London’s Screen Archives enables Londoners see their past come alive on film. Managed by Film London, we are a unique network of historic film collections that cares for, collects and screens heritage film across the city. Together we preserve London’s rich film heritage from feature films to home movies, public information films, newsreels, and records of the capital’s many different industries.
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London's May Queen
Excitable children in their Sunday finery gawp at cameras during the parade for London’s May Queen.
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Overview
The All-England May Queen festival was first held at Hayes Common, Bromley, in 1913, organised by a Dulwich folklore enthusiast. This film from 1916 shows that year’s May Queen, Miss Cecily Smith, sitting in a decorated cart pulled by children, preceded by other children carrying banners. She carries a sceptre, and like many of the girls is wearing white and garlands of flowers. Children gawp at the camera as they pass, before Smith receives her crown on the common.
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