This animation is inspired by the memories of Hemel Hempstead residents
The animation about the new town added to Hatfield in the 1950s is based on interviews done primarily as a part of the Boom Town oral history recordings. If you listen you will find out how roofs fell off newly built houses in a storm!
In preparation for creating the education pack for Talking New Towns ; Thinking New Towns we have worked with Planet Jump to animate some of the Oral History interviews. Watch the video to find out more about the new towns in the 50s.
From the Welwyn Hatfield Museum Service Collection
Read about the pedestrian town centre, Twin Foxes, road accidents and much more
From the Gazette Collection at The Dacorum Heritage Trust
Here are a few images of working in the new town selected from the photo collections
Films from various sources relating to the New Towns
Drawings contributed by children during our Talking New Towns Exhibition at Hemel Hempstead.
When the Queen was shown one of the new town houses she is remembered to have noted that the house was 'quite compact' !