West midlands Tower Blocks 2 - Page 166

Erebus555 · September 28th, 2011, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Holmeboy

That's a real bummer about the tower blocks coming down, at least they said this is the end of it. Hopefully, they might be able to sell some of them to Housing Associations, i remember reading that the council tried to sell the 2 recently demolished blocks on the Bromford but nobody was interested due to the cost of bringing them up to modern standards, hopefully these other blocks are not as far gone as those derelict 2 were.

To be fair, they had ripped out the guts of those Bromford blocks. They were just concrete shells, plus there was considerable protest from former residents who were kicked out on the premise that the blocks were to be demolished.

Wellesbourne was going to be retained as part of the St Luke's regeneration but it has been emptied already and probably gutted a fair bit as well. It is probably the most attractive of the blocks selected for demolition as well, and quite unique by design. I imagine that it'll be the first to tumble.

But you are right, the fact that these are the last blocks to go is a positive. Inkerman House shall stand forever more!

Holmeboy · September 28th, 2011, 01:48 PM

Yep, looks like the great cluster on Druids Heath will survive too, which is good, and those other ones on the Bromford, of the same Druids Heath type design.

I wonder when some action will be taken on Normansell Tower, that's being derelict for years, and i don't think they're even gutted it.

Holmeboy · September 28th, 2011, 02:08 PM

I agree with you about Wellesbourne Tower too, just looked it up to refresh my memory.

It's a nice building that, quiet unique and as it's a brick build it looks pretty solid, it's a shame it couldn't be saved, i used to pass that on the bus every day on the way down Pershore Road.

Erebus555 · September 28th, 2011, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Holmeboy

Yep, looks like the great cluster on Druids Heath will survive too, which is good, and those other ones on the Bromford, of the same Druids Heath type design.

I wonder when some action will be taken on Normansell Tower, that's being derelict for years, and i don't think they're even gutted it.

Ah yes, I'd forgotten about Normansell Tower! Blimey, I think it was empty when I joined this forum - over 5 years ago!

And I'm still yet to explore Druid's Heath, at least there's still time for me to!

sefton66 · September 28th, 2011, 07:32 PM

more scaffoldings come down from the tower block undergoing the blue cladding in sandwell, looks really good and stand out from the M5 its wider than the others and makes the bunch stick out more. Wouldnt mind a few others having this kind of cladding done to them

Erebus555 · September 30th, 2011, 03:16 PM

For about 10-20 seconds from 3mins 25 in this doc, there are some cracking aerial footage shots of the old Castle Vale estate. They give you a sense of the size of the place.

The programme is quite good but focusses mainly on the Park Hill estate in Sheffield.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode...ts_in_the_Sky/

Butterfield · September 30th, 2011, 03:58 PM

Actual moving footage of them!

I wish the Castle Vale blocks were still there. Although I guess the residents don't. The day Castle Vale was demolished and replaced with standard housing was the day Birmingham lost second city status!

Erebus555 · September 30th, 2011, 08:38 PM

Anyone know what Harlech Tower in Erdington is at now? I was told 2 weeks ago that a quarter of it had been demolished.

Brummyboy92 · September 30th, 2011, 09:20 PM

O my frigging gosh, I did not realise thats what the Castle Vale estate looked like, IT WAS EPIC :o

Butterfield · September 30th, 2011, 09:35 PM

I only once knowingly saw the Castle Vale tower blocks - heading south on the M6 up ahead in the distance you just saw a sheer wall of tower blocks, as well as the Bromford blocks opposite Fort Dunlop - there must have been about 50 tower blocks in view either side of that part of the motorway. I know tower blocks have a bad reputation but you knew you'd arrived in a big city when you drove through that area, whereas now there's only a handful left the journey isn't quite so interesting.

Brummyboy92 · September 30th, 2011, 11:07 PM

Awwww as if, they should have kept them.

Holmeboy · October 3rd, 2011, 11:02 AM

Good footage that, i remember the first time i ever came to Brum on the train, and as you came in from the north east you passed Castle Vale, i had never seen anything like it, all those tower blocks in rows.

By time i got to actually visit in the early 2000s it was well into its transformation, and most of the tower blocks had gone, and Hercules House was in the middle of getting pulled down.

I imagine it was great and facinating to look at, but not good to live in.

Elizabeth Kinoke · October 9th, 2011, 09:43 PM

Artist's Post-war Impression of Birmingham, by R. Edgcombe

Elizabeth Kinoke · October 9th, 2011, 09:43 PM

http://www.suburbanbirmingham.org.uk...ng-essay-7.htm

Erebus555 · October 10th, 2011, 01:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elizabeth Kinoke

Artist's Post-war Impression of Birmingham, by R. Edgcombe

Looks very similar to the artist's impression of the plan for the Jewellery Quarter. I wish I could find that...

