The BFI's new
Britain on Film Archive, launched today, no doubt has many local treasures among its 25,000 films available to view online. My favourite so far is remarkable film tour of Lewisham in 1922, featuring lots of high street scenes, along with Deptford High Street, Ladywell park and other locations: 'This exquisitely detailed tour of the south-east London borough of Lewisham traverses town centre tramways and the Rivers Ravensbourne and Quaggy, gliding past ornate-signed outfitters and grander edifices like the Chiesman Brothers department store. We visit Deptford High Street and Catford, glimpse women workers leaving a Watney's bottling plant - and schoolboys practising their country dancing'.
You can watch the whole thing here. Here's some stills to whet your appetite.
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| Ladywell Park Cascades |
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| Children playing in the River Quaggy |
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| Bray & Bray opticians, New Cross Road |
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| Munro & Co Drapers, 141-143 Deptford High Street |
Wonder what happened to the drinking fountain they refer to as The Obelisk.
ReplyDeleteThese are some fantastic photos, it's so interesting to look at these and compare it to how built up this area of South London is now!
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