About the film archive
Learn about the history behind our documentary film archive from the 1940s.
Development of the English Town takes us on a journey through the ages, examining the motivations of town-builders from the Iron Age to the 1940s, and extolling the virtues of 'modern' planning.
The evolution of English town planning
'A survey of town planning in England from pre-Roman settlements to modern housing estates. Medieval feudal towns were fortified; eighteenth-century planning aimed at dignity and elegance. The chaos of the Industrial Revolution led to modern urban planning, the war of 1914 to new ideas of housing. Planning today has new problems and opportunities.'
(Films of Britain - British Council Film Department Catalogue - 1942-43)
All films are subject to the Creative Commons licence guidelines.
Learn more about how to use to the film archive.
Learn about the history behind our documentary film archive from the 1940s.
Keep up to date with the latest film news from the British Council.