Angel of the Thames

Naturally for earlier sightings we have to rely on sometimes unreliable written accounts. As we move into the photographic age we inevitably see more concrete evidence of the Angel sightings.

This etching was made in 1865 and documents the sighting by dozens of workers building the Thames Embankment of the Angel of the Thames. It is the only such example from that year, although there are other sightings written about from the Tower of London to the current site of Waterloo bridge.

This particular etching is charming for it’s very literal interpretation of an angel. It is clear that the artist has represented what he has read about the incident in his own way.

Among the early photographs is this rather poor shot taken shortly after the outbreak of the Great War in 1914. Many people had turned up near Southwark docks after a reported sighting.

This photograph was taken during the Blitz and coincides with an appearance by the Thames Angel to firemen on the night of 12th November 1940.

Possibly the most important sighting to date has been filmed by a TV crew, but is being SUPRESSED by the producers for fear of embarrassing TV Start and telent spotter David Grant.