Oh, and I managed to get the 2000th post on this fair thread too - you can see that I've been loitering for ages just to take my chance:happy:


:carrot::pepper::dance2::banana:

I have taken a few photos of the four of five Meadway flats


your brave .... kids managed to trap the pizza delivery man in a lift there and then broke into his van !!! not too long back :shifty:

They look OK , although I see that some are already boarded up .

Thanks for those Neil :)

I think they are being knocked down soon hence some of them being boarded up and there is a lot of anti-social behaviour in those flats. A former colleague of mine lived in those flats and she said it's nothing but junkies and alkies in those blocks and the stairwells and corridors stink of urine as people urinate there:evil:

As for the Poolway itself. The last time I ventured up there was 12 months ago just to go for a walk. It was so grim being there. Most of the shops had gone, and what was there was just cheap and tacky shops and a lot of disused shop units. I remember going up there with my Mum a lot when I was younger and back then there was decent shops and it was a good afternoon out.

Kents Moat library has gone downhill. It seems to only have about 100 books, and I'm sure the last new one was 2001! I can see the Poolway blocks in the distance through my bedroom window on a clear day and night.

The three Stechford blocks near B and Q and the River Cole are Oast, Mill and Barn House. I don't know which one is which.

Well I only live about 5 mins from them, and yes Grendal, that is the reason why I didn't go too close to them, although I didn't realise that had happened, but nothing suprises me, havn't been in them since I was about 11 when a mates sister was living in one of them, it was full of junkies and alchies then, and as far as I know they have always smelt of urine and the lifts never work.

Thats why I'll be glad to see them gone, although they do have some achitectural charm from a distance.

The poolway was revamped about 7 or 8 years ago, so it is in a much better state than it used to be in, but that means instead of being diabolical, it is just crap.

It'll be good to see it being demolished then! :) Thanks for the pictures!

Dropped a friend off at BHX's Elmdon site and popped up the multi storey car park for a view of Chelmsley Wood, Smiths Wood and Kingshurst skylines. It was a bit hazy so may try again for a pano when the airs clearer

Smiths Wood

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g151/iceman14141414/P1010352.jpg

Chelmsley Wood

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g151/iceman14141414/P1010353.jpg

Meadway Flats with Stechford blocks on the far left.

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g151/iceman14141414/P1010354.jpg

Kingshurst Blocks with a couple from Chelmsley in front of them.

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g151/iceman14141414/P1010356.jpg

the start of the scaffolding on Bakeman House

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g151/iceman14141414/P1010361.jpg

Is that coming down?

No, it's being refurbished.

Thanks for the pictures, UV! :) I can't tell where Chelmsley Wood stops and Smiths Wood begins so I count the whole lot as Chelmsley Wood! :|

Nice pics from the airport there . I'm glad to see that Bakeman House is getting a refurb .

Photos of High Point estate Richmond Hill Road Edgbaston

http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/2034/dscf0444uk4.th.jpg (http://img178.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscf0444uk4.jpg)
http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/8132/dscf0442ll2.th.jpg (http://img402.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscf0442ll2.jpg)
http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/6628/dscf0440ix5.th.jpg (http://img116.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscf0440ix5.jpg)
http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/937/dscf0439bc4.th.jpg (http://img338.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscf0439bc4.jpg)
http://img111.imageshack.us/img111/5486/dscf0430hc4.th.jpg (http://img111.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscf0430hc4.jpg)
http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/5835/dscf0429nb3.th.jpg (http://img261.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscf0429nb3.jpg)
http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/7417/dscf0422gp9.th.jpg (http://img407.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscf0422gp9.jpg)
http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/6628/dscf0440ix5.th.jpg (http://img116.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscf0440ix5.jpg)

^^

Lovely setting! :happy: Thanks for those blar. :yes:

And thanks for your pics ultraviolet and NeilM. :okay:

Thanks Butterfield:cheers:

Thanks for the photos Ultraviolet - there are still a load of blocks, that you captured in your BHX photos, that we need to get close ups of. I did manage to get a few photos myself on Saturday from Erdington and Castle Brom areas but - excuses time - I just haven't had time to upload them and all that nonsense yet: maybe tonight when I get back from work!

Bakeman House is a monster and I'm so glad it's having a refurb. Does anyone know how it will look after the work's done?

Blar: you catually live in High Point don't you? You're very lucky if so and I agree with Butterfield - fantastic setting and quality photos

Thanks for the pictures of High Point. It is an impressive tower block, and I am immensely jealous that you live there blar. The views you get are awesome! Butterfield is right, it is a lovely setting! :)

Smiley: Did you get a snap of Cleeve House/Court in Erdington? Well, it's more Gravelly Hill I think but it is right by Rookery Park. It's hard to spot - the trees around it are taller than the block itself. But I know that from the top, you can quite easily see Bakeman House and the Swan. ;)

Thanks for the photos Ultraviolet - there are still a load of blocks, that you captured in your BHX photos, that we need to get close ups of.


Yeah I aim to spend a day capturing the whole area, it's just finding the time but I will get round to it:)

Smiley: Did you get a snap of Cleeve House/Court in Erdington? Well, it's more Gravelly Hill I think but it is right by Rookery Park. It's hard to spot - the trees around it are taller than the block itself. But I know that from the top, you can quite easily see Bakeman House and the Swan. ;)

No, I didn't get that one but I do know of it. It's quite unique looking if I remember and you can spot it from the M6 too (if you look to your left) just after you've passed Spaghetti heading towards Jct5 - it looks well hidden in the trees from that view point.

I got the ones on Jarvis Road, Wyrley House in short Heath (that's the one that showed up in some of my previous photos in the area), the two remaining Castle Vale blocks and a couple around the Castle Brom/Shard End area. There are still loads more to photograph and catalogue in just this area alone so this thread's gonna be busy for a long time to come yet:)

I'll post them all up a bit later on.

Excuse me if this has been posted before but i cant be arsed to trawl through the millions of posts/

Macauley House in West Bromwich in its refurb. Neale HOuse also had the same treatment.

http://www.sandwellhomes.org.uk/Images/MacauleyHouse.JPG

Thanks for those UV, been meaning to get down to the swan before it goes to get some photos, just not had the time of late.

Excuse me if this has been posted before but i cant be arsed to trawl through the millions of posts/

Macauley House in West Bromwich in its refurb. Neale HOuse also had the same treatment.

http://www.sandwellhomes.org.uk/Images/MacauleyHouse.JPG

They're these ones aren't they? I took this photo last August mid-refurb. A lot of blocks around the West Brom area are looking very smart now:)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%207/Bham10082007143.jpg

Photos from saturday: First up is Wyrley House which I captured before, at a distance, in this photo.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%208/BirminghamJan5th20082.jpg


Here it is a lot closer up. It's situated just off Bleak Hill Road in an area that's in between Erdington and Kingstanding....ish.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%208/TowerBlocks16thFeb2008.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%208/TowerBlocks16thFeb20081.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%208/TowerBlocks16thFeb20082.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%208/TowerBlocks16thFeb20083.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%208/TowerBlocks16thFeb20084.jpg

Next off to Erdington and the Jarvis Road area to capture these lot!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%204/Lyndehurst9thDec200621.jpg


^^
To the far right of the screen you can see some nice low-rises....
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%208/TowerBlocks16thFeb20085.jpg

...then there are these two: Cranleigh and Repton House
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%208/TowerBlocks16thFeb20087.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%208/TowerBlocks16thFeb20089.jpg

Repton House
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%208/TowerBlocks16thFeb20086.jpg

There are good views of the Lyndehurst Estate from this area. Harlech Tower looks huge in some of these photos
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%208/TowerBlocks16thFeb20088.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%208/TowerBlocks16thFeb200816.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%208/TowerBlocks16thFeb200817.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%208/TowerBlocks16thFeb200822.jpg

here are the five blocks on Jarvis Road photographed from the waste ground between them and the previous blocks. this is about the only vantage point where you can capture all five blocks in one pic......I took more from the road (as you'll see) and stuggled to fit them in
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%208/TowerBlocks16thFeb200810.jpg

On Jarvis Road itself: This is looking at the blocks from the Gravelly Lane side. The blocks, from this view, are; Stokesay House, Berkley House, Windsor House, Arundel House and Alnwick House.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%208/TowerBlocks16thFeb200811.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%208/TowerBlocks16thFeb200812.jpg

Side View
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%208/TowerBlocks16thFeb200813.jpg

Berkley, Windsor House etc.....
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%208/TowerBlocks16thFeb200814.jpg

Looking back the other way; Windsor, Berkley and Stokesay House
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%208/TowerBlocks16thFeb200815.jpg

Side View of Windsor House
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%208/TowerBlocks16thFeb200818.jpg

Looking back the other way again; Arundel, Windsor House etc....
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%208/TowerBlocks16thFeb200819.jpg

Looking back, all five blocks
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%208/TowerBlocks16thFeb200820.jpg

