Rights Managed > Historic England > The way we were > Childhood
Playing field DP261761
Filename: DP261761.jpg
Size: 8545 x 5792 (6.2MB)
Date: 21st April 2022
Source: Historic England
Credit: © Historic England Archive. Pat
Copyright Status: Copyrighted Work
Urgency (1-8) 5=normal: 5
Source: Historic England Archive
Owner URL: https://images.historicenglandservices.org.uk/
Job Title: Staff Photographer
© Historic England Archive
Wall Art and Photo Gifts from Historic England
Playing field DP261761
Norwood Playing Field, Parkhall Road, Somersham, Huntingdonshire, Cambridgeshire. A view looking across the empty childrens playground at Norwood Playing Field, during the Covid-19 lockdown
Historic England is the public body that champions and protects England's historic places
Media ID 24794781
© Historic England Archive
Childhood Deserted Recreation Lockdown Pandemic Playground Virus
EDITORS COMMENTS
Playing Field DP261761 captures the eerie stillness that engulfed Norwood Playing Field during the unprecedented Covid-19 lockdown. Patricia Payne's poignant photograph offers a haunting view across an empty children's playground, once filled with laughter and boundless energy. Now, it stands deserted, a stark reminder of the impact of this global pandemic on our cherished childhood memories. The absence of vibrant colors and bustling activity evokes a sense of loss and longing for carefree days spent swinging high in the air or conquering towering slides. The silence is deafening as swings sway gently in the breeze without any eager hands to propel them forward. Seesaws remain motionless, yearning for playful companionship that has been temporarily suspended. This image serves as a powerful symbol not only of physical abandonment but also emotional isolation caused by necessary safety measures. It reflects how this invisible virus has disrupted our lives, forcing us to retreat from beloved recreational spaces designed to nurture imagination and foster social connections. Yet amidst this desolation lies hope – hope that one day soon these playgrounds will once again echo with joyous laughter and gleeful shouts; hope that we can rebuild those precious moments of childhood innocence shattered by an unforeseen crisis. Patricia Payne's photograph encapsulates both the emptiness left behind by Covid-19 and our collective determination to reclaim what was lost. It reminds us that even in times of darkness, resilience prevails.
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