Broken Free

This building in Beeston is called The Grange and was built in 1820 for a local businessman. In May 1976 it became Grade II listed, and was used as a refuge for homeless people.

Up until recently, it was Beeston's police station, but they moved out last year, and transferred to the local council offices. It has stood empty ever since.

A planning application was made to the council to turn the building into luxury apartments and to construct some flats where the main part of the station was, and which was demolished only this week. Wednesday in fact.

The section that was knocked down was built in the 1950s and some of it looked similar in style to the Grange, while some of it didn't.

The site will be one that I will be following, to see how things progress.

The Wrecking Crew

Do you often get that feeling when you realise that it's too late to do something which you should have done sometime ago?

Well I got that feeling today, when I saw that they had begun to knock down a building that I should have taken a photo of a few months ago.

The building in particular is the former British Red Cross offices, situated on a cross roads near the QMC. It has been empty for a while now, and so I've had ample opportunity to do it, but kept putting it off. Now it is too late.

Besides taking its photo for posterity, it was also unusual in design, in that it had a strange roof design, as well as the overall footprint of building. Certainly a one off. I can't quite remember when it was originally built, but it has certainly been there since the mid 1970s.

Before And After

I used to visit this house sometimes when the owners used to host charity sales.

But they moved and the house was up for sale. It has now been sold by a developer and several apartments are to be built on the site.

I have been watching over the past few weeks as the garden has been cleared and the house slowly demolished. I stopped off on the way home tonight and took the photo below. As you can see, there's not much left.

Ran Out Of Steam

Went to check on the Victorian railway arches that are sadly being knocked down after standing there for all these years.

It's been said that they have to come down as the area is being developed. Personally, if I was the architect, I would incorporate them into the new building as a feature, as I hate to see old buildings knocked down, as they have much more character then modern soulless buildings.

There's a prime example In my photo here, the green and gold building on the left is the Contemporary art gallery, which you must admit looks awful and stands out like a sore thumb, compared to the former church, now the Pitcher & Piano bar, and the other old buildings that make up part of the Lace Market.

Letting The Light In

There's some more demolition work now taking place in the city centre.

This is down near the Broadmarsh shopping centre and involves some old buildings and the remains of some Victorian railway arches.

Some people, including myself think this is a great shame, as it's about the last remaining arches in town, and should be saved for prosterity.

You may be wondering why my photo looks a little strange. It's because I took it with one of the art filters which are on my OMD. Diorama, I think its called, and makes things look miniature. I don't often use them, as I prefer to mess around in Lightroom & Alien Skin, but I don't think it looks too bad.

On The Way Down

Some blocks of flats are being demolished that have dominated the Nottingham skyline since the late 1960s. But piece by piece they are being taken down, rather than being blown up, like usually happens. It must be something to do with recycling the waste, rather than just sending it for landfill.

Keep Out

No, I didn't take this photo at a local prison or school, but is actually an office block that is slowly being knocked down.  They have to be very careful as the building is in a residential area. In fact there are houses right up against one side of the building.

I don't know exactly what's going to be built in its place, but I don't think it will have as many floors, as the present building does.

The Beginning Of The End

More destruction in Beeston. This time they are rebuilding some of the small shopping centre in the centre of the town.

Some of the smaller shops have been demolished to make way for some bigger ones, which is going to include a new gym.

I don't know how long this work is going to take, but it has added to the misery of the tram works that are taking place at the same time.

There doesn't appear to be any end to the chaos that is affecting the town, with roads still closed, shops struggling, as customers stay away and just about everyone is fed up with the place looking like some war zone.

Chop Suey

Well it's gone. The Pagoda is no more.

Above is the scene on Wednesday, below, how it is today. Now just a pile of bricks and rubble.

I shall continue to watch what is happening to the site and to try and find out what is going to be built in its place.

Rest U Rant

Not being at work for the last week, I didn't get to visit the city centre at all, so I was wondering what state the old Pagoda Chinese restaurant would be in, now I know that it is being demolished.

