Non League State of Mind #2: Stands We Love: the main stand at Redditch United FC
I’ve been to The Valley Stadium, Redditch more often than Surrey Street (Glossop North End FC) and possibly Curzon Ashton’s fine ground at Crowhill. In an oasis of tin-roofed terraces, this modernist creation dominates the ground.
Built with New Town Development Corporation money in the early 1970s, this stand includes a first floor social club with changing rooms at the ground floor. It seats around 300 fans with a small number of seats at balcony level for sponsors and directors.
Though the stand looks daring, spectators sat at the back may have a restricted view due to stanchions. Spectators at the front may need binoculars to get a good view of the pitch. In spite of these shortcomings, it is worth taking a trip to The Valley Stadium purely for the stand.
WHERE WILL YOUR CHILDREN LIVE IN 1973? (via Modern Mechanix)
I’ve yet to find a house on Ridge Hill Estate with this kind of interior and control.
Former DHSS Offices, Fleet Street, Ashton-under-Lyne: Till recently, this office block was used as the local DHSS Offices and Inland Revenue office for Ashton-under-Lyne. Since being sold off, it is now in multiple occupation with a privately run learning centre occupying the ground floor.
Staveleigh Clinic, Old Street, Stalybridge: opening in 1965, the Stalybridge health centre had imposing views of the River Tame. Entry was gained from the top of Market Street, or by means of a second entrance from Old Street. Today, the clinic has moved to a new site on Waterloo Road adjacent to the bus station. This opened in 2008 with the older one lying derelict as seen today.
Shortly after its move, the clinic was struck by a small fire.
The Beau Geste, Katherine Street, Ashton-under-Lyne: opened in 1967 to replace another public house affected town centre redevelopment works. Its initial owners included space for an off-sales shop. Another pub to the right of the Beau Geste, The Ashton, also had a similar history, but succumbed to the wrecking ball, with the Arcades Shopping Centre on the site.
Melbourne Street, Stalybridge: the shops on the left and right of the image formed part of a redevelopment scheme for the Grosvenor Street and Melbourne Street junction in the late 1960s. Where Sinclair’s is seen on the right, the first floor taken by the night club was originally offices for the DHSS. Out of shot is today’s Superdrug store, which opened initially as Maypole Dairy, then Liptons, Lo Cost, Lloyds Supersave and Savers.
For anybody wishing to explore the joys of modernist architecture further, on a UK level, I can literally lose myself on this site. It is also a good starting point for anybody unsure of the concept of modernist architecture.
If you wish to explore the modernist architecture of Greater Manchester any further, this site is a handy resource.
Ladies and Gentleman, welcome aboard the mighty vessel that is Modernist Tameside. With the possible exception of this bus, its aim is to be a photo-blog celebrating modernist, brutalist and International Style architecture in the Tameside area, past and present.
