Uxbridge Redevelopment
16mm film Colour Silent 1967 18:51
Summary: Film shows Uxbridge town centre prior to redevelopment.
Title number: 377
LSA ID: LSA/492
Description: The film begins with views of a part-demolished terrace house with internal wallpaper, fireplaces and stairs revealed. The church on one side is intact; the next terrace house along appears empty, with its neighbour apparently complete and still occupied. A notice tied to a lamppost gives information on the council's proposal to extinguish public rights of way over Osborn Road, Redfords Yard, Cavehouse Yard, the footpath at Fountains Hill between the High Street and Fassnidge Memorial Recreation Ground, parts of Lion Road, Bassett Road and Victoria Road (dated 15th December 1967), Behind the demolished housing stands a new brick building of several stories. Shots of the shopping area of the high street commence with the shop front of the London Co-operative Society's store which advertises their 'household saving event', and the windows feature furniture and home ware. Several other shops are seen in less detail: Pearson (menswear). Miles Motors (car sales), Sewmaster (sewing machines), Louvre (ladies wear), Welch & Gibbs, Fosters, Lavells, Coxhead Rentals (TV rental), Hepworths (menswear), Civic, Ian Howard, Dolcis, and the tailors Burtons. A closed down tool shop (possibly called Kirby & Sons) has fly posters for the pop group Procul Harum plastered on its windows. Off the main street there is also film of Langstons ironmongers (on The Lynch) and Maurdon Motors down an alleyway. Away from the high street the film records some of the residential streets to be affected by development: Osborn Road, Bassett Road, Belmont Road (where there are already some partly demolished terraces), The Lynch (by the canal), Lawn Road, and Victoria Road. Also taken in are the back alleys of Laundry Yard and Grainges Yard. Around the same area we see Our Lady of Lourdes & St Michael church, the Fassnidge Memorial Hall (a modern single storey building 'reserved for the quiet enjoyment of the elderly'), the Providence Congregational Church, Uxbridge Youth Centre and the entrance to Uxbridge Open Market. Some cleared sites show the preparations for new construction.
Keywords: Demolitions; Urban planning; Urban renewal
Locations: United Kingdom; England; London; Hillingdon; Uxbridge
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