- Joined
- Jan 6, 2013
- Messages
- 5,647
- Reaction score
- 11,333
OK, another one that surprisingly hasn't appeared on here for quite some time is Sheffield's notorious Park Hill flats. Maybe because it's open access and sealed tighter than an Eskimo's umiak (so no internals). Here's the history bit.
Located in the centre of Sheffield just above the railway station, the construction of Park Hill flats began in 1957 and was officially opened by MP Hugh Gaitskell, the then Leader of the Opposition on 16th June 1961. The Park Hill area was previously the site of back-to-back housing, waste ground, quarries and steep alleyways. The area was referred to as "Little Chicago" due to the level of violent crime there. Clearance of the area began in the 1930s and then halted at the onset of the Second World War World War.
After the war had ended architects Jack Lynn and Ivor Smith began work designing the Park Hill Flats, inspired by Le Corbusier's Unité d'Habitation and the architectural style known as 'brutalism'. The city's own Public Works Department won the contract to build the flats at an estimated cost of £2.16 million with Notice to Commence Work served on 1st March 1957. Completed in three phases, the flats were built with ten feet wide decks that were wide enough for milk floats and a roofline designed so it remain level despite being built on a hill and varying between four and thirteen stories in height. The scheme also incorporated several pubs, a shopping precinct and a primary school and 995 flats.
Resident neighbours of the former dwellings that occupied the site were re-homed next door to each other to try and maintain a strong sense of community even to the extent that their former street names were also re-used (e.g. Gilbert, Hague, Long Henry and Stafford). At the time, the flats were seen as being revolutionary and a welcome change to back-to-back housing and were described as "streets in the sky". Following on from Park Hill other housing schemes in Sheffield were completed using the same blue-print, including Hyde Park and Kelvin flats. However over time the fabric of the building decayed and other issues such as poor noise insulation and resident security raised their heads. As a consequence for many years the council found it difficult to find tenants for the flats. Some locals referred to the flats as the "San Quentin" of Sheffield (after the notorious American jail).
Despite its reputation the structure was Grade II listed in December 1998 by English Heritage making it Europe's largest listed building; a controversial decision at the time. The investment the council hoped listing would attract to renovate the flats was not initially forthcoming. Hence in 2003 Sheffield City Council started to formulate a plan for Park Hill's refurbishment in conjunction with English Partnerships. By the end of that year tenants were being moved out of the 13-storey North Block. A development partner in the shape of Urban Splash was selected in 2004 who proposed the creation of upmarket apartments, business units and social housing. In 2007 the stripping back of two blocks (including the North Block, the tallest part of the buildings) to their H frame structure began. The first residents moved into the renovated blocks during 2013 and now all 79 apartments created as part of Phase One are now sold. Stage Two is to start shortly and will see the creation of a further 182 apartments to be completed in 2016. More info of the redevelopment can be found on the Urban Splash website:
http://www.urbansplash.co.uk/residential/park-hill
The inhabitants of Sheffield remain split on Park Hill; some believe them to be a key part of architectural Sheffield's heritage, others consider it nothing but an eyesore and blot on the landscape.
Here's the pictures:
General view of the horse-shaped North-West block:
img6859 by HughieDW, on Flickr
and a close-up:
img6860 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Boarded up flats above the Grace Owen Nursery:
img6855 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Walk-way on the 5-storey section near Talbot Road:
img6863 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Stairway tower for the South block:
img6864 by HughieDW, on Flickr
More walkway porn:
img6865 by HughieDW, on Flickr
They're probably right:
img6866 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Close-up of one of the many walkway bridges:
img6867 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Blocks and blocks of abandoned flats:
img6876 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Stairway railings:
img6878 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Flat close-up:
img6879 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Three by five:
img6880 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Six by six:
img6889 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Five by nine:
img6881 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Stairwell down-shot:
img6882 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Another abandoned flat close-up:
img6891 by HughieDW, on Flickr
The East Block and old Link pub sign:
img6895 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Close-up of The Link's pub sign:
img6896 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Back of the old Link Pub in the East Block:
img6892 by HughieDW, on Flickr
The buddleia takes over:
img6897 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Ladies…
img6899 by HughieDW, on Flickr
…and Gentlemen:
img6893 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Boarded up and forlorn:
img6900 by HughieDW, on Flickr
No more 180s:
img6902 by HughieDW, on Flickr
But some new residents at No.49:
img6904 by HughieDW, on Flickr
As the paint starts to peel:
img6906 by HughieDW, on Flickr
No more Emergencies on Hague Row:
img6907 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Thanks for looking.
