Sheffield has an interesting history of high rise living which stretches back quite a long way. In this selection I intend to present the remaining tower blocks and apartments which remain from the 20th century. Unfortunately there are only a small number left on the ground today.
Lansdowne Redevelopment features 3 interesting 16 storey tower blocks all 43 metres in height to the roofline. a similar style to the towers at Callow Mount, but all three of these have two bedrooms, the obvious purpose of these dwellings being for housing families. Also perculiar to these buildings is a penthouse floor on top of all three blocks. Here in 2007 these blocks still survive in their original mid 1960s livery, with open balconies with rubbish chutes. The towers have a reinforced concrete core and frame but all the external walls are constructed mainly with traditional brick, a superior method than the concrete panels with which some inferior 1960s blocks were built, with the result of much greater damp and draught problems.
The two outer towers ( blocks 3 and 1 ) on this shot feature transmission antennae, their location close to the north end of London Road being prominent for decades with an unbroken view of the south suburbs for a mile. From left to right the towers are numbered 3, 2, 1. And they each have a name.
See below for identity from same London Road / Boston Street side
| Tower 3 | Tower 2 | Tower 1 |
|---|---|---|
Gregory |
Wiggen |
Keating |
Here is a close up of the plaque which survives on site from the unveiling almost 43 years ago
Here, some closeup shots of the Antennae and penthouse levels
The penthouse flats differ from the lower floors in that they appear to feature "wrap around balconies". This was an aspirational feature which the architects of the original norfolk park flats wanted to include throughout the whole of those towers. Unfortunately it didn't last through to the final designs of those later towers but surprisingly it does here. As these towers were slightly earlier is is possible that these penthouse floors were prototypes and possible anticedents of those original norfolk park designs.
I also wonder whether these penthouse levels were some kind of last minute addition because they are standing on a much thicker floor slab than any of the lower floors. Although this might be because that concrete stripe includes a safety lip on the outside of the balcony.
At the base of each tower we can see their doorways and addresses, these photos were taken on 21st of September 2007
Entry is gained by communication by an electonic concierge, with intercom links to each flat where a door release button is located to allow a visitor to open the external door. Each resident has a magnetic fob which will also open the external door.
The North West tower ( Block 1 ) is Called Keating and has a wine ( deep red ) colourscheme
The Central Tower, and North East ( Block 2 ) Is called Wiggen and has a lime green colourscheme
The South East tower ( Block 3 ) is called Gregory and has a sky blue colourscheme
In the centre of the three towers in front of block 2 is a pleasent garden
Plaintalker ( 2nd October 2007 ) I remember, back in the 70's when there was another area to play in, immediately to the side of the blue block, which had a fountain, in the shape of a turtle. you are correct in describing the lansdowne high-rise as being pretty much unique, with their "penthouse" floor, there were twenty-odd (3 @ Gervase, 6 @ Callow, 4 @Brightmore Dr, 4 @ Andover St 8 i think, at Martin Street) and of these blocks scattered across the city, and only these three had the "penthouses" |
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