Cine footage of 20th century London is endlessly fascinating. We catch glimpses of a city so familiar, and yet so different in its detail. YouTube channel Living History AI Enhanced has given a new lease of life to this old footage, by using machine learning and artificial intelligence to sharpen lower-spec film.
The results can be eye-popping. This 1967 footage of Swingin' London is so sharp, you can read the headlines on the newspaper.
Wartime London springs to life in this short film from 1940. We're used to seeing gung-ho newsreel footage from the period, but this video captures everyday family life and general street scenes. Children play on swings, soldiers march past landmarks and great barges of sandbags are hauled along the Thames.
Finally, a black and white short from 1930 shows street scenes from the Blackfriars area. It was a time when everybody dressed immaculately, but crossing the road was a life-or-death affair.
The channel appears to be very new and currently contains only a handful of videos, but it'll be an interesting one to keep an eye on.