Butterfield · October 20th, 2011, 02:03 AM

Rare photo of Castle Vale alert!!

I was just doing my usual occasional online search for photos of Castle Vale and this is one I don't think I'd seen before.

Erebus555 · October 20th, 2011, 02:59 AM

Those are the ones on the south side of Farnborough Road, there would have been another 6 tower blocks to the right of the photographer. The road going off to the right would have served Comet House and Avro House. Just behind the nearest lampost, you can see a slight dip in the ground which is where the entrance to a subway underneath the road was.

From front to back on the left hand side, you can see Hampden House, Hawker House, Vulcan House and Pioneer House. From front to back on the right hand side, you can see Auster House, Trident House, Kestral House, and a teeny weeny bit of the top of Javelin House emerging just above the tree. All had 42 flats each.

Butterfield · October 20th, 2011, 03:27 AM

Hmmm... thanks for the info.

I can't believe how few pics there are of Castle Vale around. I bet hundreds actually exist in packets of old photos in people's bottom drawers just waiting to be scanned for us. Maybe we should put an ad in a local paper asking people to look through their old photo albums.

During my search, I keep seeing those mock up 3D pictures of Castle Vale which I think were created by someone who has posted in this thread before, and the excellent accompanying Youtube video.

Erebus555 · October 20th, 2011, 04:39 AM

Aye, I think the forumer was called Traxler...? It wouldn't surprise me if there's a huge bunch of photos locked away in Birmingham Central Library, actually...

MichaelWolves · October 20th, 2011, 03:23 PM

I have finally got to kenrick park (sandwell) after ages and I've got to say the refurbished blocks are stunning. they have done a super job and I feel tempted to move from Cleveland tower.

September 30th, 2011, 03:16 PM	#3306
Erebus555 It's Sting. So What? Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Bristol Posts: 31,246 Likes (Received): 4	For about 10-20 seconds from 3mins 25 in this doc, there are some cracking aerial footage shots of the old Castle Vale estate. They give you a sense of the size of the place. The programme is quite good but focusses mainly on the Park Hill estate in Sheffield. http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode...ts_in_the_Sky/ __________________ The UK Housing Wiki - Attempting to document every tower block, council estate, private estate, housing association, tower block construction/ demolition method, tower block architect, tower block construction company... etc etc, in the UK. Everything to do with postwar residences! - Please join and help! EREBUS - OFFICIAL MOD CANDIDATE 2011 - BRITISH MODS FOR BRITISH PEOPLE!

September 30th, 2011, 08:38 PM	#3308
Erebus555 It's Sting. So What? Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Bristol Posts: 31,246 Likes (Received): 4	Anyone know what Harlech Tower in Erdington is at now? I was told 2 weeks ago that a quarter of it had been demolished. __________________ The UK Housing Wiki - Attempting to document every tower block, council estate, private estate, housing association, tower block construction/ demolition method, tower block architect, tower block construction company... etc etc, in the UK. Everything to do with postwar residences! - Please join and help! EREBUS - OFFICIAL MOD CANDIDATE 2011 - BRITISH MODS FOR BRITISH PEOPLE!

October 20th, 2011, 02:59 AM	#3317
Erebus555 It's Sting. So What? Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Bristol Posts: 31,246 Likes (Received): 4	Those are the ones on the south side of Farnborough Road, there would have been another 6 tower blocks to the right of the photographer. The road going off to the right would have served Comet House and Avro House. Just behind the nearest lampost, you can see a slight dip in the ground which is where the entrance to a subway underneath the road was. From front to back on the left hand side, you can see Hampden House, Hawker House, Vulcan House and Pioneer House. From front to back on the right hand side, you can see Auster House, Trident House, Kestral House, and a teeny weeny bit of the top of Javelin House emerging just above the tree. All had 42 flats each. __________________ The UK Housing Wiki - Attempting to document every tower block, council estate, private estate, housing association, tower block construction/ demolition method, tower block architect, tower block construction company... etc etc, in the UK. Everything to do with postwar residences! - Please join and help! EREBUS - OFFICIAL MOD CANDIDATE 2011 - BRITISH MODS FOR BRITISH PEOPLE!

October 20th, 2011, 04:39 AM	#3319
Erebus555 It's Sting. So What? Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Bristol Posts: 31,246 Likes (Received): 4	Aye, I think the forumer was called Traxler...? It wouldn't surprise me if there's a huge bunch of photos locked away in Birmingham Central Library, actually... __________________ The UK Housing Wiki - Attempting to document every tower block, council estate, private estate, housing association, tower block construction/ demolition method, tower block architect, tower block construction company... etc etc, in the UK. Everything to do with postwar residences! - Please join and help! EREBUS - OFFICIAL MOD CANDIDATE 2011 - BRITISH MODS FOR BRITISH PEOPLE!

