Festival of Britain construction site on South Bank
More information
Title
Festival of Britain construction site on South Bank
Festival of Britain construction site on South Bank
Reference
SC_PHL_01_260_F6716 (Collage 91771)
Date
Collection
London Metropolitan Archives: LCC Photograph Library
Description
Festival of Britain construction site in Waterloo Road, Waterloo, running north from the junction of Waterloo Road and Tenison Way. Derelict single-storey buildings, with a high wall at the rear with a bus stop sign are visible above on Waterloo Road. Four men are looking at the ground. A large three-storey construction, a building for the Festival of Britain, is contained within scaffolding. Two men in shirtsleeves are at the top of the scaffolding and another is ascending. This site formerly contained dwellings on Howley Place which ran parallel to Waterloo Road. In the background, the chimney of Letts Wharf. 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. This site was cleared and a block of the Shell Centre, now known as The Whitehouse Apartments, was built here.
Festival of Britain construction site in Waterloo Road, Waterloo, running north from the junction of Waterloo Road and Tenison Way. Derelict single-storey buildings, with a high wall at the rear with a bus stop sign are visible above on Waterloo Road. Four men are looking at the ground. A large three-storey construction, a building for the Festival of Britain, is contained within scaffolding. Two men in shirtsleeves are at the top of the scaffolding and another is ascending. This site formerly contained dwellings on Howley Place which ran parallel to Waterloo Road. In the background, the chimney of Letts Wharf. 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. This site was cleared and a block of the Shell Centre, now known as The Whitehouse Apartments, was built here.
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