London Life Gallery

Brandon Estate, Southwark, one of the largest of the London County Couincils housing estates

Brandon Estate, Southwark, one of the largest of the London County Couincil's housing estates. There are six 18-storey blocks which rise to 170 ft to give a fine view over London, and a feature of these blocks are the penthouses, of which there are four in each comprising bed-sitting room flats, and sixty-four 3-room flats. Each flat has its own private balcony, constant hot water and warm air central heating. The estate covers an area of 36 acres to the south-east of Kennington Park, and replaces an area of dingy 19th century houses interspersed with bombsites. As wells the tall blocks, there are mainsonettes and two-storey houses for families who want gardens, bungalows for old people.
19th January 1960

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Waiters, chefs and kitchen hands at Londons Savoy hotel went on strike early today

Waiters, chefs and kitchen hands at London's Savoy hotel went on strike early today, it was decided that tables were to be left bare and underserviced in the private suites, restaurant and Grill room. Tickets has been detailed to guard every staff door and the taxi driver in entrance to warn the catering staff of the strike. The strikers are members of the London catering branch of the general and municipal workers union who claimed that 500 of the total staff of 800 are now in the union. The strike committee said "we have been forced to take this action after every other avenue of approach has been closed by the management."
Picture shows: Mrs Kaufmann, wife of a chef at the Savoy hotel, picketing outside the building this morning.
8 October 1946

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Ex paratrooper Donald Cook, 38 year old aircraft inspector and secretary of the St

Ex paratrooper Donald Cook, 38 year old aircraft inspector and secretary of the St. Pancras United Tenants Association, talks to his 36 year old wife Edith through a barricade of barbed wire and two upturned old pianos at their top floor flat at Kennistoun House, a block of St. Pancras Council flats in Leighton Road, Kentish Town, London. An eviction notice served on Mr. Cook expires at midnight and he says he is prepared if necessary for a three year siege. A rocket will be fired as a signal that the bailiffs have arrived Mr. Cook, father of four children, said that he owes about ?56 in rent on his two-bedroomed foat, which originally cost him 28s. a week. There was a 10s. increase in January and another of 12s. 6d. last month. He and other tenants had been told they could expect another next January, and by then the rent would be 56s. He had refused to pay. - Photo taken 28th August 1960.
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