Uxbridge Past and Present
VHS Colour Sound 1992 35:36
Summary: Film taken c1968-1973 of Uxbridge redevelopment and new film of 1991.
Title number: 2369
LSA ID: LSA/3114
Description: The first film 'Uxbridge Panorama' looks at the Borough of Uxbridge, then in the County of Middlesex on the eve of redevelopment. Scenes shots around the town take in the canal, Western Avenue, the clock tower and High Street, and Tudor wood frame buildings. Some wintry scenes show ice and snow floating on the canal. Still images giving artist's impressions of a modern development, and film of a scale model of the plans indicate a possible future for the town. The model is marked with signs indicating 'Stage One' and 'Stage Two'. The cameraman's reflection appears in a window as he films a sign behind it reading 'London Borough of Hillingdon, Uxbridge Central Area Redevelopment, Starting May 1968'. Some more views around the centre of town take in local shops including Burton tailoring (menswear), Dolcis (shoes), Civic, and Hepworth's. The filmmaker goes on to record some of alleys and residential streets facing demolition or change in the new plans, including parts of Vine Street. Demolition work is seen commencing with a man standing precariously on a chimney as he smashes away at its brick structure with a sledgehammer and pickaxe. Elsewhere part demolished buildings are boarded up. A letting agents sign announces new shop and office space to rent, to be completed in early 1970 with an artist's impression of the new buildings. The film moves on to the construction site itself with tall cranes moving materials, men and machines at work and a steel and concrete structure taking shape. This activity is contrasted with quiet residential streets of terrace and semi-dethatched housing. The canal side building of 'F.A. Sedgwick & Co. Brewers of Watford stands next to construction vehicles and equipment. The Wellington Public House and a row of part demolished shops and houses. An elderly woman is filmed standing on the balcony of a brick apartment building. More shots of the construction site are contextualised with a street map showing the areas being developed in the context of New Windsor Street, the High Street, Windsor Street and Vine Street. Shots of the public houses The Railway Arms and the Eight Bells precede more views of partly demolished housing and shops. At the construction site, work has progressed, with windows in the tower block of offices and finishes and fascias in place. At some point later, the new centre has opened and people walk amongst the buildings, while traffic travels on the new relief road. The centralised pedestrian area includes a re-established outdoor market. The filmmaker counterpoints elements of old Uxbridge, the clock tower, an old gas lamp, a church steeple with the cranes raising up the new. These pieces of film are followed by a video sequence entitled 'Uxbridge Panorama 1992'; by J.B. Productions. The video begins at the St. Andrew's Gate of Uxbridge's RAF Station, with views of the gatepost, sentry men and buildings (on screen date indicates it was shot on 13th November 1992). The video then moves through the town centre taking in a branch of Kentucky Fried Chicken, the Regal Cinema, Midland Bank, Randalls department store, Mahjacks Corner, the War memorial, The Metropolitan Public House, The Queens Head Tavern, a public water fountain, The Three Tuns, Uxbridge tube station, The Pavilions shopping mall, the relief road, The Crown and Treaty pub, the Swan & Bottle, the Old Meeting Congregational Church, Christ Church, and the White Horse. The video maker seeks to pick out evidence of the past amongst the modern buildings, which now longer possess the utopian aura surrounding their original design. An onscreen titles proclaims 'The New Uxbridge of the 90's'; and records new glass fronted office blocks of Harman House, the Sainsbury's superstore and car park, the bus garage, the offices of AIB, Wellington House, as well as a new branch of Royal Bank of Scotland, the new library and archives building. Views along and around the High Street take in Lloyd's Bank, the Odeon Cinema, and the offices of BP. Another title announces 'Uxbridge Forward into the Twenty-First Century' before another 'The End'
Credits: Director: J. Bramhill
Further information: Compilation of films shot c.1967-1973 and a new video made in 1992
Keywords: Urban planning; Demolitions; Urban renewal
Locations: United Kingdom; England; London; Hillingdon; Uxbridge
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Comments
The film brought back some very happy memories of a time and place that sadly no longer exists.
Uxbridge may just be a part of London, it’s old heart and quaintness ripped out long ago. So very very sad.
My memory is hazy of the time before the Chimes came in. It's nice to see how my hometown looked like before i had memories of it. So much of it looks identical today. I have some great memories from this place.
Does anyone here have any further insight that grew up during the 70s, 80s or 90s in Uxbridge? What has changed upon returning? Favourite thing about this place? I personally loved the town centre late on a Sunday night (1am), so peaceful and quiet where you can just breathe in the history.
Uxbridge High Street. One called Selwyns the other called
Maxwells - they may even have been the same premises.
Does anyone know?
had touble fitting the project into the space available - at one stage it jutted out into the High Street. It was eventually sorted out but a corner was close to the Catholic church at the back and we ended up cutting off the existing road access around the church. We removed a road running from the high street back to the church and put a 4 ft 6 inch piling auger through the telephone connections running under the road. GPO engineers spent weeks putting the telphone wires together which ran through the 'Golden Manhole', it had that name. It apparently was part of the connection between Whitehall and High Wycombe where the government would go if nuclear war broke out between the US and the USSR - Happy Days