John Rothenstein

Brave Day Hideous Night

Vol. 1, 1939-1965, of his Autobiography. Hamish Hamilton, 1966.

Elizabeth and I had chosen to live on Primrose Hill on account of its altitude and the proximity of open spaces and of the Zoo - all affording healthful diversions for Lucy - but we found ourselves the neighbours of a group of artists who were living in close association with one another...

The author had moved into his new home in Fellows Road in November 1938. The neighbours included Ben Nicholson, Barbara Hepworth and Henry Moore; living nearby were Mondrian, Walter Gropius and Naum Gabo. Recently appointed Director of the Tate Gallery, he was fortunate to have found himself in such congenial company.

As on most evenings, Elizabeth and I walked on nearby Primrose Hill. The blue heavens were studded with balloons, which turned with the setting of the sun from silver to gold. On the Hill's crest long anti-aircraft guns, camouflaged with foliage, pointed skywards and beside each a helmeted soldier sat intently with upturned face. On another part of the Hill people were digging trenches: the work was apparently organized but carried out with little or no direction from above. Only the vehemence of a voice, the restrained violence of a gesture showed that this was no peace-time exercise

Soon afterwards the trenches were the scene of a political demonstration. The Times of 2nd February 1939 reported: 'Carrying fishing rods, between 20 and 30 unemployed men met beside some A.R.P. trenches on Primrose Hill, Regent's Park, on Saturday and fished in the water in the bottom of the trench. They carried posters and streamers demanding "Give us work on A.R.P." and "Bring Anderson* to 'eel." Someone had placed a number of eels in the trenches, which had about 2in. of water in them, and these were quickly caught. When some police officers arrived the men went away.'

*Sir John Anderson, the Home Secretary, was in charge of air raid precautions.