Park Hill.
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Park Hill is a council housing estate in Sheffield, it was designed by Jack Lynn and Ivor Smith, the flats cover 13 hectares and where built between 1957-1961over 4 levels, which consist of four blocks with storey levels of 13, 10, 9 and 7.
Despite the various levels all the roof is level as the flats where built onto a hill side which over looks Sheffield town centre.
The entire complex consists of 995 flats and maisonettes and even had a primary school within the complex as well as shops and other local ammenities.
The flats dominate the local skyline and earned the nick name of the streets in the sky due to the fact that inter connecting walk ways stretch from each adjacent block.
The streets where named, The Pavement, Gilbert Row, Hague Row, Long Henry Row and Norwich Row, and where that wide a Milk Float could actually drive down them via coming up the service lifts.
Park Hill at the time was seen as the future, Construction is of an exposed concrete frame with yellow, orange and red brick curtain walling, which over the years has been stained by soot from passing trains.
Sadly though as with the majority of inner city housing projects, crime was rife within Park Hill with Muggers and Drug Dealers and it became notorious and a place to avoid.
The flats have been slowly vacated over the years with the residents and criminals alike either moving or being rehoused, presently the flats are almost derelict with only a few residents still residing in them.
In 1998 Park Hill recieved a Grade II listed status and is currently the biggest Grade II listed building in Europe.
Urban Splash have now taken over the complex and are giving it a £146 Million revamp.
I first seen Park Hill back in the early 90s whilst spraying grafitti in Sheffield and was fascinated by the place, seeing it back then compared to now was totally different but still its impression was still as strong as way back then.
This was one of the sites I have been meaning to get back to for years but never got round too, my first visit as a grafitti artist, it made a lasting impression but my second visit of exploring the place was another experience all together.
A local landmark and an awesome explore!!!
Date : January 2008 : Location : Sheffield : Explorers : Havoc : Jaff Fox : Dodgerat : Bungle
The New Mendoza : Private Piles : Nincocytus : DCG : Tarboat
