The second estate we're looking at is the iconic Cranbrook Estate, sandwiched between the south of Victoria Park and Roman Road in East London.
These aerial photographs, taken in 1965 and 1963 respectively, show Victoria Park to the north, with RomanRoad on the south. You can see the distinctive figure of eight that shapes the estate - Mace Road.
The higher blocks are named after towns from around the world that Bethnal Green is twinned with - Velletri, St Gilles, Offenbach, Alzette, Modling and Puteaux - while the smaller buildings are named after roads that were razed to build the estate.
This picture shows the low-rise Stubbs House in the foreground, with two of the 15-storey blocks in the rear.
As well as residential housing, the estate also has commercial space....they're mainly small local business.
Walking around the estate today, it is quite run down and it all feels a bit....sad. The distinctive design of the buildings looks dated, and the communal areas are deserted. Though there have been attempts from residents to spruce up community spirit with the introduction of a herb garden....
Recently some revamp projects have been proposed for the estate, including the ambitious Cranbrook Lunar Lighthouse - by Paticas Architecture.
It's one of the older estates in Tower Hamlets, and you can see its distinctive grey, white and green panelling from as far as Hackney Wick (along the Union Canal) and from all over Victoria Park.
The council originally cleared four acres of land - knocking down terraces, workshops and a factory - here in 1959 to build one of its most ambitious housing projects ever.
Like Columbia Road's Sivill House, the design was done by Skinner, Bailey and Lubetkin....and Wates (London) built the scheme.
The Cranbrook Estate, named after a road originally situated on the land, was opened in 1964. At the time the housing here was considered pretty luxury compared to the cramped terraces nearby!
These aerial photographs, taken in 1965 and 1963 respectively, show Victoria Park to the north, with RomanRoad on the south. You can see the distinctive figure of eight that shapes the estate - Mace Road. The higher blocks are named after towns from around the world that Bethnal Green is twinned with - Velletri, St Gilles, Offenbach, Alzette, Modling and Puteaux - while the smaller buildings are named after roads that were razed to build the estate.
This picture shows the low-rise Stubbs House in the foreground, with two of the 15-storey blocks in the rear.As well as residential housing, the estate also has commercial space....they're mainly small local business.
Walking around the estate today, it is quite run down and it all feels a bit....sad. The distinctive design of the buildings looks dated, and the communal areas are deserted. Though there have been attempts from residents to spruce up community spirit with the introduction of a herb garden....
Recently some revamp projects have been proposed for the estate, including the ambitious Cranbrook Lunar Lighthouse - by Paticas Architecture.
They say: "A dynamic lighting proposal for the six towers on the Cranbrook Estate in Bethnal Green, East London. The changing pattern of light projected onto the flying cornices at the top of each tower is linked to the phases of the moon, thus establishing a collective rhythm for the estate and a connection to the celestial sphere. Initial consultations with the residents and the local planning department have been positive. Project is awaiting funding and further consultation."
What a great idea! It's so interesting to learn about London's hidden bits.
ReplyDeleteThere is a Wikipedia article (as of today!)
ReplyDeletehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cranbrook_Estate
Thanks LoopZilla! They should link to this page, I have so much more info than Wikipedia :)
ReplyDeleteThe Lunar lighting project... you can't polish sh*t
ReplyDeleteI am proud because I live in this are.I love this area
ReplyDeleteI live on Cranbrook Estate, It is a horrid place to live, most of teh flats a severe damp problems, there is NOWHERE safe for the children to play (and there is a HIGH quantity of children here). It is riddled with Drug and Drink abusers, drug dealing and attacks. You would be a brave person to walk through here on a dark night! And you can't even have your washing machine plumbed into your kitchen in most flats as its too small to accomodate one, instead we have to plumb it into our bathrooms, loosing the use of the wash basin! DISPICABLE!!!
ReplyDeleteA bit of an exaggeration. Yes there is ASBO here and some low level drug dealing (weed) but I could never say the estate is 'riddled with drug abusers'. And I don't feel scared to walk around alone at night (I am a woman). The ASBO in my knowledge comes from the same 5 people over the 5 years I've been living here, and, never thought I'd say it for anyone, but by now I do hope those guys get evicted! In the years I've been here there were 3 violent incidents all of which involved the same guys fighting with people. Anyhow, it's a council estate, and there's a higher concentration of social problems in poor areas always.
