Slum Clearance and Re-Housing By the Council of the Metropolitan Borough of Hackney (1935)

An official film on the need for public housing in Hackney and its provision.
The film documents slum clearing and re-housing by the Council of the Metropolitan Borough of Hackney, in 1935. Initially concentrating on the conditions of the slums, the film goes on to show the rejuvenation to the area made by the new housing sites that were built by Bethnal Green Housing Association.
The film opens with council inspectors taking measurements on a residential street. An extensive sequence captueres the slums exteriors, rows of narrow terraced housing, and moving inside the squalid and cramped conditions are illustrated by inspectors, who demonstrate the tiny dimensions of the properties. The residents are shown with one particular shot capturing a boy in bed infested with bugs.
A Cyanide Fumigation Chamber at Hackney's Disinfecting Station follows. There are views of a trailer of Hackney residents' possessions being backed into the cyanide fumigation chamber at the disinfecting station (described as the first of its kind to be built in England).
The final sequence shows the new housing sites.
This film is from the Hackney Archives. (The full catalogue record for this film, LSA0323, is available at www.londonsscreenarchives.org.uk.)
before showing a Cyanide Fumigation Chamber at Hackney's Disinfecting Station. There are views of a trailer of Hackney residents' possessions being backed into the cyanide fumigation chamber at the disinfecting station (described as the first of its kind to be built in England). A pedestrian door at the side of the chamber is painted with the words
This film is from the Hackney Archives. (The full catalogue record for this film, LSA0323, is available at www.londonsscreenarchives.org.uk.)

[@mickymantle3233]

A great many 'slum' properties could (an should) have been pointed up & refurbished. Ripped the heart & character out of Hackney as with so much more of the East End.

[@samjones6258]

From Hackney myself and know Bannister House and most of those pre- war (WW2) estates shown in the video that were brand new then.
Most are still being used and are updated every 10 to 15 years with new bsthrooms, kitchens, windows, doors and of course central heating.
They have proved successful.
Sadly the concrete pre-fabs built in a mad rush in the 1960s and 1970s were a complete disaster and became modern slums. Most of those thankfully have been demolished now.

[@gcfcos]

What incredible footage. U can see why they had to tear them down, looks like they were riddled top to bottom with bugs and vermin. I think it was a bad mistake to replace them with blocks of flats, they should have built newly designed terraced houses with small gardens in their place but to be fair they had to do something to get the people out of there. I do think they took it too far when they got a bit gun ho and started to tear down a lot of the lovely Victorian properties the like of what people still live in today

[@oldduffer584]

Grew up in Hackney. Takes me back

[@franceskronenwett3539]

Those people who were rehoused were decent working folk who took care to keep their new council estates clean and decent. Today council estates resemble rubbish tips. I should know as I lived on one for four years.

[@2Sugarbears]

Thanks for the footage it is fascinating.

[@johnwalton2019]

Whilst I am sure many of these houses looked ok, old rent controls meant that they were never maintained. Some peoples living conditions were awful and no child should live and have to wake up with bed bugs etc. We are seeing instances of this now creep back into UK towns and cities and we must as a society ensure that these images never return.

[@MrMilanjoshi]

Any such old video of Plumstead Common area?

[@life_seeker6102]

Those houses would’ve been around 40 years old in the video. Don’t know why bother demolishing them. All that is needed is maintenance.

[@jonstevens2899]

Not true - the majority of these house would have been late Georgian / early victorian. At least around 100 years old.

[@David-mt1qm]

no sound?

[@Latbirget]

Is it me or is there nothing wrong with those condemned houses at the beginning. What a waste.

[@franceskronenwett3539]

They were extremely poorly maintained. Carrying out repair work would have been much too expensive. Apart from that they were infested with vermin.