Alnwick House with the Lyndehurst Estate in the distance
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%208/TowerBlocks16thFeb200821.jpg

Castle Vale: The ever colourful and freaky Topcliffe House
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%208/TowerBlocks16thFeb200824.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%208/TowerBlocks16thFeb200825.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%208/TowerBlocks16thFeb200826.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%208/TowerBlocks16thFeb200827.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%208/TowerBlocks16thFeb200829.jpg

The one other remaining Castle Vale block - which I've totally forgotten the name of - in the distance
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%208/TowerBlocks16thFeb200828.jpg

Here's whatsitsnamethingy House a bit closer up
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%208/TowerBlocks16thFeb200831.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%208/TowerBlocks16thFeb200832.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%208/TowerBlocks16thFeb200833.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%208/TowerBlocks16thFeb200834.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%208/TowerBlocks16thFeb200836.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%208/TowerBlocks16thFeb200838.jpg

Topcliffe's turn for a distance shot
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%208/TowerBlocks16thFeb200835.jpg

A few years back this was a tower-lined boulevard now it looks like the set to a bad sci-fi film
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%208/TowerBlocks16thFeb200837.jpg

These two - Brunswick House and Albany House - are situated just off Heath Way which is Castle Bromwich/Shard End ish
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%208/TowerBlocks16thFeb200860.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%208/TowerBlocks16thFeb200861.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%208/TowerBlocks16thFeb200862.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%208/TowerBlocks16thFeb200863.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%208/TowerBlocks16thFeb200864.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%208/TowerBlocks16thFeb200865.jpg

Brunswick House and a........mini block!!!!:banana:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%208/TowerBlocks16thFeb200866.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%208/TowerBlocks16thFeb200867.jpg

Fantastic little Block just off Packington Way in Shard End. This one's called Adelaide Tower for some reason.....
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%208/TowerBlocks16thFeb200868.jpg

.....and has this for a view!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%208/TowerBlocks16thFeb200869.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%208/TowerBlocks16thFeb200870.jpg

Nice setting
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%208/TowerBlocks16thFeb200871.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%208/TowerBlocks16thFeb200872.jpg

^^
The nearby open space, that the lake is situated on, is called the Norman Chamberlain Playing Fields and it is ringed, at a distance, of tower block after tower block. There are definitely a lot more to get photos of in this area:)

Phew! Thanks for the mega photo fest Smiley :cheers:

The pattern on Albany and Brunswick houses is really quite neat :)

I haven't scaled any tower blocks, for photos, lately because the light from the low, Winter sun isn't much cop for that kind of thing. I did take a few pics from up by Castle Bromwich Hall though.

Looking out over Castle Vale:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%208/TowerBlocks16thFeb200850.jpg

Topcliffe
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%208/TowerBlocks16thFeb200851.jpg

Thingy
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%208/TowerBlocks16thFeb200852.jpg

Junction 5
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%208/TowerBlocks16thFeb200856.jpg

Lyndehurst blocks, Erdington (they seem to get into loads of photos?)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%208/TowerBlocks16thFeb200857.jpg

A few moody shots of the Bromford flats (it's the winter sun thing I was talking about).
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%208/TowerBlocks16thFeb200840.jpg

Very Moody:tongue:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%208/TowerBlocks16thFeb200841.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%208/TowerBlocks16thFeb200842.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%208/TowerBlocks16thFeb200853.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%208/TowerBlocks16thFeb200854.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%208/TowerBlocks16thFeb200858.jpg

Phew! Thanks for the mega photo fest Smiley :cheers:

The pattern on Albany and Brunswick houses is really quite neat :)

There, definitely finished now Smysticed. I'm going for a lie down now:tongue2:

Wow! What a fun day out you must have had, Smiley. ;) Thanks for all of those!

Brunswick and Albany Houses are rather unique to Birmingham - they don't look like any other blocks in the area do they? They look more Scottish - more suited to Paisley or Motherwell or somewhere. :nuts: I wonder what they looked like before the (possibly 90s?) reclad.

Those 2 big bastards at Bromford appear to be deserted. At night (7pm ish)there are no lights on inside at all.

that's because they are :okay:

Thanks a lot for all the work Smiley ; I really enjoyed those . I must say that the majority of blocks seem to be set in very green areas . The unnamed block in Castle Vale has interesting windows .In fact it looks like the blocks you find in French suburbs .

The West Brom reburbs look very smart indeed .

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%208/TowerBlocks16thFeb200858.jpg

There must be some big beavers in castle vale. :shifty: :runaway:

The block in Castle Vale is Chivenoor/Chivenor House. :)

Excellent photos there Smiley! The tower block in the first post would look better suited in Druids Heath! I love the concreteness of it though! The Jarvis Road bunch are more Mediterranean! They are rather unimpressive though, individually. Together they are great! The Shard End blocks are great too. I actually like the paint job - it is very interesting. Adelaide Tower has excellent views.:happy:

In the background of this photo, you can see the Berryfield estate blocks in Sutton Coldfield (red brick). I think they are Elizabeth and Margaret House or something like that.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%208/TowerBlocks16thFeb200851.jpg

from tonight. not sure what they are called lol

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2374/2280676200_7901825d1f.jpg

Hey, they look good, cheers Grafik.

I notice only two have/are using the blue lighting scheme .Smart photo Grafik .

http://www.druidsheath.moonfruit.com/communities/9/004/005/948/669/images/4514673208.jpg

Druids Heath - I think the one in the foreground is Bellfield House. My nan used to live on the top floor of the block. I remember watching the planes land at the airport and the fireworks on bonfire night and new years eve. I think its only a matter of time before these come down.

With Druids Heath blocks, I like the "face" design those flats have.

^^

You and your tower block 'face designs'... :D


Druids Heath - I think the one in the foreground is Bellfield House. My nan used to live on the top floor of the block. I remember watching the planes land at the airport and the fireworks on bonfire night and new years eve. I think its only a matter of time before these come down.

:cry:

Please don't say that! Druid's Heath is perhaps the biggest estate of tower blocks in Birmingham these days and is just so typically post war overspill. Not that I agree with building on fields but it's a little bit of history.

But thanks for the photo hoody. :okay:

And yours Grafik. :happy:

Bromford, north-east Birmingham, which holds special memories for fellow tower blocker NN: :D

http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/504/bromforddt7.jpg

http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/4849/bromford2jg0.jpg


Berrandale Road, to the east of the Bromford blocks.
Tower blocks once stood here next to the M6 - the little roadlets are all that remain - 10ish years after they were demolished:

http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/673/bromford3qb4.jpg

^^Aah I always thought there used to be blocks there. I remember going past there when I was a littl'un and feeling slightly scared but when I went passed it again a few years later there was nothing there so I thought I must have imagined it! You've solved a long standing personal mystery of mine, Butterpuds! :)

The Walsall-esque Pennycrofts Court in Stafford. Drove past this the other day.

1965
http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/5194/stafford1965jz4.jpg


Recent view of the block. Note the large green area - Kingsmead Marsh - hard to believe this is practically in the centre of Stafford!
http://img110.imageshack.us/img110/9521/staffordws3.jpg

View from the top of Pennycrofts Court overlooking the marsh:
http://www.staffordbc.gov.uk/static/images/cme_images/agenda21/biodiversity/kingsmead/kingsmead12.jpg

Not sure of the name of the block but its adjacent to Lapworth Tower on Sherlock Street.
Boards going up round the block. Demolition can't be too far away now then?

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b141/Feltip/Birmingham%20UK/sherlockHightowers.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b141/Feltip/Birmingham%20UK/sherlockHightowers2.jpg

Anyone guess where these are from... took a few years back and I don't think they're around any more :(

http://www.geograph.org.uk/photos/04/15/041597_8a67b9f8.jpg

http://www.geograph.org.uk/photos/44/89/448934_8abfb0a2.jpg

AFtermath

http://www.geograph.org.uk/photos/54/76/547604_dc25b586.jpg

Somewhere in Wolves

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1380/908089121_5d784728c8.jpg?v=0

The first ones are of Blakenhall, Wolverhampton - possibly the demolition of Cobden House 8ish years ago? The brown blocks were all demolished last year I think so all that remains is the big cream block - Phoenix Rise. The last pic you posted is in Wednesfield. :yes:

And thanks for your photos feltip! :okay:

In tonight's Evening Mail, there was an article on the condemend Bromford blocks, and apparently rumour has it they are likely to stay. Here is the article:

Anger as towers still standing
Feb 28 2008

ANGRY tenants have accused Birmingham Council of tricking them into leaving their homes on a city estate.

Residents quit after being told that Bayley Tower and Stoneycroft Tower in Hodge Hill were due to be demolished - but have now discovered the flats are being hawked to property developers instead.

Trevor Williams who lived in Stoneycroft Tower for eight years is furious.

"I feel cheated," he said. "It's as though they got me out under false pretences.

"I'd still be there quite happily, but we were told the blocks were in such a poor way it would be too expensive to repair them."

