TRIVIA: Buildings that were demolished soon after being built

[ABB125]

Wasn't there a student accommodation block built next to Birmingham City University during the 2000s (or possibly even later?) which has recently been demolished to make way for HS2?

 

[yorksrob]

Lullingstone station (except the platforms which are still there).

 

[Pinza-C55]

In the late 1980s the Durham Coast coal mines were modernised with new MGR concrete loading silos but I think most of them lasted only 2 or 3 years before being torn down.
In about 1982 Clifton Carriage sidings in York were totally rebuilt but only lasted 1 or 2 years before being abandoned. I believe the sheds ended up being moved to become a cash and carry warehouse.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Nene Park, Irthlingborough (Rushden & Diamonds and later Kettering Town) and the Don Valley Stadium (athletics, Sheffield Eagles RL, Rotherham United, Sheffield FC & others) are two more examples of modern sports grounds which didn't last all that long.

I wonder how long the Reynolds Arena un Darlington will last? This is surely England's biggest sporting white elephant given Darlo fans antipathy to the place.

If you’re talking Darlington, the old ground Feethams had a brand new main stand in 1997/8, closed in 2003 and demolished in 2006!

 

[AY1975]

One of Sheffield University's buildings was demolished due to subsidence even before it was completed - https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk...-science-hub-to-be-knocked-down-and-restarted - original building work started in summer 2019 and then everything was pulled down in autumn 2020.

They have however since corrected the foundations and rebuilt the building from scratch.

Yes, and part of the city centre campus of Sheffield Hallam University, opposite Sheffield station, is currently being redeveloped. AFAIK the previous buildings on that site were only built in the 1980s or '90s.

Do you know which one it was? I know Jena fairly well, and the only one that comes to mind is the 'Neue Mitte Jena' one.

I can't remember what it was called, but as I recall it was round the back of the building that houses one of the university canteens, roughly opposite the former university tower and round the side of the Goethe Galerie shopping centre. That could well be the "Neue Mitte Jena" one that you're referring to.

 

[lyndhurst25]

Berners Swimming Pool in Grange-over-Sands - opened in 2003, closed in 2006, and demolished in 2013.

Berners Pool

Berners Pool reports and history, Grange-over-sands

grangeoversandshistory.weebly.com

 

[Strathclyder]

Quite a few of the least successful housing developments dating from the 60s/70s could qualify for this thread.

The 12 7-story deck access blocks of the Hutchesontown Area E development (known locally as Hutchie E) in the Gorbals area of Glasgow stand out however: opened in 1972 by Queen Elizabeth, finished in 1974, completely empty by 1982 and completely demolished by the end of 1987. The development also had two 24-story 'point' blocks that lasted until July 2013 when they were brought down via implosion.

Hutchesontown/Part Gorbals Comprehensive Development Area: Area 'E' | Tower Block

www.towerblock.eca.ed.ac.uk

 

[Howardh]

Those of you around Bolton will be aware of the new development ear Bob's Smithy where about half a dozen brand new houses - more like mini mansions - were built in the last three or four years, on the hillside. Visible to all, and a bit of an eyesore in my opinion.
Now demolished, as many didn't have the correct application or the buildings didn't follow the application.
Love to know the estimated cost of each building, must be close to if not over £1m, all down the drain!

 

[Russel]

Lidl are going through the phase of demolishing new-ish stores to be replaced with bigger ones. For example, its Ferndown store originally opened in 2003 but that has now been cleared to make way for a bigger new-build opening later this year.

I can't remember where, but I read somewhere that Lidl buildings are only designed to have a 20 year life span.

 

[lachlan]

Wasn't there a student accommodation block built next to Birmingham City University during the 2000s (or possibly even later?) which has recently been demolished to make way for HS2?

