Dagenham Borough Council: The Development of Marks Gate Housing Estate, Chadwell Heath (1962)

This fascinating film shows the development of a huge housing estate on former fields in Chadwell Heath. Early shots are of leafy lanes and horses in fields – by the close these are covered by hundreds of flats and maisonettes, as well as numerous roads. The film shows the first residents, the first completed buildings, children playing, shops and services and much more, demonstrating a council’s pride in social housing.

The Marks Gate housing estate was completed in 1959. This film showing its construction offers a fascinating glimpse of how London changed after war, as East Londoners moved from condemned Victorian terraces to new estates such as these. One telling shot shows a man walking his dog along a newly constructed road, as buildings go up around him. There are also lingering shots of shops and services, as well as many scenes of children playing – and also of the increasingly busy roads. The film was made by Dagenham Borough Council, who clearly had great pride in what they were building. Barking & Dagenham Heritage and Archives Service