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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The Palm House at Kew
Absorbing official film by the Ministry of Works showing the careful restoration of the corroded 1848 Palm House in Kew Gardens in 1956.
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Overview
The Palm House in Kew Botanical Gardens was built in 1848 but by the 1950s the iron structure was in poor condition because of bomb damage, humidity and use of insecticides. The building was closed to the public. This film show the careful restoration of the Palm House, with much technical information and attention to detail. Includes excellent shots of the damaged iron structure before restoration, as well as the work in progress and triumphant reopening.
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