Although the council gave Trevor £5,000 compensation, he still reckons the deal left him out of pocket because he'd redecorated his apartment shortly before being asked to leave.

"I had the place plastered about 10 months before they asked me to go, and that cost more than £2,000 on its own," he explained.

"They said they couldn't give me anything for that as it's classed as fixtures and fittings.

"More than that, it was my home. They shouldn't have made me leave if they weren't going to knock it down."

Hodge Hill councillor Anita Ward says many other former tenants are frustrated by the U-turn and she's now submitted a 300 signature petition to the council calling on them fulfil their pledge to send in the bulldozers.

She said: "People left homes they had invested a lot of work in and had an emotional attachment to.

"We were told as recently as last August that these towers were to be demolished, and the council is reneging on this promise."

Debbie Goldie who has lived for 20 years in Tipperary Close, in the shadow of the high rises, is one of the residents calling for the blocks to come down.

She argues as long as they stand empty, they're a magnet for anti-social behaviour, and says their location and design mean they'll never be attractive.

"Even if a developer buys them, what will they have to offer?" she asks.

"Just a view of the motor-way, electricity pylons and the Fort Shopping Centre. Only desperate people who can't afford anything else will live there.

"We've seen it all through the years. Furniture and excrement being thrown off the balconies, people jumping off to kill themselves or putting animals down the chute.

"We thought the end was in sight, but now we're in limbo again. I just dread the thought of going home from work and seeing them every day."

Birmingham's cabinet member for housing, John Lines said: "We are still consulting local elected members and residents on the best way forward.

"No final decision has been made."

Source: http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/the-stirrer/2008/02/28/anger-as-towers-still-standing-97319-20535262/

Thanks for that NN. ;)

I hope they do stay as they are great landmarks and are quite impressive, but I can't imagine people wanting to live there as it's quite a remote estate with few amenities.

If they are refurbished, that would be fantastic! But it is unfair on the former residents. Nevertheless, I hope they stay! :)

Interesting I must say .

I hope they get a reprive.

Personally I'd like them to stay, but bare in mind if there were a problem before to the other residents then it's 50/50.

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j129/van_heckler/t3.jpg

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j129/van_heckler/t5.gif

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j129/van_heckler/t2.jpg

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j129/van_heckler/t4.jpg

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j129/van_heckler/t1.jpg

Nice stuff there .I especially like the first two .

Yay! Alder (?) House with it's great big chimney! My favourite Wolverhampton block! :)

Are all the Wolverhampton blocks lived in or are any of them in danger ?

Excellent photos VH: what was your vantage point and that's a nice photo of Butterfield Court in the third photo.

Thanks people. Top 2 are from Wolverhampton Station car park. The bottom 3 are from Dudley Castle. The block in the 3rd photo is Butterfield Court. Butterfield won't be happy with you lol.

Are all the Wolverhampton blocks lived in or are any of them in danger ?

There are always lights on at night so I presume they're lived in but I suppose that's never stopped tower blocks in the past being demolished. Thankfully, none of the big ones in Wolvo have been demolished yet.

Great photos vanette - Butterfield Court looks really tall!! :pepper:

I can't believe Smiley didn't recognise it. :ohno:

;)

Great photos vanette - Butterfield Court look really tall!! :pepper:

I can't believe Smiley didn't recognise it.

I have no idea what you're all talking about?:happy:

I didn't notice it! :eek: :shifty: It does look bigger than it usually does! :)

Bakeman House refurb update

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g151/iceman14141414/P1010451.jpg

Thanks for the update .

Hey im a noob on this site but have been reading this thread for a while and i read about camberly on charlemont farm with pictures. My nan used to live on the top floor of the sister block that was demolished a few years back and has pics of when it was first opened, when she moved out, derelict and when it was demolished. If interested i will post on here when i can scan them!

Hello and welcome coolwater! :wave:

Any pics you can get your hands on would be great to see. :yes: I remember seeing the identical block to Camberley (Marshall House?) standing empty - as it had been for about 15 years or something! :eek:

I've viewed flats on the ground floor of Camberley and the 17th floor of Briarley (the only really tall one left) - they are the only tower blocks I've ever been in!

Hope to see some of these pics very soon! :okay:

http://bp1.blogger.com/_hT8jhaCoiX4/Rl8LCtEqOdI/AAAAAAAAAQo/SVii9267lQI/s1600-h/charlemont+Aug+74+E+%26+S.jpg
here we go this is an oldie from my friends website of marshall house, brierly and camberly in the good old days! my family has always had a history in camberly and marshall house, my nan lived on the top floor of marshall house and my parents own a flat in camberly so they always hold special meaning for me.

Smiths Wood blocks,

Nuffield House and Worcester House- Kingfisher Drive

(Gonville House is the one behind)

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g151/iceman14141414/P1010456.jpg

Nuffield House in the foreground

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g151/iceman14141414/P1010457.jpg

Gonville House and Girton House- Kenet Drive

Gonville

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g151/iceman14141414/P1010458.jpg

Girton on the left

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g151/iceman14141414/P1010459.jpg

Girton

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g151/iceman14141414/P1010460.jpg

Pembroke House and Clare House- Barle Grove

Pembroke on the right

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g151/iceman14141414/P1010461.jpg

Pembroke

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g151/iceman14141414/P1010462.jpg

Westfield House- Arran Way

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g151/iceman14141414/P1010463.jpg

Birbeck House Guernsey Drive

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g151/iceman14141414/P1010464.jpg


http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g151/iceman14141414/P1010465.jpg

Newinham House- Falkland Way

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g151/iceman14141414/P1010466.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g151/iceman14141414/P1010467.jpg


Bedford House- Sanda Croft

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g151/iceman14141414/P1010468.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g151/iceman14141414/P1010469.jpg

and the Smiths Wood skyline with most of the blocks on there.

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g151/iceman14141414/P1010473.jpg

I started on Chelmsley Wood/Fordbridge blocks but got called away, should be able to finish them off soon and post them.

Fantastic work UV! :eek: :okay: I don't think we've seen all those blocks this close up before. :happy: And so many of them too!


http://bp1.blogger.com/_hT8jhaCoiX4/Rl8LCtEqOdI/AAAAAAAAAQo/SVii9267lQI/s1600-h/charlemont+Aug+74+E+%26+S.jpg
here we go this is an oldie from my friends website of marshall house, brierly and camberly in the good old days! my family has always had a history in camberly and marshall house, my nan lived on the top floor of marshall house and my parents own a flat in camberly so they always hold special meaning for me.

Excellent - thanks for that! But the picture doesn't seem to work as a direct link and I can't get Imageshack to work so here's the link. http://bp1.blogger.com/_hT8jhaCoiX4/Rl8LCtEqOdI/AAAAAAAAAQo/SVii9267lQI/s1600-h/charlemont+Aug+74+E+%26+S.jpg

Do you know how many of the the taller 'Briarley' towers there once were?

Thanks for those UV . A lot of material there .

Thanks for those UV - that's a few more tower blocks that can be scratched off the "need to be photographed" list.

Here's the excellent photo that Coolwater was trying show earlier. I love old photos like this showing tower blocks from a bygone age (see page one of this thread) and I know Butterfield will be drooling over the cars on show too:)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/charlemont2BAug2B742BE2B262BS.jpg

Just looking through UV's photos again and it's not just the weather: all those blocks could do with a spruce and perhaps a splash of colour!

That's a great photo . I've slept in a couple of blocks on the Charlemont Farm Estate but I can't remember which .

Just looking through UV's photos again and it's not just the weather: all those blocks could do with a spruce and perhaps a splash of colour!

Although the weather was poor this is very true, they're all a miserable grey or dark blue, a splash of colour would do wonders.

thats the pic! I cant figure out how to put the pics up on here just yet but i will get there! I have also got all the pictures scanned from marshall house and camberly in the 1970's. some fantastic colour photographs in there as well and marshal house standing very grey and derelict! I will post them as soon as i figure how to do it lol

thats the pic! I cant figure out how to put the pics up on here just yet but i will get there! I have also got all the pictures scanned from marshall house and camberly in the 1970's. some fantastic colour photographs in there as well and marshal house standing very grey and derelict! I will post them as soon as i figure how to do it lol


Cheers Coolwater - I, as I'm sure will other, look forward to seeing them. To post photos on here all you have to do is find a host for your photo (photobucket, imageshack etc) and put the "hosted" photo's url between these tags....

url here

incredible pics... I lived there on two occasions and would love to see more pics, apparently there used to be a few more blocks on that estate that were demolished.

:bash:

Violent couple given ASBOs


A MAN and woman have been slapped with two-year ASBOs after a series of violent rows were reported in a Dudley street.

Natalie Garrett, aged 20, of no fixed address and Tony Ball, aged 21, of Willow Road, were given the antisocial behaviour orders after they committed a series of incidents during their visits to Butterfield Court, Short Street, over the last three months.

These included cases of serious violence between the pair within the block of flats.