Located in the centre of Sheffield just above the railway station, the construction of Park Hill flats began in 1957 and was officially opened by MP Hugh Gaitskell, the then Leader of the Opposition on 16th June 1961. The Park Hill area was previously the site of back-to-back housing, waste ground, quarries and steep alleyways. The area was referred to as "Little Chicago" due to the level of violent crime there. Clearance of the area began in the 1930s and then halted at the onset of the Second World War World War.
After the war had ended architects Jack Lynn and Ivor Smith began work designing the Park Hill Flats, inspired by Le Corbusier's Unité d'Habitation and the architectural style known as 'brutalism'. The city's own Public Works Department won the contract to build the flats at an estimated cost of £2.16 million with Notice to Commence Work served on 1st March 1957. Completed in three phases, the flats were built with ten feet wide decks that were wide enough for milk floats and a roofline designed so it remain level despite being built on a hill and varying between four and thirteen stories in height. The scheme also incorporated several pubs, a shopping precinct and a primary school and 995 flats.
Resident neighbours of the former dwellings that occupied the site were re-homed next door to each other to try and maintain a strong sense of community even to the extent that their former street names were also re-used (e.g. Gilbert, Hague, Long Henry and Stafford). At the time, the flats were seen as being revolutionary and a welcome change to back-to-back housing and were described as "streets in the sky". Following on from Park Hill other housing schemes in Sheffield were completed using the same blue-print, including Hyde Park and Kelvin flats. However over time the fabric of the building decayed and other issues such as poor noise insulation and resident security raised their heads. As a consequence for many years the council found it difficult to find tenants for the flats. Some locals referred to the flats as the "San Quentin" of Sheffield (after the notorious American jail).
Despite its reputation the structure was Grade II listed in December 1998 by English Heritage making it Europe's largest listed building; a controversial decision at the time. The investment the council hoped listing would attract to renovate the flats was not initially forthcoming. Hence in 2003 Sheffield City Council started to formulate a plan for Park Hill's refurbishment in conjunction with English Partnerships. By the end of that year tenants were being moved out of the 13-storey North Block. A development partner in the shape of Urban Splash was selected in 2004 who proposed the creation of upmarket apartments, business units and social housing. In 2007 the stripping back of two blocks (including the North Block, the tallest part of the buildings) to their H frame structure began. The first residents moved into the renovated blocks during 2013 and now all 79 apartments created as part of Phase One are now sold. Stage Two is to start shortly and will see the creation of a further 182 apartments to be completed in 2016. More info of the redevelopment can be found on the Urban Splash website:
http://www.urbansplash.co.uk/residential/park-hill
The inhabitants of Sheffield remain split on Park Hill; some believe them to be a key part of architectural Sheffield's heritage, others consider it nothing but an eyesore and blot on the landscape.
Here's the pictures:
General view of the horse-shaped North-West block:
img6859 by HughieDW, on Flickrand a close-up:
img6860 by HughieDW, on FlickrBoarded up flats above the Grace Owen Nursery:
img6855 by HughieDW, on FlickrWalk-way on the 5-storey section near Talbot Road:
img6863 by HughieDW, on FlickrStairway tower for the South block:
img6864 by HughieDW, on FlickrMore walkway porn:
img6865 by HughieDW, on FlickrThey're probably right:
img6866 by HughieDW, on FlickrClose-up of one of the many walkway bridges:
img6867 by HughieDW, on FlickrBlocks and blocks of abandoned flats:
img6876 by HughieDW, on FlickrStairway railings:
img6878 by HughieDW, on FlickrFlat close-up:
img6879 by HughieDW, on FlickrThree by five:
img6880 by HughieDW, on FlickrSix by six:
img6889 by HughieDW, on FlickrFive by nine:
img6881 by HughieDW, on FlickrStairwell down-shot:
img6882 by HughieDW, on FlickrAnother abandoned flat close-up:
img6891 by HughieDW, on FlickrThe East Block and old Link pub sign:
img6895 by HughieDW, on FlickrClose-up of The Link's pub sign:
img6896 by HughieDW, on FlickrBack of the old Link Pub in the East Block:
img6892 by HughieDW, on FlickrThe buddleia takes over:
img6897 by HughieDW, on FlickrLadies…
img6899 by HughieDW, on Flickr…and Gentlemen:
img6893 by HughieDW, on FlickrBoarded up and forlorn:
img6900 by HughieDW, on FlickrNo more 180s:
img6902 by HughieDW, on FlickrBut some new residents at No.49:
img6904 by HughieDW, on FlickrAs the paint starts to peel:
img6906 by HughieDW, on FlickrNo more Emergencies on Hague Row:
img6907 by HughieDW, on FlickrThanks for looking.
Last edited:
