Blackfriars SE1 in the 1970s

Community action in a London neighbourhood

Welcome to London SE1. The 1970s and 80s was an extraordinary period of community action in Blackfriars, Waterloo and North Southwark along London’s South Bank. With so many SE1 stories to be told, this presentation focuses on the Blackfriars Road area, visiting some of the most important locations to tell you the story of the campaigns to revive the south bank of London.

Residents and trade unionists demanded to be involved in decisions which affected their lives. They were clear that there were alternatives to the way land was developed, housing provided and services delivered.There are similarities in SE1 today with plans for massive redevelopment alongside existing poverty and need.

The history of North Southwark is reflected in many of the buildings along the route, both old and new - warehouses, factories, schools, council housing and modern high-value private developments.

How to get the best from this app:

Actual Walk: The best way is to do the walk in person. You will see and learn so much more. The route starts at the corner of Blackfriars Road and Pocock Street London SE1. The nearest underground station is Southwark on the Jubilee Line, 2 minutes walk away. Waterloo Station is about 10 minutes away.

Virtual walk: PocketSights can also take you on a virtual walk. Go to Settings on the front page of the app then enable Virtual Tour Mode. You can also vary the virtual tour speed.