A Hidden Gem from the Past

The building is the former film studios of The GPO Film Unit, an information arm of the UK’s General Post Office.

Established in 1933. Later to become during the Second World War the Crown Film Unit (1940).

It was created to produce socio-economic “feel good” films, to a nation under the privations of depression and the rise of national socialism at home and abroad.

The most famous of the films was the Night Mail (1936). A short documentary about the mail train, alive with men sorting and dropping mail across a sleeping nation; running through the night, between Scotland and England. The commentary being the poetry of W.H. Auden, and the music of (Benjamin Britten).

The (English Heritage) Blue Plaque, was unveiled sometime during the year 2000; on the former Blackheath Art Club; 47 Bennett Park. Blackheath, South East London UK.

Sorry about the poor quality of the photos, they were taken a dawn in a suburban street. I had to cut short my picture taking; as the residents of the street were becoming suspicious of a be-helmeted, lycra clad Cyclist clicking off a camera in their midst. I’ve featured this site as I breakfast in Blackheath Village on my Sunday morning training run and I've always found what the building represented fascinating.

elaine: 12th Jun 2006 - 15:02 GMT

i love night mail. it's a very cozy feeling to watch it. didn't auden also write 'come friendly bombs and fall on slough'?
i also like blackheath, though more the village and the short walk to greenwich, and greenwich park, the heath itself creeps me out. it is vast and is so called because it contains plague pits. it is home to big flocks of rooks. caw caw.

I.T.U.C.: 12th Jun 2006 - 16:30 GMT

Plague pits! that explains the huge flocks of Rooks then. The Village itself, has the tweeness of all the Village suburbs of London, and the property prices to match too…

Catherine Penfold-Waxman: 12th Jun 2006 - 17:46 GMT

It was John Betjeman,

Come, friendly bombs, and fall on Slough
It isn't fit for humans now
There is not grass to feed a cow
Swarm over, death!

Thank you, St Gregorys Roman Catholic Comprehensive School (Tunbridge Wells) for beating this into me.

Mrs Beryl Harmer: 19th Oct 2006 - 20:42 GMT

I live next door at 46 Bennett Park. I appreciate the picture of the street.
I have a photograph of it taken in 1950 and there is not a car in sight. I have lived in Bennett Park for 46 years and in Blackheath Village for 65 years.

Philip Wilkinson: 30th Mar 2007 - 09:52 GMT

In the late 1950's I lived with my parents, brother and sister in the flat within this building, which at that time was still operating as a small electrical factory. My father was part time caretaker. We were always told that John Logie Baird carried out some of his early television experiments in the building. I don't know how true this was.


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elaine: 12th Jun 2006 - 15:02 GMT

I.T.U.C.: 12th Jun 2006 - 16:30 GMT

Catherine Penfold-Waxman: 12th Jun 2006 - 17:46 GMT

Mrs Beryl Harmer: 19th Oct 2006 - 20:42 GMT

Philip Wilkinson: 30th Mar 2007 - 09:52 GMT

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