Under the orders, made at Dudley County Court on Thursday, October 4, the pair are barred from entering Butterfield Court or the nearby neighbourhood, assaulting, molesting or harassing any resident, visitor or person engaging in unlawful activity near or around Butterfield Court.

The orders will be in force for the next two years and the power of arrest will run out on April 3 next year.

Councillor Anne Millward, cabinet member for community safety, said: "This is a particularly nasty case and these individuals have made the lives of those living in the flats they visit an absolute misery for far too long.

"Dudley continues to take a hard line against people who persistently disrupt the lives of others.

"I hope the residents of Butterfield Court can now live in peace and quiet."

http://archive.stourbridgenews.co.uk/2007/10/17/90614.html

A rather spooky looking Bromford

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g151/iceman14141414/P1010501.jpg

^^

That's a stunning photograph UV :eek::eek::eek:

Concerning Butterfield's post: Living in a block myself I've had to report knobrots like this in the past. My block generally houses good folk but it only takes one or two to make several folk's lives a misery due to the more concentrated population levels. Any street has its dickheads or problem family it's just more acute in a tower block - good riddance to the Butterfield court trouble makers anyway:banana:

That is an impressive pic UV :cheers:

I swear I wouldnt want to go down there at night, and although I did live there it was a no-go at night then!

Please cast your vote
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=597165:)

That is an impressive pic UV :cheers:

I swear I wouldnt want to go down there at night, and although I did live there it was a no-go at night then!

Think it still pretty much is, I took the 3 pics from inside the car, with the doors locked and the engine running, just in case :cheers:

One thing I was wondering about was, the signs on the Birmingham tower blocks.

They must have been up since the early 90s and they do look grubby. Perhaps each of the blocks need a snazzy new sign to pin-point what they are?

Van Hecker: as per request here are all my HeathTown/Wednesfield photos but rather than post them all again here's the ssc link to the page they're on

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=242771&page=26

I presume that'll work if you're using 25 posts per page....they're on page 26 anyway if you're using the above format

^^

Looking back through those: page 26 was a fine page:yes:

6 - 5 - 3 - 4 - 10 - 7 - oh bollocks to it just hit the switch.

/v/Ww4L84gbEQc&hl=en

I bet they weren't expecting to get covered in dust lol

/v/VkGDf4I77Yg&hl=en

was that printhorpe tower near highgate?

^^

Yes.

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/buildings.php?id=753




Looking back through those: page 26 was a fine page:yes:

Thanks Smiley. I think I might have seen them before but I obviously didn't appreciate them at the time. Walsall looks great in that one photo. I really do fancy goin up a tower block some time lol.

The Tamworth Six
http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/8377/tamworth62qx4.jpg

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/4527/tamworth6xh1.jpg


Telford
http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/2812/hadley2gu3.jpg

http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/3716/wellington2fl5.jpg

I see that the new plan to regenerate parts of Solihull involves the demolishing of some towers .

This is an article of the dark side of life in Tower blocks. In tonight's Evening Mail, residents have demanded for said tower mentioned to be demolished.

Murderer of Wolverhampton burglar faces life
Mar 26 2008 By Chris Henwood

A MAN faces a life sentence for murdering a neighbour he caught burgling a friend's flat.

Michael Joyce, 21, was convicted by a jury at Birmingham Crown Court of murdering Alan Harris after the 37-year-old was seen stealing from the home of fellow defendant Lee Gannon.

The jury cleared Gannon, 25, of murder, but convicted him of manslaughter, and sentence on both men was adjourned for reports.

A third defendant, Dale Francis, 20, was cleared of murder.

All four men lived in Wodensfield Tower, Wednesfield, Wolverhampton, the jury was told.

Wayne Buchanan, 28, of Rushall Road, and Patrick Summers, 24, of Dudley Road, both Wolverhampton, were also cleared or murder.

Christopher Hotten, QC, prosecuting, told the jury that Mr Harris was a drug addict who resorted to crime in order to pay for his habit.

Last March he burgled the flat of Gannon, taking a number of items including a DVD player, DVDs, a TV and a bed.

"He made a number of trips to and from the flat and on his final visit he was to pay the ultimate price for his crime," said Mr Hotten.

Witness Jodie Granger told the court she was at a party at Wodensfield Tower when someone came in and said there was "trouble upstairs."

She said she then went to Gannon's flat and was told someone had been caught breaking in.

Ms Granger said she then saw Mr Harris lying on the floor covered in blood with his arms over his face as if he was trying to protect himself.

Gannon, she said, was standing next to him holding a knife. She saw Joyce kick him in the stomach and later drag Mr Harris down the stairs.



Source: http://www.birminghammail.net/news/birmingham-news/2008/03/26/murderer-of-wolverhampton-burglar-faces-life-97319-20674923/

I went past the Meadway blocks last Thursday. My they are a depressing building.

^^

Mmmm. I saw that on Midlands Today yesterday. Is it really the tower block's fault that somebody got murdered?! It's the people in them! Do them up, give them better security making them more desirable and therefore better people will live there and take better care of the block. Murders happen on street level estates too. :nuts:

Anyway, these are the blocks (there's three of them) in question if you fancy paying £43,000 to live in one. ;)

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/viewdetails-16518895.rsp?pa_n=1&tr_t=buy

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/viewdetails-9540981.rsp?pa_n=1&tr_t=buy

Tower blocks in Walsall:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/67578493@N00/sets/72157601242197129/

A couple of photos I took this morning:)

Warwick Crest, Carpenter Road Edgbaston
http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/4914/dscf0589ts6.jpg

Kendal Tower, Metchley Lane Edgbaston
http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/3680/dscf0594jz2.jpg
http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/3669/dscf0595qk3.jpg

Two towers next to Kendal Tower!
http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/7487/dscf0596wg2.jpg

What's happening at Warwick Crest blar? Kendal Tower is like a 3D block having 4 similar-sized sides. :happy:

Thanks for those! :okay:

Thanks Butterfield, I think it's having new windows fitted:)

Oh no! That means it's going to be demolished soon then! :eek:


Kendal Tower looks beefy! :yes:

Over by the airport.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3073/2409319105_79bf8ef5bf_o.jpg

not sure where this is?

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3256/2410154768_d6923dbe29_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2376/2410152600_6f69aa6c4f_o.jpg

not sure where this is?

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3256/2410154768_d6923dbe29_o.jpg

Those are the Meadway blocks. You can see them from Minworth - they're really dominating! :yes:

Good Photo EK.

Well they are on top of a hill so they are pretty dominating of the area, still total crap holes though.

Turns out one of the tower blocks on the Chamberlain Gardens estate has been demolished! I don't think we saw that one coming!

Cheers for those pics of the Meadway and Chelmsley/Smithswood blocks you taken Elizabeth Knokke :)

I walked passed the Meadway blocks a few weeks ago, what grim buildings they are. I like tower blocks, but if they're grim looking and full of trash they deserve demolishing.

The old Charlemont farm late 80's, my caretaker from Camberly told me there used to more more taller blocks (than the three over 15 storey blocks) and this is the first pic I've seen to substantiate it... wow :)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3058/2353394800_8630d7f4b8_o.png

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22009880@N06/

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2349/2263973863_5be0e945ab_b.jpg

http://www.flickr.com/photos/frosted_peppercorn/

Fox Hollies

http://www.flickr.com/photos/newfolder/2239058119/

West Brom

http://www.flickr.com/photos/biopot/639491229/

Hawkesely (the big ones have gone now)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/birmingham-phil/436263099/

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/157/334511318_68fac2a4f5_b.jpg

http://www.flickr.com/photos/higgy/

Very nice EK .

....

The old Charlemont farm late 80's, my caretaker from Camberly told me there used to more more taller blocks (than the three over 15 storey blocks) and this is the first pic I've seen to substantiate it... wow :)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3058/2353394800_8630d7f4b8_o.png

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22009880@N06/

Also in the the photo is what looks like an old British rail electric, though it was a diesel at first, but I think you can see the pantograph on the second carriage, think it is a Class 312 from my search. I remember them as a kid, with the doors you had to bang to shut proparly, anyway, back to towers.

That's a great photo .I've slept in a couple of those blocks but I can't remember which .

Thanks for those pics EK :)

I don't know whether this would be OK to put in this thread, but this is a diary account of a tenant in the demolished Upper Firs Estate blocks just off Bromford Bridge that was written in 2004 about the crime. Makes very grim reading :ohno:

http://data.pointclark.net/bromford/oldsite/firs.html

Grabbed from Tamworth Castle

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z31/Mastspotter/DSC_0098.jpg

Great shot - these blocks look like they're in a rural location! I took a photo similar to this some years ago when I visited Tamworth Castle. :yes:

I notice one of the masts in the background too. :D

The mast was what I was really aiming for :D

Rubbishy Photo of the tower blocks by the river cole near Stechford:

http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/9942/cimg3329so4.jpg

Thats a decent pic there NeilM :)

I walked past these about four weeks ago walking the dog in that field sorrounding it, and the "faces" look "dirty". Three grubby blocks in need of a clean and lick of paint.