Yes, completed in 2008 and closed in 2018. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curzon_Gate

 

[steamybrian]

Around the country there are several stations that were built but never opened and then demolished.
As an example here in Kent- Lullingstone station was built in 1939 but never opened and was demolished in the 1950s.
Temporary stations such as Heathrow Junction was built and opened in 1998 and lasted only 6 months before being demolished. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heathrow_Junction_railway_station

 

[gg1]

I can't remember where, but I read somewhere that Lidl buildings are only designed to have a 20 year life span.

Similarly The Tesco extra store in Dudley was built in 2010 on the site of a demolished smaller Tesco which was only built around 20 years prior.

 

[Western Lord]

Similarly The Tesco extra store in Dudley was built in 2010 on the site of a demolished smaller Tesco which was only built around 20 years prior.

I remember one year being on holiday in Cornwall and using Tesco in Helston. A couple of years later we went back and called at Tesco but felt slightly disorientated. In the intervening period they had built a new, bigger store on the other side of the car park and demolished the original one to restore the car parking.

 

[PTR 444]

I can't remember where, but I read somewhere that Lidl buildings are only designed to have a 20 year life span.

That’s intriguing to know, so presumably most of the original purpose-built stored will have exceeded the end of their life, if there are still any. IIRC the first UK branch opened in around 1995 or so.

 

[stuartl]

Yes, and part of the city centre campus of Sheffield Hallam University, opposite Sheffield station, is currently being redeveloped. AFAIK the previous buildings on that site were only built in the 1980s or '90s.

I think It was originally built as the Sheffield science park, as you say in the late 1980's. The district heating people used some of it, then Hallam took it over.

 

[Russel]

That’s intriguing to know, so presumably most of the original purpose-built stored will have exceeded the end of their life, if there are still any. IIRC the first UK branch opened in around 1995 or so.

Presumably so, if what I remember reading was correct.

I can't imagine there are many original Lidl stores left, most I know of have been demolished and rebuilt in the newer style.

My local Lidl in Lichfield has recently moved into a new store about a quarter of a mile down the road from the old store, the old store is now a giant Salvation Army store.

 

[Strathclyder]

(I know observation towers aren't generally seen/classified by some as proper 'buildings', but I'm not about to discard this post after putting it all together lol)

Another Glasgow example that completely slipped my mind: The Tait Tower, built in Bellahouston Park on Ibrox Hill as part of the 1938 Empire Exhibition and opened in May of that year. 300 feet (91m) tall on it's own and with 4 observation decks, it allowed for panoramic views of the exhibition and Glasgow as a whole. Due to it's height and the hill it was been built on, it was visible 100 miles away.

Along with most of the structures built for this event, it was eventually dismantled after the exhibition closed for the final time; the Tait being brought down in June/July 1939 after a period of being in the British Army's control, but it's foundations remain to this day. There has been a persistent line of thought that it was brought down in fear of it being used as a landmark for Luftwaffe aircraft in the event of war with Germany (which broke out 2 months after the tower's dismantling), but this is almost certainly a urban myth. Had it been retained and survived into the 21st century, the likelihood of the Glasgow Science Centre Tower (aka Glasgow's Folly) being built would've been significantly reduced.



Structures built for such events are usually only ever intended to be temporary at the outset, but at least 2 major original buildings from the exhibition survive to this day (the former Palace of Arts and the former Palace of Engineering, the latter being dismantled and transported brick-by-brick to Prestwick Airport in 1940 by Scottish Aviation; the former remained at Bellahouston and is now a established sports centre).

 

[PTR 444]

Also not a building as such, but today’s South Today bulletin has just reported on the rebuilding of the Castlepoint car park in Bournemouth. It was originally completed in 2003 but had to temporarily close after two years due to numerous issues with the concrete structure. In 2014, the decision was taken to demolish and rebuild it, of which the final phase has been finished as of today.

 

[MP33]

There was a printing works built in London SE1 which was demolished after at the most 5 years. the reason may have been it was part of the Robert Maxwell empire.

