
77.
NO EVICTIONS - HOUSING FOR ALL.
A poster from the Paddington Workshop produced in support of the Elgin Avenue squatters and announcing an open day on September 13th (1975). Silkscreen, printed in red on pale yellow stock. 42x33.5cm. Illustrated with a simple graphic of a house with a group of figures at its entrance.
Elgin Avenue was at the centre of the squatting movement in mid-70s London, with around 200 people occupying dozens of homes that had been run down by slum landlord Peter Rachman. They demanded rehousing and erected barricades in an effort to resist eviction, and following the granting of a Possession Order against them, the GLC eventually agreed to rehouse all those they had been trying to evict. The squatters removed the barricades, moved into new properties, and almost immediately afterwards, on October 16th, 1975, Elgin Avenue was demolished. For some, this signalled victory, demonstrating that the council house waiting list was a sham, but others were more sceptical and lamented the break-up of the alternative community and its café and wholefood co-op. Piers Corbyn was based in Elgin Avenue, and Joe Strummer, then known as John ‘Woody’ Mellor, was housed by the Maida Hill Squatters and Tenants Association at 101 Walterton Road, hence his band name, the 101’ers.
Some superficial creasing and light handling wear, o/w Very Good plus.