Barford House from No.35 bus. Boards around ready for demolition whenever that happens.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b141/Feltip/Construction%20Bham/6MAYbARFORD2.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b141/Feltip/Construction%20Bham/6MayBarford1.jpg

All three but one seem boarded up, the one nearest the roundabout.

Demolition of Scrimshaw House in Pleck, Walsall:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rjt208/2545627857/

The butts flats in sunny multicultural walsall:hug::bash::cheers:

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/1257/dsc00322dw3.th.jpg (http://img209.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00322dw3.jpg)
http://img386.imageshack.us/img386/7483/dsc00321cw0.th.jpg (http://img386.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00321cw0.jpg)
http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/6914/dsc00323jp6.th.jpg (http://img209.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00323jp6.jpg)


Just found this old picture of the paddock flats, i was born in 1973 so i think the picture was taken about that time. I have fond memories of growing up round the paddock.

Does any one remember the park, it use to have like a mini concrete football/ cricket pitch in the middle.. you had to go down some steps to get to it ,but the gate was all ways locked , you can just make out the white railings that went round the pitch in the picture



http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/5609/paddockflatsuq7.th.jpg (http://img508.imageshack.us/my.php?image=paddockflatsuq7.jpg)

Hello Mission, welcome to the forums:cheers:

I can see my kitchen window in "The Paddock flats" photo you've posted!! The only photos I've got of the "pit", as we called it, are of when it was being filled in. This was around the early 90's I think?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%207/TowerblocksSept075.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%207/TowerblocksSept074.jpg

Those Butts flats will be coming down soon and I noticed today that the last of the Pleck flats is coming down too: in similar style to the other ones by the looks of things!

Nice photos mate
You`ve jogged the old memory, i think i remember it being called the pit as well :lol:
Did they get rid of the park at the same time , the big slide was death trap:nuts:

I remember the "Pit" due to the amount of good graffiti down there but all this was before I moved onto the estate. The whole area is landscaped now and there is a small park still there (swings, slide etc) but it's for the kiddies and their unemployed moms to hang out in. I was trying to find some photos of the area, between the blocks, as it looks now (considering I'm at home I could actually walk out there and take some photos!!) but this is the closest I could come up with - this is taken from the top of Brookes house and the park - as it is now - is just hidden by that tree, bottom left!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%207/Bham100820073.jpg

In tonight's Birmingham Mail, there is a feature about the two condemend Bromford blocks and about a residents protest led by perhaps the best councillor in Birmingham Anita Ward.

There is a couple of small pictures of the blocks looking rather *ahem* trampy to use a better word. In a nutshell, the residents were paid £4 000 to clear off though I wonder how many drugged/pissed it up the wall ;) and were told they were going to be demolished.

The council said it's too expensive to demolish them, and even more expensive to keep them maintain so they are looking into a private developer to buy the flats. This is unfair on the previous residents and the people who have to put up with the trouble. As much as I like tower blocks, if they are causing the estate a lot of problems surely demolition is the answer or just preserve one of them as a monument kept drug and trouble free with an electric fence?

It pees me off with the heads of Birmingham City Council, well this rubbish lot that are in charge of running it. People have lost their homes and in the hands of a private developer, they may not be able to afford the rent? Surely these residents need to be paid off?

Also not being funny, the Bromford is not a desirable place to live in. Where I work leans more towards Hodge Hill so I don't get the trouble and I cant see many people buying these flats at all.

It is possible that a housing association will take over the blocks and provide improved housing. The council and that housing association could then work to provide those who previously lived there with newer accommodation. Or, the housing association could actually use the improved blocks to provide housing to those who actually need it as opposed to selling the flats as homes to the general public.

It is possible that a housing association will take over the blocks and provide improved housing. The council and that housing association could then work to provide those who previously lived there with newer accommodation. Or, the housing association could actually use the improved blocks to provide housing to those who actually need it as opposed to selling the flats as homes to the general public.

There is that distinct possiblity, but the thing is what were some of the people like who lived there before? Also, what would the people be like who apply? I'm not saying every resident of Bailey and Stoneycroft Towers were bad news, but I'm pretty sure that some who lived there were bad news and had drug and drink issues. This is a good idea, but it could be very bad if the flats fell into the wrong hands.

There is that distinct possiblity, but the thing is what were some of the people like who lived there before? Also, what would the people be like who apply? I'm not saying every resident of Bailey and Stoneycroft Towers were bad news, but I'm pretty sure that some who lived there were bad news and had drug and drink issues. This is a good idea, but it could be very bad if the flats fell into the wrong hands.

Well, if the previous residents are in serious difficulty of looking for a house, they can apply to the housing association who will consider their application for a house. Housing associations have different aims and scopes. There are some that specifically work in providing homes for ex-criminals who have recently been released from prison and are looking for a new start in life. There are others who provide homes for former drug addicts. In each case, the applicant is scrutinised. After all, the housing association is not-for-profit organisation and all money that they do earn in surplus is reinvested into their properties. They will not want to take in a resident who is likely to abuse the property. As social landlords, they still have the power to evict residents and are generally more effective in working for the resident's needs than a local authority. The idea of having ex-offenders and former drug addicts moving into what is an already deprived area does seem like a Jamie Oliver recipe for disaster but housing associations who specialise in this have a lot of experience.

I actually think the possibility of a housing association taking over these blocks is very high. There is a housing association whose name escapes me who own and operate a large number of properties in the surrounding areas and throughout Birmingham. I think they operate about 13,000 properties, if I remember correctly.

However, if this tower block was sold to a housing developer, I expect that they will demolish it as opposed to refurbish it. It is rare for housing developers to take on a tower block and refurbish it in its entirety. I can think of a few cases, though, although these all include Urban Splash. I can't see Urban Splash buying this though. It just doesn't seem like their area for one. If someone like Barratt Homes bought it, they will most likely demolish it and build a few brick semi-detached houses on the site. However, as you said in your previous post, it is not the best area and people are not exactly going to be taking up arms to get these houses. Barratt would probably acknowledge this and stay away. That is if Barratt is even considering the site!

All in all, I think that the story for the former residents is that they will have to look for somewhere else to live. I think it was cheeky for the council to empty it out and then decide that they can't demolish it. It makes me wonder if a change in funding allocation led to them changing their minds. When the decision was made to demolish them, they may have had money for it but now they may be in a situation where that money has to be used elsewhere. Demolition isn't cheap at all. It is around £500,000 per tower block. Demolishing this will cost £1 million for them plus the loss of rent on top. Saying that, refurbishment costs a lot more. When looking at refurbishing tower blocks, they split the refurbishment option in two: refurbish for a 15 year life period or a 30 year life period. The costs can be up to £15 million or more. You can see why demolition is preferred, especially when the refurbishment may last only 30 years.

Best case scenario: housing association take it over and refurbish for some of the former residents who are in need and for others in need of a home. Also pretty good would be an innovative developer like Urban Splash taking it over and maybe kick-starting a regeneration of the area - although it is very unlikely.

Sorry for the long reply but I felt like going into a bit of depth! :)

That was very well written Erebus :)

I think that is the best possible way these flats can have a new sense of life, but as for a regeneration area I can't see anyone wanting to invest in the Bromford.

It's a no-go area where drugs is even common on the street. There is about 6-7 shops, although the Fort Shopping Park is at the back of it, but they are run-down and of a tatty quality plus the area is a dumping ground for people who were kicked out of their own areas.

It's a no-go area where drugs is even common on the street. There is about 6-7 shops, although the Fort Shopping Park is at the back of it, but they are run-down and of a tatty quality plus the area is a dumping ground for people who were kicked out of their own areas.

Well, it's not unheard of for some areas to become regenerated even when they are in such a state. There are various ways this can happen. A housing association or development corporation can come along, buy the lot and demolish it all so they can start from scratch - like Lee Bank/Park Central. Or, a slower, more time-consuming process called gentrification which is done by individuals buying properties and improving them before selling them on, can help an area. Erdington is currently an area which is under going gentrification. It's slow but it's happening. I think Moseley has definitely improved. The difference between the development corporation way of regenerating areas and gentrification is that gentrification is carried out by individuals.

Usually, the outcome of both methods is that the original residents are effectively forced out as they can no longer afford the costs of living there and house prices rise quite a bit. An unwritten rule is that if the area has a Starbucks then it has been gentrified. ;)

Blokes go an about how lucky they are when their girlfriends understand their football needs blah, blah, blah...well I'm lucky in that aspect too but she went one step further when she understood my Tower Block fetish and celebrated it by creating a Tower Block Valentine's card for me...I'm gobsmacked lol! To clarify - as most of you know already - my gf's Brazilian and their Valentine's day is on June 12th......here's said card, with my monitor completing the high rise background (yes it is a Smethwick block she used).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/DSCF3205.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/DSCF3206.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/DSCF3202.jpg

Wow that's brilliant! Very thoughtful girlfriend, you have there! :)

What's with the 'SSC Pages' not written on your desk too? ;)

Photos of Walsall tower blocks on a computer screen inside a Walsall tower block! :happy:

That card is a great idea that she had. :yes:

The bootiful Sentinels!

