Archive footage of Leytonstone

Ah, the 1930s - when men wore bowler hats, boys wore short trousers, and women... bustled along to do the shopping, according to the evidence.

Click here to see a film of Leytonstone in 1938.

It has a modern music track over the top (there's no sound from the film itself).

The footage shows the area around Leytonstone Railway Bridge - Lincolns when it used to be The Elms (with much grander frontage), and shopping at J Sainsbury's, which is now the Diamond off-licence.

Watch trams go up the High Road!

The film moves on to show people boating on Hollow Ponds, both rowing, and children standing ankle deep as they play with their toy boats.

Enjoy the film!

Let's Fill Leytonstone With Art!

Leytonstone Arts Trail is organising a drive to "Fill Leytonstone with Art" during the dates of the Trail: 27 June to 19 July.

To help with this, we would like members of the community to put a piece of art in the front windows of their houses. The main request is that the art is produced by someone within the household.

Children produce many excellent works of art in school, so do encourage them to put those creations on display for the period of the Trail. It will serve to brighten the streets of Leytonstone as people go about their daily business.

Although we are driving this through schools, we would encourage everyone to put their artwork on display - not just children - so please join in!

If you have any queries please contact Hilary Douse (Schools Liaison) via hilary@leytonstoneartstrail.org

Incidentally, full details of this year's Arts Trail are now online at http://www.leytonstoneartstrail.org

Entries wanted for the FARA Photo Competition

Ferndale Area Residents Association (FARA) is holding a photo competition as part of Leytonstone Festival 2009. Anyone living, working or studying in Leytonstone can enter. Winners will be chosen at a public exhibition at Davies Lane School on Saturday 11 July.

The theme is “We Love Leytonstone” with 3 categories:

• Best Buildings
• Hidden Gems
• Green Spaces.

You can enter one photo (colour or b/w) in each category.

The entry period is 21 May-21 June so please submit your entries in good time. Please feel free to pass on information about the competition to any other Leytonstone networks you belong to.

To submit digital photos by email, send them to
faraphotocomp@googlemail.com.
Include a caption of up to 20 words for each photo, your full contact details, and your age if entering as a Junior (age 12 and under).

Or send your prints (preferred size 17 x 12cm, max size A5) to FARA Photo Competition, c/o 12 Davies Lane, London E11 3DR. Enclose captions and other details as shown above.

All entries will be displayed at Davies Lane School on Saturday 11 July from 11am-5pm. Winners will be chosen by public vote at the exhibition so please make a note now to come and vote for your favourites!

Leytonstone Artists Wanted!

If you haven't yet signed up to the Leytonstone Arts Trail, it's not too late.

It's a collection of exhibitions taking place throughout Leytonstone during the period 27 June - 19 July , and more artists are welcome!

Closing date for entry is 15 May so you've got a week and a half to work out what you want to show, and either find a venue or ask us to help match you with somewhere suitable.

If you want to show it, we want to see it! It doesn't matter if you are a sculptor, painter, photographer, film maker, or something more obscure - you are welcome.

We will also be holding a craft fair on the last day of Leytonstone Festival.

So get in touch! What are you waiting for? Come and show your work to a wider audience.

More information here: http://www.leytonstoneartstrail.org/

The Leytonstone Pound

It was interesting to see that Brixton is launching its own currency - The Brixton Pound as an attempt to keep money in the local community. The idea is that you exchange sterling for The Brixton Pound which can then only be spent in local shops as opposed to chains where money goes straight into the pockets of shareholders. A great way of supporting your local businesses in these straightened times. This is a scheme that has also successfully worked in Totnes in Devon.
So what chance of a Leytonstone Pound I wonder?
Read about The Brixton Pound here

Take a walk from Pear Grove to Cathall Road with Google Streetview

View Larger Map

Super 8 Cinefilm of Leytonstone

I'm trying to track down any old Super8 (cinefilm) of Leyton, Leytonstone and the surrounding area for a film-night showing old home-movies of the area. If anyone has some I'd love to hear from you. Please contact me via this blog.
John