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Archive images of Lambeth

from Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com)

Lambeth

Date: 8 December 2003
Ref: 1710
Press contact: Dougal Robertson
Tel: 07930 470 491 // 020 7926 2841
Email: drobertson2@lambeth.gov.uk

Press Release

London archives go dot.com for Christmas

More than 6,000 images of London family life, people, culture, music and history are being revealed to the world from 10 December, thanks to a new website created by Lambeth Council's Archives service. Many images are unique and are being unveiled for the first time at www.lambethlandmark.com. Visitors to the website can order colour and black-and-white photographs from the archive for as little as £8.

The complete Landmark Digital Archive contains more than 30,000 images of Lambeth. Many of these images have been donated by local people themselves to help record their family history, to share it with the local community and for the future custodianship of the archive collection.

There is a strong representation of Black History and the entertainment industry in the collection, which reflects some of the community's current interests. From the very beginning of the 19th century Lambeth was regarded as the 'West End over the water', drawing Londoners to its cheap and cheerful attractions. Charlie Chaplin was just one of the international stars with links to the borough. The image collection also records some critical points in Britain's Black History, such as the first performances by the Black Shakespearean actor Ira Aldridge at a Lambeth theatre. There are also many historically significant visual records of the experiences of Black families making a new home in South London during the 1950s and 1960s.

Jon Newman, Chief Archivist for Lambeth, said: "We live in a visually-orientated society. These stunning images bring London's past to life in a way that written records alone cannot. You can come face-to-face with people from the past and wonder where they came from, what their story is. The great joy of having the collection available online is that it opens our history to a modern audience, on a truly massive scale, around the world. Some of these photographs have not been brought out of a filing cabinet for generations but now you can see, and even buy, them online."

Councilllor Anthony Bottrall, executive member for education, said: "We are proud this web-based format is being pioneered and developed by Lambeth Archives. People will enjoy browsing through their visual history. It is amazing to see how somewhere as familiar as Clapham Old Town looked so different, even as recently as the 1960s. The Lambeth Landmark website enables you to can click on a search map, select the area where you live, and see all related images, prints and maps."

The Landmark site was developed by Sedasoft using their SiteEngine information management and archiving software. The site is notable for complying with accessibility standards, the Disability Discrimination Act and government guidelines on the structure, design and usability of websites.

Notes to Editors

· The Landmark Digital Archive was created by Lambeth Archives and funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. The launch of the website, with the introduction of e-commerce, is an extension of a service currently available in Lambeth's local libraries.
· The launch of the Lambeth Landmark Digital Archive at will take place at Brixton Library, Brixton Oval, on 10 December at 7pm.
· For images and interviews please contact Dougal Robertson in the press office on 07930 470 491.

..ends

Issued by the Communication Centre
London Borough of Lambeth
Lambeth Town Hall
Brixton Hill
London SW2 1RW

Telephone 020 7926 1000
Fax 020 7926 2839
www.lambeth.gov.uk

(posted 7413 days ago)

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