Comments on: Phil Maxwell’s Kids on the Street

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Tue, 09 May 2017 10:55:37 +0000

Reading the comments I find it SO very sad that we can no longer let our children play out on the streets due to the dangers of being snatched or abused or even worse. Also the fact that photographers would not be allowed to publish or take photos of kids.
What is our world coming to.
They are indeed fantastic pictures of a bygone age never to be repeated it would seem.
Thank you for sharing.

By: James

James — Sat, 26 Nov 2016 16:03:07 +0000

Wow… just saw a picture of an old friend in the crowd, the tall white fella in the middle of the Asian lads. He’ll be pleased as punch. Great pix, thanks.

By: June in Canada

June in Canada — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 15:27:39 +0000

These pictures are delightful. those of Brick Lane especially. My grandfather and his family lived at No. 36 for many years, and I’d love to see a photo of that building if possible. I’m sure my nieces would enjoy one too.
June

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 19:32:55 +0000

Also very sad that perfectly innocent photographers are no longer able to take photos of kids without causing a raised eyebrow at the very minimum.

Terrific photos, and a terrific site.

By: Colin O'Brien

Colin O'Brien — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 17:58:00 +0000

There won’t be much to look back on for future generations when it comes to children’s street games. Most kids say that even if they wanted to go out and play their parents wouldn’t let them.

I don’t think my parents didn’t worry about me, but times were harder back then; they were busy earning a living and just trying to survivive. I was allowed out for more or less as long as I wished and I played for hours with other children on London’s bombed sites. I used to go to school on my own at the age of seven. How times change.

This is a wonderful nostalgic look back at a not so distant age. Beautiful images from the Maxwell archive.

By: andrea

andrea — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 23:34:11 +0000

I am especially and utterly charmed by the second-to-last one.

By: Peter Holford

Peter Holford — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 11:10:47 +0000

Great photos and so sad that kids no longer do this. We live on the edge of the country and my eldest son and his mates wandered freely for hours even camping out. My younger son is ten years younger – the way of life had changed by then and they stuck closer to home or did more organised activities. So sad!

By: Simon Mooney

Simon Mooney — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 09:52:54 +0000

Another set of excellent and important pictures from Phil Maxwell.

I wonder how much of this kind of thing is being shot theses days? Recently I was stood on Shacklewell Lane with some friends and a camera round my neck when I noticed a lively group of school children go past on their way home. A woman came up to me and asked why was I staring at her kids?

By: Margaret

Margaret — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 08:46:45 +0000

It’s so sad that these photos, which by rights out to be timeless, belong to a bygone era.

By: good-tree

good-tree — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 08:24:21 +0000

So very true the comment of how today’s children will not know, or experience the fun, adventure and care-free play we had as kids playing out on the streets.

I remember with great nostalgia the games of hopscotch and skipping rope, as well as climbing the trees in the local park. When summer came along, it was a constant war with water bombs we threw at one another. Such happy memories.