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Chalkhill Estate
Chalkhill Estate is located in the Wembley Park area of north-west London. It was originally one of three large council estates built in the London Borough of Brent by the early 1970s, along with Stonebridge and South Kilburn. The design was based on that of Park Hill in Sheffield. The high-rise estate was demolished by 2000 and gradually replaced by new low-rise builds.
The estate is located just east of Wembley Park tube station and adjacent of the former Brent Town Hall. It is divided from the Stadium Industrial Estate and the developments around Wembley Stadium because of the Metropolitan line/Jubilee line/Chiltern Main Line railway tracks to the south. The Stadium area and also Neasden to the east are still easily accessible through the main roads - Bridge Road, Forty Lane, and Blackbird Hill, the latter of which forms part of the NW9 postcode.
The acquisition of the land to build the Chalkhill Estate was one of the first examples of eminent domain, or compulsory purchase. Many larger semi-detached and detached houses with large gardens lining the road opposite Brent Town Hall were demolished to build Chalkhill. This led to charges of a deliberate manipulation of area demographics so that Brent North – traditionally Conservative voting – would become a marginal parliamentary constituency, with the goal of a Labour-controlled council returning a Labour MP. This proved to be incorrect as Rhodes Boyson, a Conservative, was returned as MP from 1974 until 1997.
Chalkhill was originally a manor in the ancient parish of Kingsbury in the county of Middlesex. Chalkhill Estate was then developed as a Metroland estate from 1921, but it was between 1966 and 1970 that the high density, high-rise council estate providing flats, shops, a medical centre, car parking and open space was built.
Dwellings consisted of single-storey one and two-bedroom flats, and larger two-storey family homes. The high-rise blocks were linked via high-floor open walkways, called "walkways in the sky". Walkways were affectionately named Goldbeaters Walk, Greenrigg Walk, Redcliffe Walk and Bluebird Walk.
In total there were about 1900 houses and flats. Chalkhill Estate also contained recreational facilities for children and the elderly, such as playgrounds and seating areas with flower beds, much like a public park.
All dwellings had what was quite modern technology at the time, including central heating and "Garchey" systems (a waste-disposal machine in the kitchen sink).
In its initial years, Chalkhill Estate was viewed as one of the finest housing projects of Britain. By the late-1970s, however, crime was taking root. Local shops were frequently robbed. The neighbourhood around Chalkhill was deteriorating, and criminal activities in the area soon seeped into the estate. The praised "walkways in the sky" became convenient quick escape routes for criminals.
Chalkhill Estate
Chalkhill Estate is located in the Wembley Park area of north-west London. It was originally one of three large council estates built in the London Borough of Brent by the early 1970s, along with Stonebridge and South Kilburn. The design was based on that of Park Hill in Sheffield. The high-rise estate was demolished by 2000 and gradually replaced by new low-rise builds.
The estate is located just east of Wembley Park tube station and adjacent of the former Brent Town Hall. It is divided from the Stadium Industrial Estate and the developments around Wembley Stadium because of the Metropolitan line/Jubilee line/Chiltern Main Line railway tracks to the south. The Stadium area and also Neasden to the east are still easily accessible through the main roads - Bridge Road, Forty Lane, and Blackbird Hill, the latter of which forms part of the NW9 postcode.
The acquisition of the land to build the Chalkhill Estate was one of the first examples of eminent domain, or compulsory purchase. Many larger semi-detached and detached houses with large gardens lining the road opposite Brent Town Hall were demolished to build Chalkhill. This led to charges of a deliberate manipulation of area demographics so that Brent North – traditionally Conservative voting – would become a marginal parliamentary constituency, with the goal of a Labour-controlled council returning a Labour MP. This proved to be incorrect as Rhodes Boyson, a Conservative, was returned as MP from 1974 until 1997.
Chalkhill was originally a manor in the ancient parish of Kingsbury in the county of Middlesex. Chalkhill Estate was then developed as a Metroland estate from 1921, but it was between 1966 and 1970 that the high density, high-rise council estate providing flats, shops, a medical centre, car parking and open space was built.
Dwellings consisted of single-storey one and two-bedroom flats, and larger two-storey family homes. The high-rise blocks were linked via high-floor open walkways, called "walkways in the sky". Walkways were affectionately named Goldbeaters Walk, Greenrigg Walk, Redcliffe Walk and Bluebird Walk.
In total there were about 1900 houses and flats. Chalkhill Estate also contained recreational facilities for children and the elderly, such as playgrounds and seating areas with flower beds, much like a public park.
All dwellings had what was quite modern technology at the time, including central heating and "Garchey" systems (a waste-disposal machine in the kitchen sink).
In its initial years, Chalkhill Estate was viewed as one of the finest housing projects of Britain. By the late-1970s, however, crime was taking root. Local shops were frequently robbed. The neighbourhood around Chalkhill was deteriorating, and criminal activities in the area soon seeped into the estate. The praised "walkways in the sky" became convenient quick escape routes for criminals.
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