Paradise Street: The Lost Art of Playing Outside

by Mary Evans Picture Library

•Nostalgic photographs that celebrate the lost freedom of children playing on the street


Half a century ago, 'playing out' was expected of British kids who came together, in all weathers, to run, jump, skip, swing, kick, fight and climb - usually unsupervised. With growing fears over children's vulnerability in modern society much of this has been lost.


Paradise Street brings together the work of many photographers including Shirley Baker, Martin O'Neill and Paul Kaye, most of whom lived and worked among the people they photographed. Spanning the early '30s to the late 1970s, these images are a celebration of community, trust and friendships, showing how attitudes towards children's safety have shifted over the 20th century.


Featured photographers Roger Mayne, Shirley Baker, Paul Kaye, Robin Dale, John Gaye, Henry Grant and David Lewis Hodgon. All images are from the archives of Mary Evans Picture Library.

Genres: Photography

112 pages, Hardcover

Published April 24, 2019

Reviews

[Steve Angelkov]

These are exquisitely produced books.

Book 4 in the series.

Well done Hoxton Mini Press.

[S 9]

Nice photos and book, but it probably ought to be called The Forgotten Art of Playing Outside in an Impoverished Urban Environment (Whilst Trying Not to Lose an Eye). I thought one picture showed London after the Blitz, but it turned out just to be Manchester a few decades later.

[Bowen]

Wonderful concept. Carefully curated. The photos in this book makes me miss summer days roaring downhill on a skateboard or playing kickball.