The New North Heath Library; Snows of 1991
VHS Colour Sound 1990-2000 18:41
Summary: Video with three parts: a short video of the building of North Heath Library, 2000; 'Local Events', 1990, including Greenwich and the Thames Barrier; Snows of 1991.
Title number: 1558
LSA ID: LSA/2065
Description: Opening title reads 'The Building of the New North Heath Library 2000'. A large digger works in a fenced-off area with a mock-Tudor pub (The Royal Oak on Bexley Road) in the background, followed by a shot of a large cement mixer in the same spot. The digger is then seen working again. A smaller digger is then seen. We then cut to some time later, and see the ground floor of the library complete; a large crane lifts a triangular piece of wood over the flat roof. Cut to the nearly-complete sloped roof, the building still surrounded by scaffholding. The brown cladding is then added to the front of the building. A large claw carries waste from the site. The library now seems complete as the fences are removed the lights turned out.
Next title reads 'Local Events 1990'. A shot of a large concrete road bridge, zooming out to see a large electricity pylon in the foreground. A large ramp, and the entrance to a toll road, with traffic passing through, including many vans. Outdoor shot of what appears to be a large indoor water park with slides coming out the side. A large battleship in the water surrounded by smaller boats, the wet beach in the foreground. Barges are seen, possibly around the Thames Estuary(?). A large glass-fronted building with tower blocks in the background. A red brick building with 'Playhouse' written in large letters on the front; camera zooms out to reveal that this is behind the large glass-fronted building seen in the previous scene. A colourful flower-bed, then a shot of a busy roundabout with the Wollwich Building overlooking it - the large building, built 1989, has large glass windows and red triangular roofs in a style typical of the late 1980's. Next shot is of a building site, followed by the Bexleyheath Clock Tower (built 1911-12). This is followed by a shot of a high street, with a large glass-fronted building to the right, then a large brown-brick shopping centre. Shots of the park, followed by a busy motorway lined with trees. We then see the distinctive tower of St. Mary the Virgin Church. A car drives down a suburban road. Various shots show the green banks of the River Cray and the Five Arches Bridge in Foots Cray Meadows. We then see various shots of suburban roads followed by a a large country house. Shot of semi-detached suburban red-brick houses, and dogs in a park. A large church with a steeple is next. A very long and large 18th-century building is seen next, possibly a military academy, with a cannon outside. A boat floats down a narrow river in a built-up area with tower blocks in the background, and a car park in the foreground. Next shot is of the Thames Barrier, and various other shots of the river. Cut to a shot of a bust street in Greenwich, the sails of the Cutty Sark in the background, then another shot of a pub next to one of the entrances to Greenwich Market. Shots of the gates round the Old Naval College, and of the Cutty Sark. A juggler entertains a crowd near the entrance to the tunnel, and another man plays the saxophone. Crowds at the Astronomy Tower look at the clock at the Royal Observatory, and look down the slopes of Greenwich Park to Canary Wharf (construction in this area had only just begun in 1990, so only the huge unfinished One Canada Square towers over the docklands, with cranes on top). Children play in Greenwich Park. We see a mock-medieval building in a park, and sunset over a lake.
Next title: 'The Snows of 91'. Newsreader Robert Houston reads a news report with a title reading 'The Big Freeze' behind him: "...the East has taken the brunt of the Arctic weather that swept across from Siberia and forecasters say there's worse to come: the temperature is set to plummet to minus 8 Celsius tonight and more heavy snow is on the way." A shot from inside a car, looking out the windshield, as it drives through icy roads, the pavements thick with snow. Another newsreader voices over a shot of a snow plough driving down an empty motorway as more snow falls: "For the most part, motorists did the sensible thing and stayed home; the M25 in London belonged temporarily to just the road gritter. Obvious hazards were poor visibility and sheet ice [as we see a large lorry turned on its side next to the road] this was the A45 near Cambridge." Victims of crashes talk about skidding off the road, as does a policeman. Final shot is of a dog playing in the snow.
Cast: Robert Houston
Keywords: Library; North Heath; local events; construction; Erith
Locations: United Kingdom; England; Bexley; Greenwich; Thames Barrier; River Thames
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