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Bournemouth's New Undercliff Drive
Crowds flock to witness the long-awaited opening of Bournemouth's Undercliff Marine Drive.
Overview
Newsreel scenes evoke the jubilant atmosphere in Bournemouth, when, on 3 June 1914, the Undercliff Drive finally opened. Stretching one and three-quarters miles from Bournemouth to Boscombe Pier, the Drive had taken 11 years to complete. The beautifully-bedecked cars processing along its length are certainly a sight to behold - captured skilfully by Gaumont's cameraman.
According to a contemporary Times newspaper article: "By far the majority of the spectators were women, and the massing of their gay costumes produced the effect of a bright and variegated ribbon drawn along the contour of the bay". While the black and white film stock hardly does justice to the women's kaleidoscopic outfits, the film still vibrantly conjures the holiday mood.
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