Bentley House Estate aka The Redbricks in Hulme, Manchester

6266 Views 9 Replies 5 Participants Last post by spacepostman, May 7, 2007

Bentley

Discussion Starter · May 4, 2007

I've just been brought to this site by a link from another site that had loads of photos and information about the old Crescents in Hulme and you guys seemed to have lots of information and memories about the Crescents.

I wonder if you're similarly a fount of all knowledge about the Redbricks?

The Redbricks estate is having a 60th anniversary street party/event in... I think it's June 2007, so next month (date tbc).

The flats are three storey walk ups, on and off Jackson Crescent:

Humberstone Avenue
Hunmanby Avenue
Rockdove Avenue

the end blocks are technically addressed

Clarendon Street; and
Hulme Street

They are just behind Afewe pub, which is also known as the Grants Arms.

They are the flats that you see on your left hand side as you're coming into Manchester down the Princess Parkway and you reach the roundabout with the flyover and the travelodge type hotel. We're the crumbly old looking flats just on that roundabout.

The estate took a few years to build and we're in the middle of the 60th anniversary period at the moment, so far as we know.

There are also rumours that the estate one some kind of award for its design when it was built, and also some rumours that they were 'listed' (was this under the old Class A B C classification system though, as they're not currently on the 'listed' register?)

They're a bit art deco in style, really lovely and solidly built, although the city council have run them down a bit and not maintained them properly over the past couple of decades. And there's a great community here.

Does any of this ring any bells with anyone?

Does anyone have memories or photos to share?

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skit_uk

· #2 · May 4, 2007

I assume these are the buidlings with the bow window type things looking out over the roundabout? Your right they do look a little run down, i reckon they could be done up pretty well with some effort.

Welcome by the way. Great website that hulme one you've come from.
You will prob find a bunch of people on here that have knowledge of the buidlings from living in the area and another bunch of people who just happen to know a lot about all buildings.

I'm neither of those people by the way

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nerd

· #3 · May 4, 2007

Not a great deal of house building going on in 1947 - and I had not realised these flats were post-war until you pointed it out. On the OS map thread (in this site) you can see that only one block is visble on the 1947 survey, the rest of the area being cleared. The flats were certainly never "listed" - as it is only recently that post-war lists have been prepared. The A, B and C categories were only used for churches (whose statutory protection is different as alterations for consecrated buildings fall under ecclesiastical law).

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macc

· #4 · May 4, 2007 (Edited)

Weren't they saved from the mass demolision of Hulme by fierce opposition from residents? Surely A reasonable build quality of ther estate must have formed the basis of this.

They used to have their own community website (www.redbricks.org.uk, now offline. info at - http://www.overmet.net/press/default.htm . Video at - http://www.overmet.net/press/bbc_nw/news_28k6.asf. )

Do you live in the Redbricks, Bentley? It certainly sounds like it has retained some of the vibe of old Hulme. A friend knows someone who lives there and said they organise residents patrols around hulme; a large group walk around on Friday and Saturday nights just letting the local riff raff know that they peacefully stand together against anyone up to no good.

I never experienced old Hulme myself, but some of the on here others did. I'd be interested in knowing more about the estate and I must say that anniversry party sounds intriguing.

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Bentley

Discussion Starter · #5 · May 5, 2007

macc said:
Weren't they saved from the mass demolision of Hulme by fierce opposition from residents? Surely A reasonable build quality of ther estate must have formed the basis of this.

I don't know about that, it was a bit before my time. But I doubt the local authority would 'reward' any of the local residents by succumbing to their protests and going along with their wishes! Nah, if the local authority wanted to knock the estate down back then, they would have done so. They pretty much do what they like, when they like, those in the town hall put the "con" into consultation.

Like I said, though, the regeneration of this area was a bit before my time, but knowing what they think of people round here, they probably thought it was more like a punishment leaving people in the old flats while rehousing other people in the new build housing association properties.

Personally, though, I prefer the big, solid, old flats to the poxy boxy little shoe boxes with really poor build quality.

The Bentley House estate was built to last, lasted longer than the concrete crescents, will likely last longer than the Bellways. I'm beginning to sound like my grandma. Eeeh, they don't make things like they used to. :lol:

macc said:
They used to have their own community website (www.redbricks.org.uk, now offline. info at - http://www.overmet.net/press/default.htm . Video at - http://www.overmet.net/press/bbc_nw/news_28k6.asf. )

Oh, news to me, the website was still up there a few weeks ago. Don't know why it's come down... Ah, just thought, maybe I do... maybe someone who was hosting it has gone away for a few days and turned off the server or the lecky meter's run out...

I'm guessing it'll be back up again at some point.

macc said:
Do you live in the Redbricks, Bentley?

Yes.

macc said:
It certainly sounds like it has retained some of the vibe of old Hulme. A friend knows someone who lives there and said they organise residents patrols around hulme; a large group walk around on Friday and Saturday nights just letting the local riff raff know that they peacefully stand together against anyone up to no good.

I wasn't around for the 'old Hulme' either, but yes, it does have a really good vibe.

Patrols haven't happened for a while, but they have happened while I've been here. If there's been a mugging or attempted mugging and if there's loads of unknown scallies hanging about then people rally round and just make their presence felt in public.

macc said:
I never experienced old Hulme myself, but some of the on here others did. I'd be interested in knowing more about the estate and I must say that anniversry party sounds intriguing.

Yeah, should be good, the birthday bashes and other dos round here tend be.

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Bentley

Discussion Starter · #6 · May 5, 2007

skit_uk said:
I assume these are the buidlings with the bow window type things looking out over the roundabout? Your right they do look a little run down, i reckon they could be done up pretty well with some effort.

Those bow windows are the stairwells. It's shame they don't have them at the other end as well, because I really like the shape of them, which is good, because I have one.

skit_uk said:
Welcome by the way. Great website that hulme one you've come from.

Yeah, it is a really interesting site that other Hulme one.

skit_uk said:
You will prob find a bunch of people on here that have knowledge of the buidlings from living in the area and another bunch of people who just happen to know a lot about all buildings.

I do hope so, it would be good to know more about the history of the estate.

skit_uk said:
I'm neither of those people by the way

I'm neither, either. But pleased to [virtually] meet you anyway!

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Bentley

Discussion Starter · #7 · May 5, 2007

nerd said:
Not a great deal of house building going on in 1947 - and I had not realised these flats were post-war until you pointed it out. On the OS map thread (in this site) you can see that only one block is visble on the 1947 survey, the rest of the area being cleared.

Any clues for a newbie as to where I might find this OS map thread?

nerd said:
The flats were certainly never "listed" - as it is only recently that post-war lists have been prepared. The A, B and C categories were only used for churches (whose statutory protection is different as alterations for consecrated buildings fall under ecclesiastical law).

Hmmm... okay, Chinese whispers/the Hulme grapevine gone awry then. I thought the classifications A B C used to be used before the system changed and I II and the *s were brought in?

What about the rumour about them receiving some kind of award? Or is that an urban myth too? Can you shed any light on that? Or point me in the direction of where I might find out?

And thanks, btw.

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nerd

· #8 · May 6, 2007

Bentley said:
Any clues for a newbie as to where I might find this OS map thread?Hmmm... okay, Chinese whispers/the Hulme grapevine gone awry then. I thought the classifications A B C used to be used before the system changed and I II and the *s were brought in?

What about the rumour about them receiving some kind of award? Or is that an urban myth too? Can you shed any light on that? Or point me in the direction of where I might find out?

And thanks, btw.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=351778

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