Official opening of Highview Gardens by Henry Brooke
16mm film Black & White Sound 1960s 2:08
Summary: Opening of Highview flats in Southgate; Henry Brooke discusses London housing problems
Title number: 19553
LSA ID: LSA/25937
Description: Variously angled shots of flats on Highview Road tall, typically 1960s tower block with balconies on the corners. The flats are opened by Henry Brooke, at this date Minister of Housing and Local Government for Harold Macmillan's Conservative government (he was later Home Secretary). Also present is the Mayor of Southgate (either William Victor Pearce or Francis John Victor Brown), wearing a cape and livery chain; along with other men in suits they observe the views over Southgate from the top of the tower block. We then see Henry Brooke standing with a microphone, presumably at a press conference; behind him is a large mural depicting the housing estate from above. He seems to be answering a question (which we do not hear): "I believe that as a universal principle, that would be wrong architecturally, I'm quite certain it's wrong socially. The rent problems in London and Middlesex just know you know, are a facet of the general London and Greater London housing problem, which all stems from shortage of land. More people are wanting to live in London and the London area nowadays than there is room for, and it is this fact which carries rents and house prices in and around London up to new levels. Those who leave London and move elsewhere will find, maybe to their surprise, that they can live more cheaply elsewhere, than they can anywhere in or close to London. But there's also a responsibility on us, surely, to make certain that no land is wasted."
Cast: Henry Brooke (Minister of Housing and Local Government, later Minister of the Interior)
Further information: Flats now referred to as Swinson House, Highview Gardens, Arnos Grove, N11
Keywords: Housing; speech; Architecture; tower block; Minister
Locations: United Kingdom; England; London; Enfield; Southgate
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