Festival Of Britain Collection

Advert for Barkers of Kensington, 1951. From a guide to the Festival of Britain, 1951

New Power Stations, advert for British Electricity, 1951. Artist: Norman Wilkinson
New Power Stations, advert for British Electricity, 1951. Paintings of power stations (artists in brackets): Cliff Quay, near Ipswich, Suffolk (Norman Wilkinson); Poole

Front cover of a guide to the Festival of Britain, 1951. Between May and September 1951 a grand exhibition was held throughout Great Britain

Playbill for The Rivals performed by the Sheffield Repertory Company at the Theatre Royal, Bath, Somerset, 1951
With Violet Farebrother as Mrs Malaprop. A Festival of Britain production. From an original at Sheffield Libraries: y13760

Country Pavilion HKR01_04_487
Festival of Britain, South Bank Exhibition, The Country Pavilion, Chicheley Street, South Bank, Lambeth, Greater London. Interior view of the Festivals The Country pavilion

Country Pavilion HKR01_04_495
Festival of Britain, South Bank Exhibition, The Country Pavilion, Chicheley Street, South Bank, Lambeth, Greater London. Interior view of the Festivals The Country pavilion

Natural Scene Pavilion HKR01_04_486
Festival of Britain, South Bank Exhibition, The Natural Scene Pavilion, Chicheley Street, South Bank, Lambeth, Greater London

Bus station OP35846
NEWBURY PARK BUS STATION, EASTERN AVENUE, NEWBURY PARK, REDBRIDGE, GREATER LONDON. View from Eastern Avenue of Newbury Park Bus Station

Bus station OP35847
NEWBURY PARK BUS STATION, EASTERN AVENUE, NEWBURY PARK, REDBRIDGE, GREATER LONDON. View from the south-east of Newbury Park Bus Station

Rebuilding Lambeth OP35458
St Johns Church, Waterloo Road, Lambeth, Greater London. Exterior view from the north-west of St Johns Church, showing the building surrounded by scaffolding during rebuilding following bomb damage

Roofless church a44_00568
St Johns Church, Waterloo Road, Lambeth, Greater London. Interior view of the bomb damaged remains of St Johns Church, showing the east end, June 1941

The Guinness Festival Clock, designed by Jan le Witt and George Him for the Festival of Britain
5999788 The Guinness Festival Clock, designed by Jan le Witt and George Him for the Festival of Britain, Battersea Festival Gardens, London, 1951 (b/w photo) by English Photographer

Historical pageant on The Downs as the country celebrated the Festival of Britain in 1951. Dressed as Cavaliers, 17th century costume

Festival of Britain Site 1950 Working by night on site of 1951 Festival of Britain. 022674/2

Clement Attlee (Prime Minister) laying the foundation stone of the South Bank Concert Hall for 1951 Exhibition London. Now the Festival Hall. 1949 020527/4

Marching band on Parade at Battesea Pleasure Garden. June 1952 C3050-004

Acrobats and man riding a highrope on a bicycle at Battesea Pleasure Gardens. June 1952 C3050-002

The Concert Hall for the 1951 Exhibition under construction. 1950 024559 / 1
The Concert Hall for the 1951 Exhibition under construction. 1950 024559/1

Festival of Britain Site 1950 Working by night on site of 1951 Festival of Britain. 022674/1

Clement Attlee (Prime Minister) laying the foundation stone of the South Bank Concert Hall for 1951 Exhibition London. Now the Festival Hall. 1949 020527/5

Curtain Up On Mr. Therm, 1951. An advert for The Gas Coucil. From a guide to the Festival of Britain, 1951

The National Savings Movement, 1951. From a guide to the Festival of Britain, 1951

Come to the Fair, 1951. Between May and September 1951 a grand exhibition was held throughout Great Britain. A Festival Council brought together a team of designers

The way to go round The Dome, 1951. Between May and September 1951 a grand exhibition was held throughout Great Britain. A Festival Council brought together a team of designers

The South Bank Site, 1951. Between May and September 1951 a grand exhibition was held throughout Great Britain. A Festival Council brought together a team of designers

Advert for Cow & Gate Ltd. 1951. From a guide to the Festival of Britain, 1951

Advert for Benedict processed peas, 1951. From a guide to the Festival of Britain, 1951

Cheltenham Spa (Lansdown), 1951
A view of Cheltenham Spa (Lansdown) station, Gloucestershire, decorated to celebrate the Festival of Britain in 1951. The colonnaded facade of the station was designed by architect Samuel Daukes

Advertising poster for Huntley and Palmers biscuits - 1951 Festival of Britain commemoration

Demolition
A man carries out demolition work on the Festival of Britain site, at the South Bank, London. The shot tower is in the background. (Photo by Topical Press Agency/Getty Images)

Thames By Night
A view over the River Thames at night, towards Shell Mex House (centre, right) and the Savoy Hotel (right), during the Festival of Britain, London, 1951

Over The Footbridge in Battersea Park, London
A man walking over one of the Bailey Bridges in Battersea Park, London, during the Festival of Britain. In the 1950s Battersea Park became " The Festival Gardens"

Festival of Britain Exhibition; Dignitaries of St Pauls Church look at an engine
Dignitaries of St Pauls Church look at an engine on display in the Transport Pavilion on the day that the King officially opens the Festival of Britain Exhibition

Across the Thames from the 3, 500 year old Cleopatras Needle a new silhouette has taken shape- the South Bank site of the Festival of Britain

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Step into the vibrant world of the Festival of Britain, a celebration of innovation and creativity in post-war Britain. From the unveiling of new power stations to captivating advertisements, this festival showcased the nation's progress. Norman Wilkinson's artwork for British Electricity captures the excitement surrounding the construction of new power stations, symbolizing a brighter future for all. Meanwhile, Barkers of Kensington enticed visitors with their stylish advert, inviting them to explore their exquisite offerings. The front cover of a guide to the Festival of Britain serves as a gateway to this extraordinary event. Inside its pages lies a treasure trove of experiences waiting to be discovered. The Sheffield Repertory Company brought theatrical magic with their performance of The Rivals at Bath's Theatre Royal, transporting audiences into another world. As visitors ventured through various pavilions like Country Pavilion HKR01_04_487 and Natural Scene Pavilion HKR01_04_486, they were immersed in diverse cultures and breathtaking landscapes. These spaces became meeting points where people from different backgrounds could connect and appreciate each other's heritage. The bus stations OP35846 and OP35847 served as bustling hubs that facilitated travel across London during this grand occasion. They witnessed countless journeys filled with anticipation and wonder as people explored every corner of this remarkable festival. Lambeth experienced rejuvenation during these festivities as seen in Rebuilding Lambeth OP35458. This image showcases how communities came together to rebuild after adversity—a testament to resilience and unity. In contrast, an intriguing sight awaited at Battersea Festival Gardens—the roofless church captured in A44_00568 stood tall amidst modernity—an architectural marvel that sparked conversations about tradition versus progress. One cannot forget Jan le Witt and George Him's masterpiece—the Guinness Festival Clock—its intricate design mesmerized onlookers while marking time throughout this momentous occasion. The Festival of Britain was more than just an event; it was a celebration that embodied hope, progress, and the indomitable spirit of a nation rebuilding itself.