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September 28th, 2011, 01:48 PM	#3302
Holmeboy Registered User Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Seaham, County Durham Posts: 83 Likes (Received): 1	Yep, looks like the great cluster on Druids Heath will survive too, which is good, and those other ones on the Bromford, of the same Druids Heath type design. I wonder when some action will be taken on Normansell Tower, that's being derelict for years, and i don't think they're even gutted it.

September 28th, 2011, 02:08 PM	#3303
Holmeboy Registered User Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Seaham, County Durham Posts: 83 Likes (Received): 1	I agree with you about Wellesbourne Tower too, just looked it up to refresh my memory. It's a nice building that, quiet unique and as it's a brick build it looks pretty solid, it's a shame it couldn't be saved, i used to pass that on the bus every day on the way down Pershore Road.

September 28th, 2011, 07:32 PM	#3305
sefton66 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Birmingham Posts: 6,496 Likes (Received): 60	more scaffoldings come down from the tower block undergoing the blue cladding in sandwell, looks really good and stand out from the M5 its wider than the others and makes the bunch stick out more. Wouldnt mind a few others having this kind of cladding done to them

September 30th, 2011, 03:58 PM	#3307
Butterfield lime-hating shrublet Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: British Leyland Posts: 18,553 Likes (Received): 222	Actual moving footage of them! I wish the Castle Vale blocks were still there. Although I guess the residents don't. The day Castle Vale was demolished and replaced with standard housing was the day Birmingham lost second city status!

September 30th, 2011, 09:20 PM	#3309
Brummyboy92 Brummy and proud Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Birmingham Posts: 4,014 Likes (Received): 12	O my frigging gosh, I did not realise thats what the Castle Vale estate looked like, IT WAS EPIC :o

September 30th, 2011, 09:35 PM	#3310
Butterfield lime-hating shrublet Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: British Leyland Posts: 18,553 Likes (Received): 222	I only once knowingly saw the Castle Vale tower blocks - heading south on the M6 up ahead in the distance you just saw a sheer wall of tower blocks, as well as the Bromford blocks opposite Fort Dunlop - there must have been about 50 tower blocks in view either side of that part of the motorway. I know tower blocks have a bad reputation but you knew you'd arrived in a big city when you drove through that area, whereas now there's only a handful left the journey isn't quite so interesting.

September 30th, 2011, 11:07 PM	#3311
Brummyboy92 Brummy and proud Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Birmingham Posts: 4,014 Likes (Received): 12	Awwww as if, they should have kept them.

October 3rd, 2011, 11:02 AM	#3312
Holmeboy Registered User Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Seaham, County Durham Posts: 83 Likes (Received): 1	Good footage that, i remember the first time i ever came to Brum on the train, and as you came in from the north east you passed Castle Vale, i had never seen anything like it, all those tower blocks in rows. By time i got to actually visit in the early 2000s it was well into its transformation, and most of the tower blocks had gone, and Hercules House was in the middle of getting pulled down. I imagine it was great and facinating to look at, but not good to live in.

October 9th, 2011, 09:43 PM	#3313
Elizabeth Kinoke Wheels... Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 4,043 Likes (Received): 0	Artist's Post-war Impression of Birmingham, by R. Edgcombe

October 9th, 2011, 09:43 PM	#3314
Elizabeth Kinoke Wheels... Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 4,043 Likes (Received): 0	http://www.suburbanbirmingham.org.uk...ng-essay-7.htm

October 20th, 2011, 02:03 AM	#3316
Butterfield lime-hating shrublet Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: British Leyland Posts: 18,553 Likes (Received): 222	Rare photo of Castle Vale alert!! I was just doing my usual occasional online search for photos of Castle Vale and this is one I don't think I'd seen before.

October 20th, 2011, 03:27 AM	#3318
Butterfield lime-hating shrublet Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: British Leyland Posts: 18,553 Likes (Received): 222	Hmmm... thanks for the info. I can't believe how few pics there are of Castle Vale around. I bet hundreds actually exist in packets of old photos in people's bottom drawers just waiting to be scanned for us. Maybe we should put an ad in a local paper asking people to look through their old photo albums. During my search, I keep seeing those mock up 3D pictures of Castle Vale which I think were created by someone who has posted in this thread before, and the excellent accompanying Youtube video.

October 20th, 2011, 03:23 PM	#3320
MichaelWolves HI HO WOLVERHAMPTON ! ! ! Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Wolverhampton Posts: 338 Likes (Received): 0	I have finally got to kenrick park (sandwell) after ages and I've got to say the refurbished blocks are stunning. they have done a super job and I feel tempted to move from Cleveland tower.