So at lunchtime I went to have a look and see if much work had taken place during my time away. Well, as you can see they have certainly raised the roof. Well knocked it down actually!

It's interesting to see that they used the first floor as the kitchen, and I think there are a couple of dumb waiters there, so it saves walking up and down stairs.

I bet it will be fully demolished by the end of the week. Then it will be interesting to see what they build in its place. Be really funny if it is going to be another Chinese restaurant!

Timber!

The old Wilkinson's shop began to be demolished a few months ago after being empty for a year. But for some reason they stopped. But now they have started again and most of it has been removed. All that remains is some rubble and a load of timber planks.

One thing that taking down the store has done has let more light into the Last Post, a Wetherspoons public house that used to be a Royal Mail sorting office.

Building Sights

Not a lot has happened to the old Wilkos store since I last put a photo on of the area.

They have cleared away most of the rubble, but haven't finished demolishing the building for some reason.

Arm Wrestling

Thought I would put on an abstract photo today. One from the ongoing demolition works in Beeston.

Gone, But Not Forgotten

Well the bulldozers have moved in to knock down one of Beeston's most well loved stores, Wilkinson's; or Wilko's as is affectionately known as.

The shop actually closed in April last year, and has stood empty ever since. Even though it could have remained open for at least a year.

I reported the closure at the time, and here is the LINK to the story.

Below is how the store looked before the death knell was finally rung.

Lit By Moonlight

I've taken many photos of the tramworks that are taking place in Beeston at the moment, but I realised that I hadn't taken any at night.

So, as I had to go to a local pub to meet a couple of friends to talk over an event that I'm going to be involved with in a few months time, I thought it would be an ideal opportunity.

By the time we had finished talking, it had gone dark, and as The Crown is very close to Beeston Square, I went to see what all the demolition work of the shops looks like in the dark. Piles of rubble just lit by street lights and moonlight. It reminds me a bit of the Blitz, when London was bombed for about three months during 1940.

The Eve Of Destruction

The continued demolition of the precinct in Beeston continues with bulldozers tearing down a row of shops.

Piles of rubble, wood and metal everywhere.  The local council say that it will be an improvement. But I don't see it myself, as how can less shops be better?

And The Walls Came Tumbling Down

Due to the very extensive tram works that are taking place at the moment, Beeston has become like a war zone. Buildings demolished, trees cut down, holes in the ground and thousands of cones and fencing everywhere. Nowhere is left unaffected. Even where I live; which incidentally is nowhere near the route is having to put up with a lot more traffic, as it has been diverted from the main road in Chilwell.

This row of shops in the Square is the next in the bulldozer's sights. Or should that be sites! I used to go in Diane's Cabin a lot, as they used to sell reasonably priced greetings cards. Then there was Hunts, who sold all sorts of goodies at reasonable prices. But that will all be gone very shortly. I'll probably post a photo when it does.

I Can See Clearly Now

A quick update as to the progress of the demolition of the old Odeon cinema.

The demolition workers have had a final push and have removed the front of the building over the past few days.

They put fencing up to stop any debris falling onto the pavement. But there are gaps, and so I popped my camera through and took a few shots.

You can now see all the way through to Maid Marian Way. Something that no one has been able to do since the 1930s. So this is could be quite an historic documentary photograph in a few years time. And you saw it here first.

Down And Out

We return to the demolition of the old Odeon Cinema today, as the final section of this once popular entertainment centre is removed.

The frontage is the last bit to go. It wasn't very exciting to look at, but it did have the word ODEON as a ghost sign. But it is all gone now. Just a pile of rubble.

Going, Going, Gone

Well, we are almost there. Practically the whole of the former Odeon cinema has now disappeared. All you can see is a big pile of brick dust.

The front is the next to go. As I walked by tonight, I could see that the scaffolding has been erected, ready for the men to begin work on removing the facade over the next few days. They will have to be careful, as a lot of people walk by and it is on a bus route.