Festival of Britain construction site on South Bank
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Title
Festival of Britain construction site on South Bank
Festival of Britain construction site on South Bank
Reference
SC_PHL_01_260_F7001 (Collage 91804)
Date
Collection
London Metropolitan Archives: LCC Photograph Library
Description
Festival of Britain construction site in York Road, Waterloo, looking south-east under the railway viaduct that carries trains from Waterloo East (formerly Waterloo Junction Station) across Hungerford Bridge to Charing Cross. On the bridge is a sign advertising "Illustrated, Every Wednesday Threepence", a popular magazine of photojournalism. To the right are three workmen wearing flat caps. Under the bridge is rubble, machinery and a cart with two buckets hanging from the back. The pedestrian footbridge that connected Waterloo Station to the Station Gate entrance of the Festival of Britain site Through can be seen through the viaduct. The Festival of Britain was a nationwide event that took place in the summer of 1951. Originally intended to mark the centenary of the Great Exhibition of 1851, it became a way to celebrate Britain and its achievements rather than including international themes. The construction of the Festival on its flagship South Bank site required the demolition of the industrial and residential buildings between Waterloo Bridge and County Hall. After the Festival, the South Bank site was cleared of all festival infrastructure except the Royal Festival Hall on the orders of Winston Churchill, who saw the Festival as a beacon for socialist ideas.
Festival of Britain construction site in York Road, Waterloo, looking south-east under the railway viaduct that carries trains from Waterloo East (formerly Waterloo Junction Station) across Hungerford Bridge to Charing Cross. On the bridge is a sign advertising "Illustrated, Every Wednesday Threepence", a popular magazine of photojournalism. To the right are three workmen wearing flat caps. Under the bridge is rubble, machinery and a cart with two buckets hanging from the back. The pedestrian footbridge that connected Waterloo Station to the Station Gate entrance of the Festival of Britain site Through can be seen through the viaduct. The Festival of Britain was a nationwide event that took place in the summer of 1951. Originally intended to mark the centenary of the Great Exhibition of 1851, it became a way to celebrate Britain and its achievements rather than including international themes. The construction of the Festival on its flagship South Bank site required the demolition of the industrial and residential buildings between Waterloo Bridge and County Hall. After the Festival, the South Bank site was cleared of all festival infrastructure except the Royal Festival Hall on the orders of Winston Churchill, who saw the Festival as a beacon for socialist ideas.
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