This film is part of Free

Stevenage Comes of Age

In the 21st year following the first New Town designation to Stevenage, Anglia TV report on the quality of life of two of its residents, also 21, London-born Russell and David.

Factual TV 1967 7 mins

From the collection of:

Logo for East Anglian Film Archive

Overview

Stevenage resident London-born Russell Beecheno was 7 when his family moved from the metropolis to the leafy suburbs. Now aged 21, Russell contemplates his life before and following the relocation, with mixed feelings. His thoughts on Stevenage? An abundance of playing spaces but architecturally tedious. This is a reflective short documentary for Anglia Television to mark the 21st year following Stevenage being designated the first New Town in England.

Following the Second World War, the Abercrombie Plan called for the establishment of a ring of new towns around London. Stevenage was designated the first on 1 August 1946.