The Secret Life of Streets (BBC Two)

[Anna]

I do apologise for posting the link to an interesting programme hosted by a Complete Numpty. I, however, will still watch it, unlike others.

[Serial_Apologist]

Now you're talking! That would have caused a muck-sweat in Broadcasting Towers - Meades LIVE on the Thames!

Standing stock still staring blankly ahead on the end of one of the barges in his habitual black coat and pink shades, like the undertakers on the canal hearse at the end of "Don't Look Now"!

[Nick Armstrong]

I do apologise for posting the link to an interesting programme hosted by a Complete Numpty. I, however, will still watch it, unlike others.

So shall I ! It was already set to record!

I also like the look of this one: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01jv255

[Serial_Apologist]

So shall I ! It was already set to record!

I also like the look of this one: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01jv255

Aaagh - clashes with The Secret History of Our Streets on Beeb 2. And a lot of people will probably tune in to Borgen (not me). Just like buses - you wait forever then a bunch of them come along together.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I do apologise for posting the link to an interesting programme hosted by a Complete Numpty. I, however, will still watch it, unlike others.

So shall I, Anna. Dan C is an annoyingly affected presenter, but his programmes are usually very well researched and highly informative.

The Turner one looks unmissable, too.

[David Underdown]

Missed the first one, but now watching the second on Camberwell. Nicely done so far.

Some interesting conversations in the rest of this thread too. Interested to see the mention of Mitcham - I've been researching the men named on the First World War roll of honour of the Surrey Association of Church Bell Ringers (it covers all members who served, not just those killed). Mitcham had one of the strongest bands at the time, and so had one of the largest groups of men who served.

[Serial_Apologist]

Missed the first one, but now watching the second on Camberwell. Nicely done so far.

Some interesting conversations in the rest of this thread too. Interested to see the mention of Mitcham - I've been researching the men named on the First World War roll of honour of the Surrey Association of Church Bell Ringers (it covers all members who served, not just those killed). Mitcham had one of the strongest bands at the time, and so had one of the largest groups of men who served.

Mitcham's common!

Fasscinating programme about Grove Park. I'm very fortunate in my timing, moving to the Crystal Palce area in 2004, by which time the conservation concept was beginning to yield results in terms of seeing previously run down Georgian and Regency streets being returned to their former, albeit bourgeois glory. Back then I was shown into one of the flats in Grove Park, then going for just over £300k and in need of considerable renovation. While welcoming the clearing of some of the multistorey blocks of council flats built in the 60s and 70s, however, I have some reservations about the neo-Georgian "new builds" shown at the end of the programme, whether going at a million and a half quid to superbonus executives or put up for what is euphemistically described as low rental: the Prince of Wales would doubtless approve.

[Anna]

The programme was interesting regarding the conservation movement in Camberwell Grove, but just off there at the other end of the street, The Aylesbury Estate, featured in the programme and mentioned upthread, took in part of Villa Street (where's Lat's family lived) which ran into The Grove, well constructed Victorian terraces (of course requiring updating and modernisation) demolished for the Aylesbury development which was, in the planners' eyes 'futuristic' (aka dehumanising) and the social engineering experiment failing dismally turning the Estate into the worst 'sink' estate in London, now of course having to be demolished, as modern slums. What a shame only the middle class had a voice.

[Nick Armstrong]

Mitcham's common!

My auntie lives in Mitcham!!!

[Serial_Apologist]

My auntie lives in Mitcham!!!

On the common??

[Nick Armstrong]

On the common??

On the contrary!!

[Anna]

Another Dan Cruikshank programme tonight 9pm BBC4 (following on from his very interesting one last week in which we learned all about carrots and hotbeds) He explores the mysteries and secrets of the bridges that have made London what is: stories of bronze-age relics emerging from the Vauxhall shore; why London Bridge was falling down; midnight corpses splashing beneath Waterloo Bridge, and London's bridgebuilders themselves.

[Nick Armstrong]

Another Dan Cruikshank programme tonight 9pm BBC4 (following on from his very interesting one last week in which we learned all about carrots and hotbeds) He explores the mysteries and secrets of the bridges that have made London what is: stories of bronze-age relics emerging from the Vauxhall shore; why London Bridge was falling down; midnight corpses splashing beneath Waterloo Bridge, and London's bridgebuilders themselves.

Part way through watching

I thought the opening contention that for Dan, London "is Europe's greatest city" was a bit distracting and unnecessary... I love London but...

But eclipsed by the fascinating detail e.g. about the 3500 year old Bronze age bridge piles at Vauxhall!! Quite amazing!

[Anna]

But eclipsed by the fascinating detail e.g. about the 3500 year old Bronze age bridge piles at Vauxhall!! Quite amazing!

It was indeed an interesting programme even though Mr. Cruikshank's style of delivery takes a little getting used to ....... Not sure if anyone else has seen it or caught up with the latest Streets programme because of the endless football.

However, going back to Streets and the conservation issue. I've been going through the addresses where my London branch of the family lived and was hearted to see this about the Pullens Buildings: They are some of the last Victorian tenement buildings surviving in London. In the Walworth, Newington area, they are near Elephant and Castle and Kennington Underground stations. Located in Amelia Street, Crampton Street, Iliffe Street, Penton Place and Peacock Street, they are protected by Conservation Area status granted by Southwark Council.

Some were damaged by bombs in WW2 and some fell into disrepair and were demolished. In the 1970s, the council planned to demolish all the buildings but were stopped in the 1980s by an alliance of tenants and squatters under the umbrella of the residents' association who campaigned and fought successfully to save them. Think how much more of London could have been saved from the souless planners by people joining together! They are 4 storey terraces originally built as, and retained as, flats and those in private ownership are selling for around £300,000. Not that price makes a jot of difference, they are lovely (ok, not as beautiful or elegant as the Georgian ones in Camberwell Grove) and it's somehow a really nice feeling to look at them and think of my family living there, coming and going and children playing in the street (yes, I know, that's soppy and sentimental) I tried to find a photo link to post but google only turns up flickr which don't allow copy and pasting, but anyone can find the photos. Edit: it seems some of The Kings Speech was filmed there.

[Nick Armstrong]

I shall read your post with interest Anna but let me just paste the link I found otherwise I shall forget to....

For London-nostalgia fanciers, there is a new series starting next week (Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings at various times): LONDON ON FILM - "portraits of different areas of London as seen through the eyes of film-makers", we are told, using "a rich mix of archive footage"

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01jzq75