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d101/Erebus555/Birmingham%2008/DSC_0035-2.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d101/Erebus555/Birmingham%2008/DSC_0021-2.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d101/Erebus555/Birmingham%2008/DSC_0020-2.jpg

What's with the 'SSC Pages' not written on your desk too? ;)

It's an old desk which I've been meaning to replace for ages and I do use it to scribble down stuff on. While looking for a thread within the Bham forums I noticed that page 6 had many threads that needed to be rejuvinated....anyway I was planning a mega photo feast yesterday but the dull weather put me off - the threads I spotted on the infamous page 6 I was hoping to add to (with photos). I'm having a few vodkas tonight so by about midnight most of page 6 will be on page 1:nuts:

Photos of Walsall tower blocks on a computer screen inside a Walsall tower block! :happy:

I needed a backdrop to set off the card so I chose the obvious photo:)

That card is a great idea that she had. :yes:

Yes she's bonkers and loves tower blocks....which makes us bonkers too I suppose:)

I took a few photos from Martineau House (or block?) in Newtown yesterday. Several of these have already appeared on several threads including the groundbreaking panorama I posted on the panoramic (?) thread - even Van Heckler was speechless at its, ermmm, originality:banana:

For those of you who moan that I never take photos of the inside of the blocks:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%209/Birmingham13thJune2008102.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%209/Birmingham13thJune2008105.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%209/Birmingham13thJune2008104.jpg

A few of the viewpoints I've already posted on other threads:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%209/Birmingham13thJune2008103.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%209/Birmingham13thJune200867.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%209/Birmingham13thJune200866.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%209/Birmingham13thJune200868.jpg

^^

.....quite a few more (views) that I haven't!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%209/Birmingham13thJune200870.jpg

Cluttered?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%209/Birmingham13thJune200871.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%209/Birmingham13thJune200874.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%209/Birmingham13thJune200873.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%209/Birmingham13thJune200880.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%209/Birmingham13thJune200881.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%209/Birmingham13thJune200850.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%209/Birmingham13thJune200851.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%209/Birmingham13thJune200879.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%209/Birmingham13thJune200882.jpg

Now the real photos!!!

Looking out the other way - tower blocks!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%209/Birmingham13thJune200891.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%209/Birmingham13thJune200899.jpg

Cropping is cool!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%209/Birmingham13thJune2008100.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%209/Birmingham13thJune200892.jpg

I love these photos (blowing my own trumpet time).

Such a cool image:drool:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%209/Birmingham13thJune200893.jpg

Perhaps even better?:happy:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%209/Birmingham13thJune200894.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%209/Birmingham13thJune200897.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%209/Birmingham13thJune200898.jpg

I'm into my cropping now coz the end result can drastically change someones visual interpretation of what they're seeing - or what their brain tells them thay should be seeing!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%209/Birmingham13thJune200877.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%209/Birmingham13thJune200852.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%209/Birmingham13thJune200878.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%209/Birmingham13thJune200853.jpg

Aah wow! Fantastic shots. Just like the glory days of last summer! :happy: Didn't you feel intimidated?

Fact: Cipher from Birmingham's Moorish Delta 7 grew up and got his own flat in Martineau Tower. :yes:

It felt good taking them again Erebus: hopefully I'll have enough time this summer, to get some of the tower blocks we haven't got catologued yet - you know I'm only a sunshine photographer!

One I forgot - a bit arty farty but the background's good:)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Birmingham%209/Birmingham13thJune200823.jpg

Oh the urbanity.... top photos Smileyface!

Great set of photos Smiley; that card montage is really good too .

bromford tower blocks we all know to well.

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t279/GrAfiK248/IMG_3419.jpg

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t279/GrAfiK248/IMG_3418.jpg

Well, it has been interesting following this thread. I lived in Coventry, in an estate near the city centre and have recently found out that most of the flats there were demolished, though mine was not. I know there were problems there and as I left I did not care for the chav element either, but I was still gutted to hear the news. I loved the spaciousnes of the flats, the quality of the light, which probably made everything literally seem much brighter than they really were, as on visitng, I never felt I could live in the UK or the Midlands again (I tried Brighton briefly before leaving the UK in 1996). Everything always seemed so dark and gloomy.

I do think that had a lot of the tower blocks that were otherwise structurally sound had been maintained propery from the start, there would have ben no need to knock so many down.

I now live in a 'commie block' in Budapest and I gather, could certainly do with some refurbishment. So I have got the quality of light again around - more so, as the sun can be much fiercer here in the Summer. It is not tower blocks that tend to be the target of regeneration plans here thpugh, but old courtyard quarters. I don't know if there are threads dedicated to those - and cataloguing their demolition.

Well, it has been interesting following this thread. I lived in Coventry, in an estate near the city centre and have recently found out that most of the flats there were demolished, though mine was not. I know there were problems there and as I left I did not care for the chav element either, but I was still gutted to hear the news. I loved the spaciousnes of the flats, the quality of the light, which probably made everything literally seem much brighter than they really were, as on visitng, I never felt I could live in the UK or the Midlands again (I tried Brighton briefly before leaving the UK in 1996). Everything always seemed so dark and gloomy.

I do think that had a lot of the tower blocks that were otherwise structurally sound had been maintained propery from the start, there would have ben no need to knock so many down.

I now live in a 'commie block' in Budapest and I gather, could certainly do with some refurbishment. So I have got the quality of light again around - more so, as the sun can be much fiercer here in the Summer. It is not tower blocks that tend to be the target of regeneration plans here thpugh, but old courtyard quarters. I don't know if there are threads dedicated to those - and cataloguing their demolition.

Was it the Hillfields estate you lived in while in Coventry? I'd loved to have taken photos of that place before its demolition (the same can be said for a lot of the blocks that have now since bit the dust).

Talking of blocks biting the dust, it looks like these two in Walsall are definitely on borrowed time. I think their names are Booth and O'Hare house and they're in The Butts area of town not too far from the Arboretum.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%209/DSCF3273.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%209/DSCF3274.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%209/DSCF3275.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%209/DSCF3276.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%209/DSCF3277.jpg

Thanks for the photos .Smiley , they are not the same ones on the road up to The Hatherton Arms , are they ? I think you took photos of those and they were in better shape than those above .

^^

They are Nacho. You do realise the Hatherton Arms doesn't exist anymore don't you - it's been knocked down to make way for the inner by-pass being constructed in the town centre. I was hoping to take some photos of the progress of said road and the new college that's going up but I got lost in all the coned off areas and new footpath routes so I gave up:lol:

They look fine to me, what a waste. I don't know why some of these tower blocks can't be redeveloped by a private developer!

Smiley Face -

Yes, it was in Hillfields where I lived. And I wish I had taken photos of the flats too, when I had had ample chance. The way the perspective changed with them fascinated me.

I know that the flat I had lived in, along with its now lonely other of that type, is getting the refurb treatment now. I shall be visitng the UK in mid-late August, so I daresay I shall see for myself what has been going on.

And yes, those Walsall tower blocks do look fine. I can see that they have had the death sentence, because all the windows have been taken out.

The Powers that Be may well regret bringing down so many of thse homes if the housing crisis deepens and we do get another major world recession.

They are Nacho. You do realise the Hatherton Arms doesn't exist anymore don't you - it's been knocked down to make way for the inner by-pass being constructed in the town centre.

Smiley , could you be confusing your pubs or have both disappeared ?

Littleton Arms

http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/38877/

Hatherton Arms

http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/38864/

^^

yes I am, sorry:nuts::lol:

^^

I was - honestly - about to reply as such (well, I was going to try and edit it actually so as not to look daft) but you got in there first Nacho:)

:)

I was beginning to doubt my own judgment .

On link one you can see the blocks in the background .

They look fine to me, what a waste. I don't know why some of these tower blocks can't be redeveloped by a private developer!

These two particular blocks had a lot of social problems (where the former "unsociable" tenants are housed now is anyones guess) and had not been modernised or had any general upkeep for a while. It was the same with the six blocks in Pleck and the two on Somerfield Road (Bloxwich/Leamore) which have all gone this year!

Just down the road from these two is Austin House which is staying and is very well looked after.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Walsall/Arbo9.jpg

That block looks very nice and it must have some wonderful views overlooking the park .

It's sad seeing those blocks like that - although they do actually look better now than they did a few months ago when I last saw them. :nuts:

I still think that Walsall-style of tower block is the most pleasant to look at and never look as dated as the concrete ones.

I understand the ring road has been changed somewhat but I haven't been over that way for a while.

:)


On link one you can see the blocks in the background .

http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/38877/

That's a great photo of the Littleton Arms, or what's left of it :lol:

Cleeve House in Erdington is going to be staying for some time yet. It has just been reopened after refurbishment into a sheltered housing facility. Nothing's been done on the outside by the looks of it, though.

