Retro photos show Londoners enjoying sunny siestas in years after WWII

Stunning retro pictures have proven that siestas are more than just a Spanish tradition as people lazily napped among the famous landmarks and bombed-out buildings of London in 1950.

The fascinating images show Londoners enjoying a quiet afternoon snooze under shady trees in St James’ Park in the years after the Second World War.

Two labourers are shown sleeping peacefully in their wheelbarrows among the ruins of bombed-out London, while another carefree Londoner is pictured sleeping on a deck chair that cost three pence for a session.

Other striking shots show two workmen asleep on the statue of the bronze sphinx next to the River Thames, as they enjoy the warmth of the midday sun.

In other images, a young women is seen sitting on the grass in St James’ Park reading in the sun and a young couple standing on the Tower Bridge with the Tower of London looming in the background.

Three men are pictured laying down asleep in the sun among the ruins of bombed out London in the years shortly after the end of the Second World War, after German bombs had decimated much of the capital’s buildings during the Blitz

This gentleman has found taking a quick nap, aided by a newspaper for a cushion and his coat as a makeshift sheet, on a perch at St Martin-in-the-fields, the church in Trafalgar Square in a photograph taken during 1950

This gentleman has found taking a quick nap, aided by a newspaper for a cushion and his coat as a makeshift sheet, on a perch at St Martin-in-the-fields, the church in Trafalgar Square in a photograph taken during 1950

A loved-up young couple are pictured hugging and chatting away as they take a break on the the steps beneath one of London's many monuments in another photograph taken during the summer of 1950

A loved-up young couple are pictured hugging and chatting away as they take a break on the the steps beneath one of London’s many monuments in another photograph taken during the summer of 1950

Two labourers are pictured sleeping peacefully in their wheelbarrows, among the ruins of a bombed-out London. The financial cost of the Blitz, by the end of the horrific campaign, came to around £20,000,000 - with 116,000 buildings destroyed in London alone - but the human cost was catastrophic, leaving 43,000 dead

Two labourers are pictured sleeping peacefully in their wheelbarrows, among the ruins of a bombed-out London. The financial cost of the Blitz, by the end of the horrific campaign, came to around £20,000,000 – with 116,000 buildings destroyed in London alone – but the human cost was catastrophic, leaving 43,000 dead

There comes a time in every man's working day, usually after lunch, when forty winks are much-needed. For the Londoner who is lucky enough to be near St James's Park, a quiet snooze beneath the shady trees is the solution

There comes a time in every man’s working day, usually after lunch, when forty winks are much-needed. For the Londoner who is lucky enough to be near St James’s Park, a quiet snooze beneath the shady trees is the solution

A gardener is pictured as he gently rouses a sun-goggled sleeper in St James's Park, who was unfortunate to have chosen the path of a lawnmower in a photograph taken at sometime during 1950

A gardener is pictured as he gently rouses a sun-goggled sleeper in St James’s Park, who was unfortunate to have chosen the path of a lawnmower in a photograph taken at sometime during 1950

Two workmen are pictured taking an impromptu nap on the statue of the bronze sphinx next to the River Thames, as they enjoy the warmth of the midday sun on a bright day in London in 1950

Two workmen are pictured taking an impromptu nap on the statue of the bronze sphinx next to the River Thames, as they enjoy the warmth of the midday sun on a bright day in London in 1950

A young woman is pictured sitting on the grass in St James's Park wearing a strapless summer dress and reading during a break from the day's events. The photograph is one of several taken in 1950 that has recently been uncovered

A young woman is pictured sitting on the grass in St James’s Park wearing a strapless summer dress and reading during a break from the day’s events. The photograph is one of several taken in 1950 that has recently been uncovered

A photograph captures a young boy and girl as they make their way hand-in-hand through St James's Park together. Hundreds of bombs fell on the park during the war years, as Londoners were told to turn out lights in their homes to stop German pilots from directing their fire at built-up areas

A photograph captures a young boy and girl as they make their way hand-in-hand through St James’s Park together. Hundreds of bombs fell on the park during the war years, as Londoners were told to turn out lights in their homes to stop German pilots from directing their fire at built-up areas

Hat over eyes, legs and arms outstretched, this Londoner looks ready to sleep away the entire afternoon in a deck chair in a sunny St James's Park. Deck chairs have been available to hire at the park for much of its storied history, with Londoners paying about 3 pence for the privilege during the 1950s

Hat over eyes, legs and arms outstretched, this Londoner looks ready to sleep away the entire afternoon in a deck chair in a sunny St James’s Park. Deck chairs have been available to hire at the park for much of its storied history, with Londoners paying about 3 pence for the privilege during the 1950s

