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These photographs of two doors side by side were taken by Cath Harries. The door on the left is red with a gold pattern and red leaves hanging over it. The door on the right is black with white wrought-iron tendrils snaking across it and is bordered by white frame.

Knock Knock

Who’s there? Let us in and we’ll tell you all about our new book on London’s doors. It zooms in close, uncovering a wealth of detail about their design, history and owners. Grand, stylish or unusual, public or private, religious or commercial, shiny or shabby, Doors of London picks them out.

The black front door of Dennis Severs’ House in Spitalfields contrasts boldly with the red brick of the façade and the terracotta of the shutters.
A gas lantern glows over the door to Dennis Severs’ House in Spitalfields, transporting you back into a past London.

If you walk down any street in London, you will see innumerable examples of architectural detail and craftsmanship: from balustrades to cornices, spires to chimneys. One often overlooked aspect of the capital’s heritage is its doors – captured by the freelance photographer Cath Harries on innumerable walks, covering miles upon miles of the city’s streets. In Doors of London she treats us to her favourites borough by borough, alongside attractive locator maps. Each door has been selected for bold colour, historical importance or intricate design.

Joining Harries in her venture is the independent house historian Melanie Backe-Hansen, who provides the context behind each door and its location. Taking readers on a journey back through the annals of time, Harries and Backe-Hansen illuminate how London’s doors have evolved from the reigns of Henry VIII to Charles III, providing thoughtful essays identifying the designers of the buildings and telling the stories of the intriguing individuals who lived behind the doors.

What next?
Doors of London will release to the public on 28th October and we can’t wait for you to get your hands on it. If you’re feeling particularly keen, you can see a preview and pre-order the book here.