A new exhibition is marking the reprint of a sold out book of the photographer’s iconic images of long gone scenes from a north London postcode

Ham & High: Primrose Hill, 1981, from David Bailey's NW1Primrose Hill, 1981, from David Bailey's NW1 (Image: Archant)

Three decades ago NW1 was synonymous with suburban decay.

Now the postcode is one of London’s hottest addresses, its streets lined with high end shops and the likes of Damien Hirst and Tom Ford choosing to call it home.

The crumbling Victorian terraces, derelict cinemas and dilapidated railway archways of the early 1980s are now a thing of the past, but not before they were captured on film in all their austere glory by David Bailey.

The celebrity snapper grew up in London’s east end but after finding fame as British Vogue’s go-to camera man in the swinging 60s he relocated to Camden and Primrose Hill. He and his wife, Catherine Dyer, recently moved from King’s Cross to their new home in Tufnell Park.

Ham & High: Buck Street, 1982, from David Bailey's NW1Buck Street, 1982, from David Bailey's NW1 (Image: Archant)

His black and white portraiture is legendary, with a list of subjects that reads as a who’s who of era defining pop culture figures.

David Bowie, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and even the Kray Twins have all mugged for his camera.

His list of ex-lovers is just as star-studded, including Catherine Deneuve, Marie Helvin and, of course, Jean Shrimpton.

But it’s Bailey’s lesser known but just as striking street photography that’s being celebrated this month.

Ham & High: NW1, by David Bailey, �125, HENI PublishingNW1, by David Bailey, �125, HENI Publishing (Image: Archant)

His photography book NW1 was first published in 1982. Long since sold out, it’s been almost impossible to get your hands on – until now.

HENI Publishing have produced a limited, special edition of NW1, each one hand numbered and signed by the artist.

The reprint will include extracts from the original, as well as previously unseen images from the series.

If you want to add it to your Christmas coffee table book wish list you’ll need to hurry, as only 1000 copies are being released.

To celebrate HENI are holding an exhibition at their Soho gallery, with some of the never-before-seen photos on display.

Running from December 1 2016 to January 2017, the exhibition is free for the public and is an opportunity to discover forgotten scenes of north London through the eyes of one of its most talented living artists.

HENI Gallery

6 – 10 Lexington Street, Soho, W1F