London's Square Mile by Polly Braden

Issue 48

London's financial centre, known as 'London's Square Mile', covers one square mile of land. The photographs have charted the rise and more recently fall of the City. Whilst the City branded itself and was seen from the outside as a slick, modern and confident place in 2006 these days it is just as often the place protestors choose to put up tents or the starting place for the public sector march.

Ten thousand people live in the Square Mile and over 350,000 come in to work each day. What do these financial centres represent to the rest of the country? They exist within the city but separately to it. In London's case the City has it's own police, it's own political system, it is the proud owner of land around London such as Epping Forest and Hampstead Heath. What does it mean to the people who live within this area and to the rest of the country who feel the impact of decisions made there in their everyday lives?

You can purchase Polly's photograph One New Change, 2012 from Fraction Editions.

Polly Braden is a London, UK based photographer.
To view more of Polly's work, please visit her website.

Hello, World!

Brushfield Street, 2006 

Brushfield Street, 2006 

Gresham Street, 2012 

Gresham Street, 2012 

One New Change, 2012 

One New Change, 2012 

Millennium Bridge "Play me" piano, 2009 

Millennium Bridge "Play me" piano, 2009 

London Wall, Lord Mayor’s show, 2012 

London Wall, Lord Mayor’s show, 2012 

Barbican, King’s College graduation, 2013 

Barbican, King’s College graduation, 2013 

Silk Street, 2007 

Silk Street, 2007 

Monument, 2010 

Monument, 2010 

London Wall, Lord Mayor’s show, 2012

London Wall, Lord Mayor’s show, 2012

London Metal Exchange, 2013

London Metal Exchange, 2013

Bishopsgate, G20, 2009 

Bishopsgate, G20, 2009 

Bishopsgate, G20, 2009 

Bishopsgate, G20, 2009 

Paternoster Square, 2006 

Paternoster Square, 2006 

Mooregate, 2008 

Mooregate, 2008 

Liverpool Street Station, 2006 

Liverpool Street Station, 2006 

Occupy Movement, 2011

Occupy Movement, 2011

Guildhall Pond, 2009 

Guildhall Pond, 2009 

Threadneedle Street, 2006 

Threadneedle Street, 2006 

Appold Street, 2006 

Appold Street, 2006