The Following Book was lent to us by "Snodvan" which was very much appreciated.
The Book has been scanned into a PDF (Adobe Reader) Format. You can read this books contents by clicking on the links. With over 180 pages of fascinating information.
Its a Great Book with some weird and wonderful visions for the future. Hexagonal Housing ?? Some amazing pictures etc.
Very good, thanks for all the effort. There are quite a few of us who where youngsters in those days and have seen the changes taking place and watched as places of interest disapeared in the rubble, {all in the name of progress?}
Ships that pass in the night, seldom seen and soon forgoten
In may 1949 came the official opening of the Woodcrhuch Estate whose planning had caused a controversy that attracted national publicity.
Whilst the war was still waging in 1944, the battle of the plans began. The Borough engineer and surveyor, Mr B, Robinson had drawn up a plan which was strongly critcized by Prof. Charles Reilly, then engaged in drawning up the town's post war development plan.
Reilly's view was that the people would not be happy with Robinson's proposed estate and drew up (without a fee) a plan, the essence of which was neighbourly living in the traditional English way. Reilly's plan received considerable support at a town meeting but it was Robinson's that was the one which was approved by the Council and forwarded to the Ministy of Health.
The controversy did not end there and a third plan came on the scene, that of Herbert Rowse and this was the plan that was eventually adopted. Rowse withdrew when only part of the estate had been built and the Borough Architect, Mr T.A. Brittain was responsible for the completion of the rest of the estate.
The Mount estate had 502 dwellings and there are 385 on the Overchurch estate on the outskirts of the town and 530 with a shopping centre at Prenton Dell. 2057 dwelling had been completed on the Ford at the end of 1973 and Noctrum Estate had 793 dwellings occupied.
The controversy did not end there and a third plan came on the scene, that of Herbert Rowse and this was the plan that was eventually adopted.
Herbert Rowse was, of course, the architect of the Queensway tunnel and its associated ventilation buildings (which I think are beautiful). Also, of the Philharmonic Hall. I lived very close to the Mount Estate & watched it being built, replaacing the allotments which were there during the war.
Aye. he sure was. Did you see my pics of the Philharmonic? I've been trying to get some pics of the Dell before development. They have a few good pics in the Saddle club between the bar and the function room.
Very interesting read. Looking at the ideas of post war planning is an eye opener. For example, the Corporation buying the large properties around Bidston Hill and turning them into maisonettes and building extra properties in their large gardens, and the same for the properties around Birkenhead park. There would have been stern opposition from the owners of the said properties. I also liked the idea of a tunnel from Birkenhead to Wallasey under the docks bypassing the bridges which were being used on a regular basis due to the busy dock system. Another good idea was building a byass from the Birkenhead tunnel to Price St using the existing railway cutting and coming out on a roundabout by the Stork Price St. There are many other gems in there, and some bad ones as well. Fascinating indeed.
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