The Secret History of Our Streets

[kittysailing]

Shameless ( but relevant ) plug for a series I produced in between babies - a social history of London told through the houses and streets we live on - this weeks' street is the stunning Camberwell Grove - tune in on Wednesday on BBC 2 at 9pm. Katie

[MrsR]

I'm so looking forward to this. Incidently, the first episode re Deptford High Street is being repeated on Tuesday at 11.20pm (BBC2)

[whirly]

I saw the episode last week about Deptford High Street - it was really interesting, but so sad that all those Victorian houses and the close knit community was bulldozed to make way for the concrete monstrosities.

Looking forward to Camberwell Grove.

[Bellenden Belle]

Kittysailing....congratulations - we watched it last night and thought it was excellent. Heartbreaking for the families whose homes were unfairly deemed slums - such a eye opener. Really looking forward to the Camberwell Grove episode.

Wish there was more work like this.

[Pickle]

Agree, an excellent watch, well done!

[The Nappy Lady]

Watched it tonight on iplayer and it was so interesting. I'm now raging at the injustice of it all - and it explains why, when I wends tracing my family history and went to see my great grandparents & grandparents (dads side)former house close to Deptford High Street I found a strange empty road with wasteland around it - still, only a few years ago! Dad was born 1908 and they had moved by then so he wouldnt have known, but I bet their old home/street was part of all the general demolishing. So sad, I assumed it had all been bombed out when I visited.

It makes you think again about the clearing of the flats at Elephant & Castle, I remember being surprised that people didn't want to leave, but it must be awful to lose close friends and neighbours that you've lived close to for years and years, let alone family.

[oimissus]

Katie - lots of enthusiasm about the programme over in The Lounge! Looking forward to Camberwell Grove.

[BellendenBear]

We watched the Deptford High Street episode too. Really really interesting. Molly, we said exactly the same thing about the clearing of the E+C estates.

[redjam]

Really enjoyed this tonight - congrats! Fascinating mix of social history plus a chance to nosey in people's lovely homes. Great mix of interviewees. I'll be tuning in next week too for the Cally Road episode as I used to live just off there!

[Ondine]

Great programme - I remember the houses at the top of camberwell grove were all squats when we first moved into southwark in the mid-90s. Not sure Lettsom Estate is as golden as it was depicted but I realise it was principally an architectural point and undoubtedly nicer than Aylesbury/Heygate

[stephalanbax]

well done! i truly enjoyed the programme, how many streets is the series covering? or is it a secret? absolutely fascinating watch especially when it captures the urban and social changes through the centuries! amazing..

[Mrs TP]

It was absolutely fab, great social history, really enjoyed it and will be watching the rest of the series.

Great that the bloke who bought the cottage at the top got on so well with the guy who ran the 'farm' next door - brilliant stories.

Loved the trailer for Caledonian Road next week - hilarious.

My other half said 'just what the beeb does best'

[kittysailing]

Glad you enjoyed it - Caledonian Rd next week - then Reverdy Rd , Bermondsey, the Portland Road, Notting Hill and finally Arnold Circus. It's great that people are appreciating the series - everyone worked so hard to cast the streets, contact all the residents and painstakingly undertake all the original research. I watched the film in the grove pub with some of the lovely contributors - great evening!

[hedges]

I thought this was a really well rounded programme-the hard work of research really paid off and was obvious. You must all be proud.

[tomk]

Great programme. Loved it. Looking forward to Reverdy Road!

[kemurf]

Loved the Deptford High St programme and like The Nappy Lady, my family lived in that area at one point, although they are from Bermondsey. Makes me think about how and why they got moved to the Pepys Estate, and now I'm wondering why my parents also got a council flat in a New Cross high rise so easily in the early 70's...maybe because the locals just would not take them (and why would they?). Berwick Tower in New Cross is now demolished - it didn't last long. Meanwhile Victorian properties are still around and sell for a song.

Looking forward to watching the recording of Camberwell Grove.

WELL DONE!

[kemurf]

Ooh and Bermondsey!

[mima08]

Kittysailing - what a great programme -has us totally hooked!

[kittysailing]

This week.. Wednesday at 9 on BBC2 it's The Caledonian Road - a good watch!

[uptime]

It was great. Well done. And thanks for posting on here; otherwise I would have missed this fascinating insight into our city.

[kittysailing]

Next week Portland Road - from slum to uber posh!

[Huggers]

I have really enjoyed these brilliant and interesting programmes. London deserves a second series!

[cashewnut]

Brilliant series. Thanks!

[kittysailing]

Back South of the river this week - Reverdy Road, Bermondsey an ordinary street with an extraordinary history. 9 pm BBC2 Wednesday 4th July

[tomo]

Fantastic series, feels very balanced. Well done you!