Some photos from today of Highgate tower blocks.

http://i38.************/293y5pc.jpg

http://i34.************/2zf2vrn.jpg

http://i35.************/e988w6.jpg

http://i35.************/f3c1w0.jpg

http://i34.************/30jjnr9.jpg

http://i35.************/15o8r6f.jpg

Where is Highgate? Why are these getting pulled down then?

http://www.hillfields.org.uk/Photos/Hillfields_flats.jpg

Here is an airview image of the Hillfields flats, before most of them were demolished. Of the slim rectangular ones, only the two topmost are left now -Douglas House and Paul Stacy House and I hope the link works.

I don't know who took the picture - I did not. There are a few more images on the Swanswell Initiative thread, along with the spanking new college the flats were cleared to make way for. I gather that a lot of people had not wanted to have the flats demolished.

Thanks for those pics . Does anyone know what is in store for the land ?

The St Luke's estate (the Highgate blocks) is being completely demolished. They are going to replace it with more modern housing. I understand the estate has been plagued with maintenance problems - much in a similar way to the Lee Bank estate. I think most estates on the Middleway will meet their nemesis in the coming years!

Photobucket is so crap. I now have to upload photos one by one or it crashes.

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j129/van_heckler/Tower.jpg

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j129/van_heckler/Tower-4.jpg

The first one looks quite decent . Where is it VH ?

Just off the Harborne Road. I have no idea what it's called though.

The first block is called ChadBrook Crest which is on Richmond Hill Road in Edgtbaston, it's down the road from High Point where I live:happy:

Photobucket is so crap. I now have to upload photos one by one or it crashes.

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j129/van_heckler/Tower.jpg

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j129/van_heckler/Tower-4.jpg

There is a clip of Chadbrook Crest in this film about John Madin:happy:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4265884177243294655&hl=en

Loads of new photos: thanks for the Hillfields image Nexus, I did a google search myself and there's not many images out there of the estate - pity!

For folk trying to get their bearing this is the St Luke's estate: the four or five blocks near, centre(ish).
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%207/Birmingham2910200776.jpg

^^
Chadbrook Crest sounds rather poshe:bowtie:

That's two very random blocks by VH - the second one's Cantebury Tower which is Ladywood way, hence the cctv camera perched on top. I took a few photos over the weekend too which I'm just uploading now

The first block is called ChadBrook Crest which is on Richmond Hill Road in Edgtbaston, it's down the road from High Point where I live:happy:

I wonder how many - let's call them "blar blocks" for obvious reasons ;) - there are in the area, the much smarter bricky ones as opposed to the concrete slabs. They just look so... suburban and pleasant.

My photos from over the weekend. I think there may be a few "new entries" amongst these lot:)

Ocker Hill flats in Tipton. I think they both go by the name of Bolton Court which is a bit weird if it's true!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%209/SandwellBlocks26thJuly2008.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%209/SandwellBlocks26thJuly20081.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%209/SandwellBlocks26thJuly20082.jpg

Looking into the distance from Ocker hill: Heath Town in Wolvo....
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%209/SandwellBlocks26thJuly20084.jpg

....and some block in Dudley!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%209/SandwellBlocks26thJuly20083.jpg

'Loads of new photos: thanks for the Hillfields image Nexus, I did a google search myself and there's not many images out there of the estate - pity!'

No, there isn't much. And I could still kick myself for not having taken photographs of the flats myself at the time.

I did write something on my blog about it, at
http://www.geocities.com/lyndastevens/blog.html

I am just glad they are not doing it in Budapest yet, that is all.

There is a Swanswell Initiative thread on this forum which shows one or two recent pictures of the remaining flats and I know there are some on Flickr too.

The gloriously bizarre - in shape and name - Alfred Gunn House in Langley
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%209/SandwellBlocks26thJuly20086.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%209/SandwellBlocks26thJuly20087.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%209/SandwellBlocks26thJuly20088.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%209/SandwellBlocks26thJuly20089.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%209/SandwellBlocks26thJuly200810.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%209/SandwellBlocks26thJuly200811.jpg

The view, from nearby, of Darley House in the distance.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%209/SandwellBlocks26thJuly20085.jpg

Here's one currently get refurbed in Smethwick. I don't know it's name but it's on the corner of Stanhope and Beakes Road, just off Thimblemill Road.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%209/SandwellBlocks26thJuly200813.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%209/SandwellBlocks26thJuly200815.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%209/SandwellBlocks26thJuly200816.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%209/SandwellBlocks26thJuly200817.jpg

Just up the road is Thompson Gardens which had its refurb last year - very nice it looks too.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%209/SandwellBlocks26thJuly200820.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%209/SandwellBlocks26thJuly200821.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%209/SandwellBlocks26thJuly200822.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%209/SandwellBlocks26thJuly200823.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%209/SandwellBlocks26thJuly200824.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%209/SandwellBlocks26thJuly200825.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%209/SandwellBlocks26thJuly200827.jpg

Thanks for the photos Smiley. The one under refurbishment is called Brookview.

I really like the look of Thompson Gardens. Probably the only close up photos I've seen of it since the refurb.

Alfred Gunn House is very unique too.

Hmmmm... thanks for bringing those two new refurbs to my attention in Smethwick, Smiley! I think I saw one of them in the distance from the M5 the other day, along with Alfred Gunn House.

Some of my first photos on SSC were of Bolton Court in Tipton, and yes Bolton Court is the name of both of the blocks! :crazy:

Oh and it's always great to see my namesake on here. :D

Those refurbs look niiiiiiice.

Thanks for the photos Smiley . I've seen the Langley ones in the flesh but I don't recall seeing them in a photo before . The Smethwick reburb looks really smart and something that Sandwell are excelling in at the moment . The ones by the Expressway in West Brom are illuminated at night , I wonder if the Smethwick one is lit up .The Langley ones would also benefit from a Sandwell spruce up ! :)

Looking at that last pic ; I would be happy to see something like that really close to the city centre .It's hard to believe that it's a council block .It looks really good !

Great photos there Smiley! I love the Langley block! You can see how the designer tried to create the image of three blocks set close up to eachother. Sneaky way of getting three tower blocks worth of flats on a small site! And it looks decent quality too!

Love the looks of those refurbs as well. I think them guys in the Black Country know how to refurbish blocks! Birmingham City Council could learn a few things about innovative refurbishments - especially after their performance with Topcliffe House which looks half completed!

Ocker Hill flats in Tipton. I think they both go by the name of Bolton Court which is a bit weird if it's true!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%209/SandwellBlocks26thJuly2008.jpg
]

I overlooked these .I used to live in one of the blocks and its name was Bolton Court but I can't verify if the other was also called Bolton Court .I can't even remember which one of the two blocks I lived in . They were OK but they could do with one of those good makeovers . They stand out and can be seen quite easily due to the fact they are perched on Ocker Hill or Ocka Bonk if you are from around those parts . :)

It is good to get new photos of tower blocks onto this thread and read folks reactions or hear their knowledge of said blocks. Here's one I forgot to post yesterday: it's name's Bearwood House I think and it's in ermm, Bearwood. I'm not sure if it's being refurbed or demolished?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%209/SandwellBlocks26thJuly200818.jpg

Bearwood House is to be demolished. The presence of Coleman would tend to indicate this as they do specialise in demolition. Though, they do stripping out works such as at Fort Dunlop. It was home to just OAPs and it became too expensive to repair and that demolition would be a cheaper option. It should be demolished by 'traditional means' this summer.

Shame, but you can't save them all. I'm glad I got a photo of it then coz I think it's its first appearence on here?

I always liked Bearwood house, it looked different to other tower blocks, but yes it is a bit ragged now, time to go. It's actually in Smethwick though just down from the high street.

Here's a couple of tower blocks down the road in brandhall that have just been refurbished. the terracotta tiles and grey windows say it all. They were never that bad looking to begin with, i used to have to deliver papers to them in my previous life as a paper boy but was too scared to use the lift, getting to the top floor sure was F-U-N. Oh well I should be grateful they were only 8 stories.

First one:
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w314/concretelover/alkj4.jpg

http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w314/concretelover/alkj3.jpg

http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w314/concretelover/alkj1.jpg

And it's twin:
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w314/concretelover/alkj2.jpg

Ooh, they are quite good! You wouldn't know that they were refurbed postwar blocks! Although, I'm still unsure about them pitched roofs!

I haven't seen those before . They look very smart and another two that fall under the Sandwell umbrella .Thanks ILC .

Thanks for your photos ILC! Is Brandhall in Oldbury, kind of towards Quinton? If it's where I'm thinking of there were a number of smaller blocks on that estate that got demolished so I'm guessing a couple survived and have had this makeover in true Sandwell style! :happy:

Thanks for those ILC. Do you know the name's of the two blocks by any chance - we're all very throrough on here?

