Westway photos from the '60s

Well-known photographer and community activist Adam Ritchie has a fascinating exhibition of his photos of scenes from under the Westway back in the 1960s. At that time, the space below the motorway was derelict - but Adam and others created adventure play spaces.

The exhibition focuses on Adam's images of adventure play schemes held in the then empty bays beneath the Westway flyover in the late 60s. His images have been described as "joyous, poetic and exuberant." You can see that in the small selection we have here.

The exhibition was commissioned by the Westway Trust. Its website points out that the late 60s was a time when, "the cultural melting pot of North Kensington saw marginalised and minority groups support each other in resisting racism and many other forms of open prejudice and neglect."

It continues, "the exhibition is at once celebratory, but simultaneously a reminder of social realities experienced by economically excluded communities."

You can see Adam (and others) speaking about the times portrayed in these photographs in the short film about the Golborne neighbourhood Wild West 10

Adam's website