"Oh to Be in England"

From the collection of

London’s Screen Archives
London’s Screen Archives is a network of over 50 organisations with a collective vision – to preserve and share London’s history on film. The network is managed by Film London and we work with our partners to digitise, preserve, and offer access to their moving image collections.

"Oh to Be in England"


Bluebells, wisteria and snowdrops feature in this lovely colour film showing the effect of nature on the London suburb of Harrow after the war.

One for those with green fingers, this film attempts to demonstrate that an English spring can be every bit as beautiful in the town as it is in the country. It starts with scenes of a snowy Harrow and sledging outside post-war prefabs, before we get extended luxurious shots of flowers, fields and gardens in the spring. It's wonderfully English – never more so than the wisteria clinging to the front of a mock Tudor semi – and also shows some of the local landmarks and churches.

Amateur film shot in Harrow to show the passing of the seasons in a suburb. The Kodak factory taken from the top of the factory chimney.


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