overcoats

Spaarnestad Photo/SFA006000376 Second world war, battle for United Kingdom. Londoners off to their work after large bombing raid of 29 December 1941. The streets still full with fire hoses. United Kingdom, London, 29 December 1941. Hi, I'm an admin for a group called London at war, and we'd love to have this added to the group!

This was the day of the big City raid, when the iconic pic of St Paul's rising above the flames was taken. So it is most likely in The City somewhere, but I can't quite place that tube station, things've changed a lot down there. [ EDIT: Ah. The raid I'm referring to was 29 Dec 1940. So I'm not sure this photo isn't misdated, for the reason that heavy raids on London ceased after May 1941, though there still were lighter attacks. I can't find any reference to a heavy raid on this date. 'The last major attack on London was on 10 May [1941]: 515 bombers destroyed or damaged many important buildings, including the British Museum, the Houses of Parliament and St. James's Palace. The raid caused more casualties than any other: 1,364 killed and 1,616 seriously injured.[7] Six days later 111 bombers attacked Birmingham; this was the last major air raid on a British city for about a year and a half.' en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Blitz ]

Its Holborn isnt it Fin??

I don't think so, Lud. It might be Moorgate.

Ah right I was going with the entrance to the tube which looked like the Holborn entrance. Its just a bit blurred or we could read the underground sign.

I remember, as a child, digging down in the sand in Skerries (perhaps 65 years ago). Obviously not digging far, but hitting a layer of black stuff. My parents told me it was oil. It had a very particular smell. I still remember it. I still wonder what it was. It happened more than once.

The answer, according to A.I.:

The Science Behind the 'Black Oil' Layer

The Lack of Oxygen (Anoxia): On popular beaches like Skerries South Beach or North Strand, the top few inches of sand are constantly turned over by waves and the tide, keeping them well-oxygenated and clean. However, just a short distance below the surface, the tightly packed sand particles block fresh water and oxygen from penetrating.

Decaying Organic Matter: Over time, bits of seaweed, marine organisms, and organic silt get buried under the shifting sand. In an environment devoid of oxygen, normal decomposition cannot happen. Instead, specialized anaerobic bacteria take over to break down this organic material.

The Chemical Reaction: These bacteria "breathe" sulfates (which are abundant in seawater) and exude iron sulfides. It is this iron sulfide that dyes the sand grains a deep, jet-black color and gives it a slick, greasy texture that looks identical to oil.

Boo hoo! The Tower Tearooms and The Tuck Shop are no more ...
In February (brrr!) 2023 via Paul McNamara [https://www.flickr.com/photos/pauljmcnamara/52713096446/]

Red Island again

This Faecsbook page reckons "circa 1928" - www.facebook.com
Includes another Eason near the tower with a motor car - catalogue.nli.ie

Guessing these are the Most Rev. John M Farley, Archbishop of New York, and the Most Rev. William H. O'Connell, Archbishop of Boston, who were named Cardinals on October 28, 1911 (according to article in New York Times of Oct 29).

Thanks for the information. We'll look into it.

John Cardinal Murphy Farley (April 20, 1842 - September 17, 1918) was an Irish-American prelate, the seventh bishop (fourth archbishop) of the Roman Catholic diocese of New York. Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Murphy_Farley William Henry Cardinal O'Connell (December 8, 1859 – April 22, 1944) was Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Church who became the first leader of the Archdiocese of Boston to be named a Cardinal of the Catholic Church. Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Henry_O'Connell