This autochrome depicts Cheapside in London somewhere between 1890 and 1900.
I was immediately excited when I saw the name Cheapside. I’ve never been to London but I am a devoted fan of Jane Austen. I remembered very clearly a passage in Pride & Prejudice that referenced Cheapside.
Bingley’s catty sisters were laughing at Jane and Elizabeth Bennett and at the same time hoping to influence Mr. Darcy and Bingley against them.
‘I have an excessive regard for Jane Bennet; she is really a very sweet girl, and I wish with all my heart she were well settled. But with such a father and mother, and such low connections, I am afraid there is no chance of it.’
‘I think I have heard you say that their uncle is an attorney in Meryton.’
‘Yes; and they have another, who lives somewhere near Cheapside.’
‘That is capital,’ added her sister, and they both laughed heartily.
The good news is, the machinations of Bingley’s sisters were unsuccessful. But my literary triumph was cut short by a visit to Wikipedia which disclosed that Cheapside is a street—a large thoroughfare—and not a neighborhood like I was envisioning.
Here’s another picture of Cheapside from 1909. Even if the autochrome was taken closer to 1890 than 1900, the shift to the 1909 picture is dramatic. It’s not just the color. The 1909 picture is much grittier!


I’ve been to London twice, but never heard of Cheapside. I think the auto chrome picture at the top is brighter and takes the dingy look out of the quite old buildings. I’m assuming that Cheapside must have had a lower class atmosphere during Jane Austen’s time.
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That’s probably it! Cheapside isn’t a very attractive name but I bet Bingley’s sisters weren’t all that attractive either, or they wouldn’t need to attack their dear friend Jane behind her back.
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pride & prejudice is a wonderful book! very fun reference! I like the 1909 pic better. it’s got some depth
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I like it more too. Growing up in the rust belt, I see a strange beauty in grittiness.
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I visited London years ago. I do not recall visiting Cheapside. I just read that “cheap” is middle English for market. I was not aware of that.
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