172 Covent Garden Market, 1832 (engraving) by Havell, Frederick James (1801-40); Private Collection; (add.info.: Illustration to the Stationers Almanack)

Annual Meeting of the Golden Lane Costermongers Mission: the Hon, Secretary Presenting a Donkey to the Earl of Shaftesbury, 1875

Ironic Conversation between two Cockney men in an East London Boozer. " Who was t bloke I see yer speakin to larst night?" " Wot sort o bloke

Cockney Comment on the purchase of a parrot
Two Pals outside a pub looking at a third bargaining for a parrot with a sailor outside a pub. " Why, es Missus jaws enough. Wot ds e want with a bloomin parrot." !! Date: 1895

A couple of Cockney Loafers. Date: circa 1890s

A Cockney lady from Whitechapel, East London
A lovely drawing of a Cockney lady from Whitechapel, East London. Date: 1895

Sailor Jack - popular with all the Cockney Women
They All Love Jack. A popular sailor, obviously a bit of a wow with the ladies, of which he likely has one in every port... Date: 1895

Funny Cockney comment on a ladies neckwear
Funny Cockney comment on a fellow Cockney ladies neckwear. " Ow Is y, look at er frills. Got erself hup like a bloomin am bone!" Date: 1900

Smug Cockney woman who has nabbed her rivals Gent
Jilted! A smug Cockney woman who has nabbed her rivals Gent, throws her a very satisfied glance! Date: circa 1890s

Two Cockney Costers - one restraining a bulldog
Two young Cockney chaps, one of whom is having to restrain his Bulldog, who is obviously rather interested in something he has sniffed or spotted! Date: circa 1890s

Two Cockney street Flowergirls
Two Cockney Flowergirls, not in their first bloom of youth - entitled (somewhat wickedly) " Sweet Violets" ! - caricature by Phil May. Date: 1897

Two Cockneys discuss the pedigree of a dog
Two Cockneys discuss the (er..) pedigree of a dog! " Say, Bill, wots is pedigree?" Bill: " Why es by a porter out o a third class railway kerridge." !! Date: 1895

Arriet - a good Cockney Girl in all of her finery. Date: circa 1890s

Cockney Couple on Hampstead Heath reading a magazine
" The Upper Ten" - being read by a Cockney Couple (and their bulldog) under a tree on Hampstead Heath. A few bottles of ale have been consumed. Date: 1901

Cockney couple off a day out at Margate
Cockney couple in their finery - all ready to depart for a day out in Margate. Date: 1900

Cockney Humour - temptation
Salvation Army Captain: " When the Serpent tempted Eve" Bill: " Oh Chuck it! There wanted no bloomin snake

Two laughing young Cockney scamps Date: 1890s

Cockneys visiting a Royal Navy Gunboat
An Honest London Taxpayer wanting full value for his contributions! Visiting Day on a Gunboat. Arry: " Is the Captain in?" Jack: " Yes, hes aboard

Cockney London Flowergirl sells buttonhole to city gent
A Cockney London Flowergirl sells a buttonhole bouquet to a well-to-do city gentleman. Date: 1895

Two Cockney Costers having a jovial chat: " Wots th row up the Court, Bill?" " Bob Smith was kissing my Missus, and is Old Woman caught im!" Date: 1892

Two Cockney ladies admiring an artist
Two Cockney ladies admiring (?) an artist and is bloomin at ! Date: 1895

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London Life: Costermongers, Pearly Kings and Queens in Southwark. Step back in time to 1872 with views of Golden Lane in London. The vibrant world comes alive through various artistic mediums - from oil on canvas portraits capturing their essence to black and white photographs freezing moments in time. In one painting, a coster is depicted alongside his loyal dogs, showcasing the bond between man and animal that was integral to their trade. Another self-portrait shows an artist transforming into a costermonger, perhaps symbolizing the resilience and adaptability required for this way of life. Photographs capture scenes of bustling streets filled with London's colorful costermongers selling their wares. From strawberries enticingly advertised by street vendors to donkey-drawn barrows carrying fresh produce, these images offer glimpses into the daily hustle and bustle of these hardworking individuals. Not all aspects were idyllic though; engravings depict the struggles faced by Farringdon Road's costermongers as they fought against removal orders from Holborn Board of Works. However, there were also moments of celebration like the jubilee pony and donkey show at People's Palace in East London where costermongers proudly showcased their animals' skills. The Baroness Burdett-Coutts even erected stables and stores near Columbia Market specifically for costermongers, highlighting efforts made to support this unique community within Hackney Road. Costermongering was more than just a job; it was a way of life that shaped both individual identities and collective culture. These captivating glimpses into their world allow us to appreciate the vibrancy, resilience, and spirit embodied by London's beloved costermongers throughout history.