One of a series of photographs by Henry Flather showing the construction, undertaken between 1866 and 1870, of the Metropolitan Railway's underground lines between Farringdon and Paddington and on to Kensington. It now forms part of the existing District and Circle lines on the London underground. The construction work, utilising the 'cut and cover' technique, caused a lot of disruption to London neighbourhoods. Praed Street Station, now known as Paddington, is hidden from view by the beer house in the centre of the picture.

Photograph: Science & Society Picture Librar/SSPL via Getty Images