Yep Butterfield, they are part of a massive redevelopment scheme, the biggest tower block Foley house was demolished about 8 years ago and replaced with a doctors surgery and a new co-op, lots of maissonette blocks were then demolished and replaced with houses and appartments, and still more to come by the looks of it.

Sorry, I can't remember the names of the blocks, they aren't labelled anymore, but they do come under sandwell yeah. i've just noticed the little round things in some of the tiles, maybe they are lit up at night, i should go and check it out sometime.

City flats evacuated after blaze
A man suffered severe burns after a fire broke out in his flat in Birmingham.

The blaze began at 2300 BST on Saturday on the 20th floor of Clydesdale Tower, Holloway Head, in the city centre.

Thirty-five residents had to leave the block of flats as a precaution. The injured man and his elderly neighbour were taken to hospital for treatment.

Three residents were treated after breathing in smoke. Forty firefighters were called out to the blaze.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/7539770.stm

Article and video of the demolition of The Butts flats in Walsall . Seems like the locals are happy to see the back of them .

Era ends as tower blocks are demolished


Two Walsall tower blocks heralded as the future of town centre living after they were built in the 1960s are being demolished.

Booth House and O’Hare House, The Butts, have long been landmarks on the skyline of the town

http://www.expressandstar.com/2008/08/05/era-ends-as-tower-blocks-are-demolished/

Is that the pictures of some flats in Walsall you showed us before?

They looked ok, could have been ok, maybe...I hear there are protests about all the surrounding greenbelt being 'nibbled' at by new houses, an ever-increasing suburbia....

Yes nexus , those are the flats that Smiley posted before .

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t129/gradymclean/Suburban%20Telford/DSC00382.jpg

Manor Heights in Telford, I don't think its ever featured on this thread before, its shortly to be tarted up a little.

:happy:

I think the only time it's been featured in this thread is on a copy of the maps.live birds eye view thing that I did a few months ago.

I remember :yes: Apparently it was closed after a massive drugs bust :lol:

The Sutton News reporting that there are only 18 families left in Harlech Tower in Erdington. Soon to go.

Thanks for the pic .

Thanks for that Telfordboy - it looks fine now to me, just hope they don't overdo it with the tarting up!

It's a big shame about Harlech tower coz I've taken some fine photos from there before and it's one of my favourite blocks in Birmingham due to it being the dominant one in quite a ho-rise area of the city.

I was up Barr Beacon today and I got a few photos of greater Birmingham's better known landmarks.....who can name them all?

1
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Birmingham%209/BarrBeacon140820082.jpg

2
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Birmingham%209/BarrBeacon1408200825.jpg

3
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Birmingham%209/BarrBeacon1408200826.jpg

4
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Birmingham%209/BarrBeacon1408200848.jpg

5
http://www.4qd.co.uk/evs/pics/brum.jpeg

6
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Birmingham%209/BarrBeacon1408200827.jpg

7
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Birmingham%209/BarrBeacon1408200834.jpg

8
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Birmingham%209/BarrBeacon1408200814.jpg

9
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Birmingham%209/JA.jpg

10
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Birmingham%209/BarrBeacon1408200844.jpg


first one to name all ten gets to live in Alabama!

Hmmm... not sure I know all the names of the tower blocks but I think I know where most of them are!

1) Wednesfield, Wolverhampton. One of the blocks is St Cecelia Court. ....Or is that the name of one in Kidderminster? :doh:

2) Camberley and Briarley (of which I've been on the 17th floor :happy:), Beaconview Road, West Bromwich.

3) Me Court, Dudley. :|

4) Sutton masts including the new one.

5) Brum. :lol:

6) Little London, Walsall? :? And Mander House, Wolverhampton city centre in the background.

7) A field, looking towards West Bromwich.

8) Your Paddock flats. :yes:

9) Joan Armatrading Court. :tongue2:

10) Birmingham, Alabama. Strange how they have the same BT Tower as ours. :D

The Wrekin looks huge in your first photo :happy:

Fantastic shots there Smiley! :)

Butterfield got 9/10: I was hoping for the name of the hills in photo seven. Who's going to steal his thunder?

Thingy tower, or something, in Ladywood
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a366/robinsonworld/Birmingham/P1010766.jpg

I know it's not straight, but like I'm going to spend time with things like that in ladywood!

Nice photo. I heard on 'secret millionaire' that the 3 towers, Wells, Truro and Brecon are going to be demolished which is a shame because the roofs are quite unique and attractive.

They've only just been refurbished! Oh, I forgot, that usually is a sign it'll be demolished in Birmingham! :|

Actually Ladywood's alight, I go some really ruff place, places no respecable human being could live, place where only mangy dogs go to die in dark dank pools....

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a366/robinsonworld/Birmingham/P1010764.jpg

:wave: Hello Butterfield

Erm, hello Bachy Robinson. :wave:

Where are those last three? They look like the blocks in Great Bridge, Tipton. A very typical design in Sandwell and Walsall.

I wish that was the front of that block in Ladywood rather than the side - a narrow-fronted tower block would have been great!

Yep, Great Bridge, I thought that was your "HOOOoooooodd", I was dissin', but if not I'd like to say sorry to the fine folk o' Tipton... :shifty:

Also:

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a366/robinsonworld/Birmingham/P1010763.jpg

No it's Tiptonshire whereas I live in Dudleyshire. I have a feeling there were more blocks on that land - notice the long grass and ragwort behind green fencing. :sly:

Whip out ye olde A-Z and find out for us Blutters!

A very generic tower block within the Black Country - I admit that I was thinking of umpteen locations when I first saw the photos. Anyone know the names of them?

Butterfield got 9/10: I was hoping for the name of the hills in photo seven. Who's going to steal his thunder?

Wild guess: Clent and Malvern Hills...?

Given how thorough this thread seems to be I'm quite sure this one has probably been put here before. But I'm too lazy to check and a couple more pictures aren't gonna do any harm, so here's one from west brom...

http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w314/concretelover/alkl2.jpg

http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w314/concretelover/alkl1.jpg

For those not reading the Swan Centre refub thread, Bakeman House starting to be revealed

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g151/iceman14141414/P1010909.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g151/iceman14141414/P1010908.jpg

Charlemont Farm in 1972:
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d101/Erebus555/CharlemontFarm1972.jpg
From:
http://newtonroad.blogspot.com/2007/02/charlemont-farm.html

Noticed tonight that Bakeman House has blue lighting all the way around the top now similar to the Sentinals, did grab a picture on my phone but it won't load :ohno:

A shaky Bakeman House

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g151/iceman14141414/P1010930.jpg


http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g151/iceman14141414/P1010931.jpg

Blimey, they're bright! Looks impressive though, cheers.

Bits n bobs!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2351/2854742728_3c83f8c551_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3218/2853927077_463f4d9b65_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3153/2853937723_c3de67c6a7_b.jpg

Interesting shots. Is that a boob on the last one? (centre left) :weird:

I'll be walking past that tomorrow I'll have a look!

Aah it's a man boob. The billboard says "Leave the cleavage to the men"

Some phone pictures!

Sorrel House, Pype Hayes
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d101/Erebus555/DSC00751.jpg

Cleeve House, Erdington (now a homeless shelter)
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d101/Erebus555/DSC00750.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d101/Erebus555/DSC00749.jpg

Hi, I love commie blocks, even though some Ive seen of Glasgow scare me, but Im interested in how safe or dangerous it is to live in one. Being Australian, I only get to see the way the TV shows like The Bill portray them. Some Ive seen on this thread dont look too bad at all, and that they would be highly sought after in my city. Any 3-7 level unit blocks here sell for a lot of money if they are close to the CBD, no matter what they look like. Its ironic that its the low-density outer suburbs of Oz cities that you find the social problems.

Im aware Birmingham has a 'ruff n tuff' reputation, but is it really that bad to live in one? Do many older pensioners or students live in them, or are they full of white gangs, immigrants or single mums?

http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/6501/dsc00201mh1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/dsc00201mh1.jpg/1/w1280.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img522/dsc00201mh1.jpg/1/)

http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/1074/dsc00205vs1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/dsc00205vs1.jpg/1/w1280.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img258/dsc00205vs1.jpg/1/)

http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/3816/dsc00202ih4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/dsc00202ih4.jpg/1/w1280.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img258/dsc00202ih4.jpg/1/)
The wraps are coming off the Meadow Avenue flats in West Brom. They will soon be starting the landscaping works to get rid of those ugly garages. I'm not sure I like the new look:dunno:

A bit of an obvious Le Corbusier wannabe, but not bad, adds some colour to an otherwise dreary housing estate.

The new and improved Bakeman House

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g151/iceman14141414/P1020250.jpg

Reddicap tower blocks:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2289/2962678988_90827c5965_b.jpg

Highgate:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3017/2962677262_e573c9207f_b.jpg

Does anyone have any recent pics of the tower blocks in Brierley Hill?

Keen to know, because I lived there (a long time ago).

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2189/2355822518_0d9c04796e_b.jpg