Tuesday 4 January 2011

BBC HISTORY SERIES – OUR SECRET STREETS

You may be aware a major BBC2 series charting the history of the secret streets of London is in the making and is planned to be screened sometime in 2012. One of those streets will be Deptford High Street. Century/Halcyon Heart Films  have contacted me and asked if I could post the following information.

Century and Halcyon Heart Films are an independent production company who are currently making a major new documentary series for BBC2 which will chart the history of six London streets. One of the programes will focus on the history of Deptford High Street. We are currently collaborating with several businesses on the street to build up a picture of the past 120 years. Having been a shopping street for almost two centuries we're sure every shop and building will have a fascinating story, so we're keen to speak to people who have lived or worked in the area about their memories. The questions we want to ask are quite straightforward: How long have / did you live in Deptford? Do you know anything about the history of the high street? What are your memories of the pubs and shops there? And if you lived close to the street, or knew the residential streets nearby, do you remember them before they were demolished in the 1960s and 1970s? Even if you no longer live in Deptford, if you used to know it well we'd really like to hear from you. At this stage, it’s purely for our research and there’s no obligation to appear on television. However, in the coming months we would like to interview people for the documentary. We think it’s going to be a fascinating project – and even if you don’t think you’re going to be interested in appearing on television, it would be great to have a chat with you.  If you can contact us at your earliest convenience, we’ll be sure to get back to you. It goes without saying that everything we talk about will be treated in the strictest confidence, and will not be passed on to anyone outside our team. We so hope that you’ll consider taking part in what is going to be a very exciting project. You can email me at historystreet@centuryfilmsltd.com or give us a call on 020 7378 6106. We'd love to have a chat and answer any questions you might have. For more information you can also see our website … www.oursecretstreets.com

Best Regards,


Jaime Taylor
Century Films/ Halcyons Heart Films

Your local Deptford bloggers would also love to hear your stories as well, and invite readers/ followers to post their comments and stories on the Deptford blogs, or alternatively email them so that we can post them up. In this way we can ensure that stories which never get further than the cutting room floor are recorded, posted for all the community to enjoy. I think its only right that we offer everyone the chance to have their voices heard as well as helping Jaime out with research for the programme.

Marmoset  http://crossfields.blogspot.com/ and the Deptford Dame at http://deptforddame.blogspot/ have already made a start. I would also like to invite people to do the same here. You can post directly in the comments (with an email address if possible) or email me at  axelgs1@yahoo.co.uk










1 comment:

Pat said...

Have just watched the programme on Deptford and the clearance scheme of old London. I was 13 when this happened in Bermondsey it was called the London Clearance Scheme and they pulled down 3 streets where I lived. Galleywall Road ( I lived at no 133 which was also my dad and mums livelyhood an electrical shop called 'Len's' which I was actually born in, as we lived there also)Cranham Road where my nan, grandad, aunt, uncle and cousins lived, and Parfitt Road. My parents were told it was to be made into a green belt therefore what they paid you was a pittance, we were the last place standing which wasn't nice as they also pulled down around us and they put ferretts in to kill the vermin, they also killed my pet white rabbit which was kept in the garden together with chickens. As soon as everyone was out they then built flats, can you imagin how much that land was actually worth as building land and not green belt!!! The only trouble being you cannot fight the councils so you have to put up with it. Those houses were not damp or a health risk but well kept homes and it was a community where everyone knew everyone, these people had gone through wars together, fought together and shared together everything they had. We say Hitler couldn't break the community of Bermondsey but the council and government did. They have a lot to answer for!