DeleteAnyhow, the flats themselves are fine. There is no damp, just condensation, which people must know how to deal with by allowing for air circulation! Also, I have my washing machine in the kitchen, I don't understand that complaint either. I like my flat, a lot of light comes in and the spaces feel really good for a coulple.
Cranbrook used to be a lovely place to grow up on.I lived there from 1967 till the early 80's.We kids all used to play out and be safe (even when it was dark)Same goes for Victoria Park. It is such a shame to hear that it is a dangerous place to walk around now.How times have changed :0(
ReplyDeleteI've been living in the Cranbrook estate for 2 years and have found it a good place to live.
ReplyDeleteI've never felt threatened and never had any problems day or night. There are spaces for football, play and a huge park 200m away.
There seems to be a strong community and I know all my neighbours. The local shops and market are brilliant. All in all, I feel lucky to live here!
I live in the Cranbrook Estate since 2000. All the Residents are wonderful, great customer services from Tower Hamlets council, and a wonderful atmosphere. By the way, my washing machine is in the kitchen and it doesn't take up too much space! It has a Nursery, Primary and Secondary school nearby (literally, they aren't even 5mins away!) And all the things you need on your doorstep (A Bank [Natwest], many convenience shops[One of them, Nisa Locals], Barbers, Bakery[Greggs], and SO MUCH MORE! So much green space, very calm! I feel safe Day in, Day out! It is very beautiful! I wouldn't live anywhere else!
ReplyDeleteI used to live in Modling House from 76 - 78, I had some really happy times there, and made some great friends. Some I still in touch with. Yes the kitchens were small, but they were lovely flats. Ours was even haunted, some very weird things used to happen in that flat. I'm glad i spent my teenage years there.
ReplyDeleteI live on Cranbrook Estate too...in Alzette House. I have done for about a year. I'm aware of the family mentioned by Anonymous on 11 May, and yes, they can sometimes be loud late into the night and have caused trouble. But I've found the police have always been quick to respond to residents' calls, and arrive swiftly to disperse them.
ReplyDeleteI certainly agree that it feels safe...my girlfriend and our other female house-mate feel safe to walk around at night, and whilst we still don't know our neighbours very well (partly as we all work quite long hours), we do go down to the Community Food Garden on the weekends, and have met quite a few people through there, especially Laura, who is the life and soul of the garden and puts so much effort and energy into keeping it open for everyone, and fighting for support from the Tenants & Residents Association (which only meets every 2 month - which can make it hard to get anything done).
I'm writing with an ulterior motive, however! Recently, there has been a loud, whining noise happening at about 3am and carrying on for between 1 and 3 hours...I'm desperate to find out what it is as its keeping me awake and making life quite miserable :( Has anyone else heard this noise? Does anyone know what it might be? It sounds electronic to me....like a servo motor or pump....and usually lasts in bursts of 60seconds with about 3 seconds in between each burst.
Please help me work out what it is...and hopefully stop it!
I was one of the first residents of this estate moving in with my parents and siblings August 1964 and although have lived and owned in various other places including a waterside London penthouse I have had a presence there ever since and choose to live here rather than anywhere else in the world I walk freely around any time of day and night and have never either been of felt threatened in all those 50 years I really don't know what the detractors are talking about and can only conclude that they are not aware of conditions in the real world.
ReplyDeleteI grew up in Offenbach House (our family left for North London in 1996) and went back to good ol' Cranbrook two years ago as I was researching for a dissertation on social housing. I have to say I loved growing up there and have very fond memories of playing out with friends and certainly always felt safe! Our flat was spacious - my bedroom now in a four bed house is about half the size of the bedroom I had in Offenbach House. During my revisit to the estate it seemed like nothing had changed much (not sure that's such a good thing aesthetically speaking), and everyone I spoke to whilst asking questions relating to my dissertation project seemed friendly and happy to discuss. No threatening vibes whatsoever! Cranbrook was, and still seems to be, a good community in spite of certain conditions and attributes usually ascribed to council estates.
ReplyDeleteAll-in-all, I'm proud to have grown up there.