New Town from Old

Splendid colour film of historic Hemel Hempstead ten years after its launch as one of Britain's burgeoning New Towns.

This splendid 1950s colour film of new housing estates, factories and shopping facilities in Hemel Hempstead was shot as part of a project to record the town's growth following its designation as a New Town in 1949. Sadly, the original commentary that accompanied this 1959 film, the first of a planned series, is believed to be lost; however a later edited black and white version with commentary - New Town from Old (1962) - is available on BFI Player for comparison.