Dreary London streets of 1937

Dreary London streets of 1937, page 1.



Dreary London streets of 1937, page 2.



Dreary London streets of 1937, page 3.



Dreary London streets of 1937, page 4.

Day-diary from the 12th July 1937, written by a male worker from London.

“5am-9am ‘Bucket and Mop’ it, dislike the job but ‘that’s that’.

9am-10.30am Walked back buying the fish for cats on the way. Fed the cats- washed and changed- went out and had an egg on toast and a cup of tea. The egg was smashed, the toast was wet in the egg water and the tea was unsatisfactory. Went back and got my papers and started off to do some visiting.

10.30-4pm Visiting. A dreary, shabby, spiritless time. Never knew London to be so depressing. The new ‘blocks of flats’ seemed even worse than the condemned areas. At least they hadn’t big iron gates which could be used for controlling the mob should it revolt. But few looked as if they had a mind of their own and the children and young people too sickly to even do anything effective. Noticed the poster ‘Tea revives you’. Rather pleasing to look at. But what about it? I’d had my cup of tea before I started anyway.

Where there were ‘greens’ the people were not on them- a few old men sat on seats at the roadside but none inside the railings. At the children’s playground some children were on the swings and see-saws, but they made a jarring noise and the place was asphalted.”