Battersea Junction - Stories from Winstanley and York Road Estates

The Winstanley and York Road estates form a rectangle behind Clapham Junction Railway Station in Battersea, South London. Locals all call it "The Winstanley". They were built post war in a vast municipal re-building plan that swept away the "slum" and bomb damaged housing, as well as much of the industry that had characterised this part of London for 100 years. Forming a contiguous housing development the developments were built between 1956 and 1972. Many of those who had lived in the area for generations were re-housed on the estate and new communities moved in, particularly from the 1960s reflecting immigration into London.

This film focuses on the experiences of those moving on to the estate, the area before the estates were built, bringing up children, fighting for improvements to housing - that in some cases was badly built and poorly designed, but also was a big improvement on their previous housing.

More recent arrivals came to live on the estate as their first home in London from the Caribbean and Indian sub-continent and, more recently, from Somalia. The film focuses on their daily lives and how they changed as the estate gradually expanded and became "notorious" in some quarters for crime, alienation and anti-social behaviour. The film stars local people speaking about their own experiences and history. The area is set for another huge change with the regeneration project planned making this a crucial time to record the history of those living there.

The film was made by Year 6 children from Falconwood Primary School and digital:works.

www.winstanleystories.org.uk
www.digital-works.co.uk