Cobbles used to be the main way streets were paved, an approach to road construction that arrived in Britain with the Romans. The results were highly durable but bumpy, and almost all of these have been replaced or covered over with tarmac. However, some small side streets and alleys around the country still have their original cobbled surfaces.

This is a cobbled alley off a main road going through Tooting Broadway in South London. The sign above the alley entrance reads “SALVADOR.” This refers to the alley’s name, either ‘Salvador Place’ or ‘Salvador Row,’ although in maps today it is just called ‘Salvador.’ The name comes from the Salvador family who owned a large country estate in the area in the 18th century.

This is a convenient cut-through between the high street and one entrance of a large Sainsbury’s supermarket and car park.