A young couple enjoy an intimate hug as they take in the views on the River Thames. They are sat next to Cleopatra's Needle, an obelisk statue presented to the UK in 1819 by the ruler of Egypt and Sudan, Muhammad Ali, in commemoration of the  Battle of Alexandria in 1801

A young couple enjoy an intimate hug as they take in the views on the River Thames. They are sat next to Cleopatra’s Needle, an obelisk statue presented to the UK in 1819 by the ruler of Egypt and Sudan, Muhammad Ali, in commemoration of the Battle of Alexandria in 1801

An elderly woman looks on as the smartly-dressed man to her left manages to fall sound asleep despite sitting perfectly upright on a park bench. While a siesta is most commonly associated with Spain, these images prove that an afternoon nap was a favourite pastime of many British workers in the 1950s

An elderly woman looks on as the smartly-dressed man to her left manages to fall sound asleep despite sitting perfectly upright on a park bench. While a siesta is most commonly associated with Spain, these images prove that an afternoon nap was a favourite pastime of many British workers in the 1950s

A siesta is a short nap taken in the early afternoon, often after the midday meal. Such a period of sleep is a common tradition in some countries, particularly those where the weather is warm. The siesta is historically common throughout the Mediterranean and Southern Europe.

While a siesta is most commonly associated with Spain, these images prove that an afternoon nap was a favourite pastime of many British workers in the 1950s.

While this is no longer commonplace in the UK, the same can be said of modern Spain where the midday nap during the working week has largely been abandoned by the adult working population.

English language media often conflate the siesta with the two to three hour lunch break which is characteristic of Spanish working hours, even though the working population is less likely to have time for a siesta and the two events are not necessarily connected.

A photograph taken from above an unsuspecting couple shows them as they sit on a park bench and feed pigeons in St James's Park. The park is home to a myriad of different species of animal, including its famous pelicans, which have lived in the park for nearly 400 years. They were originally presented as a gift from the Russian Ambassador to King Charles II

A photograph taken from above an unsuspecting couple shows them as they sit on a park bench and feed pigeons in St James’s Park. The park is home to a myriad of different species of animal, including its famous pelicans, which have lived in the park for nearly 400 years. They were originally presented as a gift from the Russian Ambassador to King Charles II

However loud the water splashes at the bottom of these steps leading down to the River Thames, this weary Londoner dozes peacefully in the sunshine - as he perhaps dreams of waves breaking on a sandy beach somewhere else

However loud the water splashes at the bottom of these steps leading down to the River Thames, this weary Londoner dozes peacefully in the sunshine – as he perhaps dreams of waves breaking on a sandy beach somewhere else

A worker proves that any 

A worker makes the best of a difficult situation by taking a nap on a grass verge, while in the background the damaged buildings of a London still reeling from relentless bombing by the Germans can be seen 

A young couple is pictured standing on a bridge above the River Thames and enjoying a chat while a man smokes a pipe as he takes in the view

A young couple is pictured standing on a bridge above the River Thames and enjoying a chat while a man smokes a pipe as he takes in the view

A young couple are pictured enjoying a quiet moment together as they stand on the approach to the iconic Tower Bridge. In the background, another of the city's biggest landmarks, the Tower of London, can be seen dominating the skyline

A young couple are pictured enjoying a quiet moment together as they stand on the approach to the iconic Tower Bridge. In the background, another of the city’s biggest landmarks, the Tower of London, can be seen dominating the skyline

It's been raining; the chairs are tipped together to let the water run off, and the deck chairs are still wet. But as the sun breaks through, another Londoner stretches full length on a park seat for his siesta

It’s been raining; the chairs are tipped together to let the water run off, and the deck chairs are still wet. But as the sun breaks through, another Londoner stretches full length on a park seat for his siesta

Two young couples looking down on the River Thames as an older couple enjoy a cigarette. In the years following the war, several unexploded bombs were found in the river, with the latest such discovery coming as late as 2017

Two young couples looking down on the River Thames as an older couple enjoy a cigarette. In the years following the war, several unexploded bombs were found in the river, with the latest such discovery coming as late as 2017

When Londoners need sleep , even a wooden park bench can seem comfortable. The stunning retro pictures prove that siestas are more than just a Spanish tradition as people lazily napped among the famous landmarks and bombed-out buildings of London in 1950.

When Londoners need sleep , even a wooden park bench can seem comfortable. The stunning retro pictures prove that siestas are more than just a Spanish tradition as people lazily napped among the famous landmarks and bombed-out buildings of London in 1950.

The sun shines on London, and this carefree Londoner sleeps happily under its warmth. Deck chairs cost three pence for a 'session' , either in the morning or afternoon, but judging by the look on this man's face, it appears well worth it

The sun shines on London, and this carefree Londoner sleeps happily under its warmth. Deck chairs cost three pence for a ‘session’ , either in the morning or afternoon, but judging by the look on this man’s face, it appears well worth it

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