please empty your brain below
Fascinating!

Are the residents more or less likely to be less well off though? Your description implies the former, therefore, I'm a tad confused.

Ken | 21.06.21 - 7:36 a.m. | #

One of my earliest memories from circa 1952 before the building started was of a huge open expanse covered with broken bricks and rubble; such a contrast to the streets we'd walked through from Brewers' Buildings en route to a friend's father's workplace in a nearby telephone exchange. Beautiful photos as usual. Thanks for the daily uplift DG

Keith | 21.06.21 - 8:08 a.m. | #

The building on the left in your second picture (it it the shops?) is very reminiscent of Basil Spence's somewhat later University of Sussex.

Sarah | Homepage | 21.06.21 - 8:31 a.m. | #

Net curtains: The bane of all architects and architecture lovers.

Are those the original colours? They don't complent each other much or do a lot for the buildings in my opinion. The blue and red may well be a copy of Bruno Taut's designs, but doesn't do much here.

IsarSteve | Homepage | 21.06.21 - 9:22 a.m. | #

I spent a couple of years working nearby and would walk through Golden Lane in order to get some lunch from Whitecross Street Market. Although sometimes we decanted to the Shakespeare for a team lunch.

As well as the fascinating building design, the presence of so many flats and homes gave the whole area a very different feel compared to working in other parts of London.

Golden Lane Leisure Centre is also the only City of London owned leisure centre as I recall. Always looked like a nice pool - lots of light due to big windows.

Andrew Bowden | Homepage | 21.06.21 - 9:32 a.m. | #

The whole concept of building such a centrally located estate for key workers is still relevant today

A shame developments like Battersea couldn't have been geared more towards the needs of ordinary people, rather than building vastly expensive apartments for foreign investors

Mikey C | 21.06.21 - 9:35 a.m. | #

Mikey C - Here here.

Glad to see this one succeeded where so many housing estates of the time didn't.

Cornish Cockney | 21.06.21 - 10:38 a.m. | #

Mick Herron is less than complimentary about the shops under Crescent House in his Slough House series!
Literally half my lifetime ago, I worked close by and used to traverse the estate en route to Whitecross St market to peruse the second-hand books, or to play squash at a sports centre nearer Old Street. The estate always seemed so tidy and well maintained, and the pool was a great asset.

Frank F | 21.06.21 - 1:13 p.m. | #

Tower blocks are great until the lifts break down, either due to poor maintenance or vandalism. Then they become a nightmare to live in particularly if you live on the upper levels. Even worse if you're physically disabled or elderly when you effectively become imprisoned in your own flat until repairs are carried out.

milliem | 21.06.21 - 3:45 p.m. | #

Ta! Another fascinating look at something I often pass by.

Levelling this area has long intrigued me. The attack was aimed at the heart of the City (Bank of England etc) but the invaders seemingly missed it and destroyed Cripplegate instead. I've found nothing so far to explain this terrible mistake, murdering far more people than the original intent.

R V Jones' book "Most Secret War" and "The Secret War" by Brian Johnson describe technological advances such as 'bending' the navigation 'beams' to divert bombing raids, but this one is never mentioned.

Joel | 21.06.21 - 4:22 p.m. | #

Another fascinating look, thanks DG. I too recall walking across the flattened rubble area, along the roads. It was a strange and rather frightening experience for me. Can’t remember how old I was or why I was alone, exploring. It just comes back to me as unsettling. Much much later when I worked in Hatton Garden I enjoyed navigating across the Barbican and up through the estate. I really enjoy these detailed looks at town.

Herbof | 21.06.21 - 7:35 p.m. | #

Without doubt my favourite estate in London.

Johnny Topaz | 21.06.21 - 10:42 p.m. | #

There’s a Rank Look At Life short about building Great Arthur Tower, it popped up on Talking Pictures recently and no doubt lurks somewhere on YouTube. Pure post-war optimism, before towers and estates got a bad name.
Now I must pop off and lick some concrete.

Philip | 22.06.21 - 1:17 p.m. | #

Rank: Look at Life - Top People, 1960

This may be the video that Philip is referring to. Primarily about the people building and working near the top.

I'm sure I've seen a short documentary film from the 60s recorded here, with grubby children playing cowboys and Indians on this estate. Can't find it now though, likely first got a link to it from this very site..

James | 12.07.21 - 8:38 a.m. | #











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