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New Homes for Old, Chislehurst

From stone-laying to royal opening, this film shows the construction of new retirement homes for Masons in Chislehurst in the 1960s.

Campaigning film 1968 16 mins

From the collection of:

Logo for London's Screen Archives

Overview

The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution look after elderly Masons, and this film shows the construction of their fourth retirement village in Chislehurst starting with the foundation stone ceremony, laid by Lord Cornwallis in April 1966. We see the single home that occupied the 2.5 acre site being demolished, the plans being drawn up at Great Queen Street, then construction and eventually opening by the Duke Of Kent in July 1968. Includes subtle request for funding.