1-191-588 - © London Museum/Heritage Images

Westminster Abbey, and the Palace of Westminster under construction, London, c1857. Early photographic representation of London; the view, possibly from Great Smith Street, shows the medieval abbey, with construction work on the new Palace of Westminster behind. Scaffolding around the Clock Tower (also referred to as St Stephen's Tower) which houses the famous Big Ben bell, can be seen on the left. In the foreground are horse-drawn carts. Fenton, a founder member of the London Photography Society, (later the Royal Photographic Society), contributed to the establishment of documentary photography.