Exhibition: Blackfriars SE1 in the 1970s

The ‘Blackfriars SE1 in the 1970s’ exhibition features in a new article for the community planning world: ‘SE1 Stories – Lessons from the History of Community Organising in one Neighbourhood’.

This exhibition tells the story of an extraordinary period of community action in the 1970s and 1980s in Blackfriars, Waterloo and North Southwark along London’s South Bank. For many it was a fight for survival as businesses moved out and land was earmarked for office development leaving isolated communities struggling to maintain their way of life.

‘Blackfriars SE1 in the 1970s’ draws on thousands of photographs from SE1 Community Newspaper and Blackfriars Photography Project in Southwark and Lambeth Councils’ archives. It is focused around the important thoroughfare of Blackfriars Road, which has undergone a massive amount of change over the decades.

Topics covered include Campaigning, Community Centres and Action Groups, the many battles for good housing and facilities. Plus of course SE1 Community Newspaper (featuring the popular Golden Oldies series of articles) and Blackfriars Photography Project.