Ad
Friday, April 25, 2025
6.4 C
London

U.K. Edition

Appeal for construction workers to come forward with stories from construction sites of the 50s and 60s

- Advertisement -

AN Islington professor is launching a study that will celebrate the often tough and dangerous life of construction workers in the 1950s and 60s.

Linda Clarke, Professor of European Industrial Relations at Westminster University, is calling for former or retired builders to contact her for the oral history project.

“The work of architects in the 50s and 60s is pretty well known”, said Professor Clarke.

“There are plenty of sound archives in the British Library about archi tects. But very little has been recorded about the builders. Yet they were equally proud of their achievements and concerned with the quality of their work.”

The history project has been funded by the Leverhulme Foundation and will record the lives of 50 or 60 workers.

Veteran construction worker Vic Heath, now in his 70s, has already been interviewed. He was a leading communist and was a scaffolder on the Barbican estate development who later became a shop steward with Camden Council’s Direct Labour force.

There were many disputes among the men working on the Barbican development. They held the first ever action over the handling by workers of deadly asbestos. They were not paid well compared to today and there were disputes over bonuses.

Professor Clarke added: “There was little in the way of the health and safety regime that we know today. That didn’t come in until 1974.”

Construction teams were often made up from sizeable pockets of Irish, Caribbean and Sikh labour. If you worked on the Barbican estate, South Bank arts centre, Stevenage New Town, Sizewell A power station, or the Northfleet power station, please email Professor Clarke at [email protected] or telephone her on 0207 911 5000 ext 3158.

Via: www.islingtontribune.com

- Advertisement -

Popular this week >

Scaffolding Collapses Onto Van in North London

A large section of scaffolding collapsed onto a van...

TRAD UK Names Parkinson’s UK as Charity Partner for 2025–26

Scaffolding and construction supply specialist TRAD UK has announced...

Sheffield scaffolding firm secures £250,000 boost to fuel Yorkshire expansion

A family-run scaffolding firm in Sheffield has received a...

Scaffolding Association Urges Industry-Wide Unity Amid Renewed Scrutiny

The Scaffolding Association has issued a call for greater...

Caspian Marks 40 Years of Excellence in the UK Scaffold Industry

A North Lincolnshire-based company is celebrating four decades at...
- Advertisements -

Related Articles >

Scaffolders See Record Earnings as Demand for Skilled Labour Surges

Subcontractors across the UK’s scaffolding sector have seen a significant rise in earnings, reflecting the growing demand for skilled labour in key trades. According to data from Hudson Contract, a leading payroll provider...

Latest Topics

Sheffield scaffolding firm secures £250,000 boost to fuel Yorkshire expansion

A family-run scaffolding firm in Sheffield has received a...

Scaffolding Association Urges Industry-Wide Unity Amid Renewed Scrutiny

The Scaffolding Association has issued a call for greater...

Scaffolding Collapses Onto Van in North London

A large section of scaffolding collapsed onto a van...

Caspian Marks 40 Years of Excellence in the UK Scaffold Industry

A North Lincolnshire-based company is celebrating four decades at...
- Advertisement -

Popular Categories