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1920s London in glorious colour, who says we don't treat you on Fridays?

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Date
10 May 2013

Yes you heard us right, thanks to Claude Frisse-Greene, an early British pioneer of film, London has been injected with soft hues instead of the usual black and white we normally associate with the early 20th century. Claude takes us on a journey around London’s famous landmarks, from Hyde Park along the River Thames and right across Tower Bridge. Incredible footage of a nation in-between two world wars, plus the fact that the BBC didn’t start broadcasting colour for another forty years means that old Claude is a full-on cinematographic legend deserving of your posthumous respect.

A vintage street scene featuring a double-decker tram and early 20th-century cars. In the background, a large ornate building with a pointed tower rises above the city skyline.
Above

London 1927

The Tower of London rises above a line of leafy green trees. In the foreground, a small boat floats on the river Thames.
Above

London 1927

A cluster of small, dark boats floats on a river in the foreground. In the distance, Tower Bridge stands under a pale sky, with industrial cranes and ships lining the riverbank.
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London 1927

A person wearing a white dress and hat sits on the edge of a stone pond. In the background, a small classical building stands before a dense line of dark trees.
Above

London 1927

A dense crowd of people, mostly wearing hats and dark coats, fills a narrow city street. Tall buildings line the road, with a sign reading “MONS” visible on the left.
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London 1927

A person in a dark uniform walks along a wide riverside pavement. Ornate lamp posts line the path, with a bridge and city buildings visible in the distance.
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London 1927

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About the Author

Holly Wilkins

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