John Thomson was a pioneering Scottish photographer. He travelled extensively, but during the later part of his career his focus was predominantly on London. In 1878 he published a book,
Street Life in London. Below are some photographs from it.
Covent Garden flower women
Halpenny Ices
Old Furniture
Recruiting Sergeants at Westminster
Street Doctors
Street Floods in Lambeth
the Old Clothes of St. Giles
the Temperance Sweep
the Water Cart
Tickets, the Card Dealer