 

[lyndhurst25]

Chapel Bank induction furnace plant at Workington steelworks. Completed in 1980 at a cost of over £10m, royal visit organised to open it, but was never brought into use and demolished in 1982.

CHAPEL BANK FOUNDRY AND INDUCTION FURNACE PLANT.

The Beginning Of The End...

For Chapel Bank, or Distington Engineering Company's foundry at Workington. It's 1980, and a British Steel recently-constructed induction furnace plant at Workington is just about to close before it has been commissioned. HRH Queen Elizabeth II was due to visit the town and officially open the...

www.flickr.com

There must have been many other industrial buildings during that era that met a similar fate.

 

[Dr Hoo]

Chapel Bank induction furnace plant at Workington steelworks. Completed in 1980 at a cost of over £10m, royal visit organised to open it, but was never brought into use and demolished in 1982.

Ah, yes, one of many sad victims after the 14-week steel strike in 1980. Almost certainly the shortest lived.

 

[D365]

Nene Park, Irthlingborough (Rushden & Diamonds and later Kettering Town) and the Don Valley Stadium (athletics, Sheffield Eagles RL, Rotherham United, Sheffield FC & others) are two more examples of modern sports grounds which didn't last all that long.

On a similar note - not a demolition, but I have been wondering why the "brown tourist signs" in the Sheffield vicinity have had the "Olympic Legacy Park" plated over...

 

[AY1975]

Vauxhall bus station - completed in 2004, demolition announced in 2013 and approved in 2020, though there doesn't seem to be any sign of work having started yet. I've set up a separate thread on this one in the Buses & Coaches section at https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/vauxhall-bus-station-demolition-on-hold.254488/

 

[Andy317345]

The Sainsbury's at Greenwich. Built in 1999 and was supposed to be a futuristic eco friendly supermarket. Demolished in 2014 to make way for a new IKEA.

 

[PTR 444]

The Sainsbury’s at Nine Elms was demolished to make way for the new Northern Line station. Wonder when that was built?

 

[Andy317345]

The Sainsbury’s at Nine Elms was demolished to make way for the new Northern Line station. Wonder when that was built?

Not too sure, looks like mid 80s to mid 90s to me

 

[Mcr Warrior]

The Sainsbury’s at Nine Elms was demolished to make way for the new Northern Line station. Wonder when that was built?

The original Sainsbury's at Nine Elms, London, which was demolished in the mid 2010s, had been there for over 30 years. (The opening date having been Tuesday 9th February 1982, apparently, this as determined by various adverts the month before for new part time shop staff).

 

[Strathclyder]

Quite a few of the least successful housing developments dating from the 60s/70s could qualify for this thread.

The 12 7-story deck access blocks of the Hutchesontown Area E development (known locally as Hutchie E) in the Gorbals area of Glasgow stand out however: opened in 1972 by Queen Elizabeth, finished in 1974, completely empty by 1982 and completely demolished by the end of 1987. The development also had two 24-story 'point' blocks that lasted until July 2013 when they were brought down via implosion.

Hutchesontown/Part Gorbals Comprehensive Development Area: Area 'E' | Tower Block

www.towerblock.eca.ed.ac.uk

Another Gorbals social housing scheme fits this thread, but isn't quite as extreme in terms of how short-lived it ended up being: Queen Elizabeth Square aka Hutchesontown Area E, designed by Basil Spence of Coventry Cathedral fame. Ready for occupancy in 1965, overhauled in 1987/1988, condemned and emptied in early 1993 and demolished in September that year, flying debris killing a spectator in the process and injuring four others (as it turned out, the demolition contractor had used twice the amount of explosives than was needed to bring the towers down).

On that note, am a bit surprised that Ronan Point hasn't been mentioned, though I can understand why given it's history. Was evacuated, then deconstructed in 1986 after serious concerns regarding it's structral integrity were raised. During this process, it was discovered that the extent of these defects would've brought the building down entirely in severe enough winds (like those experienced in the Great Storm of '87 barely a year after it was demolished).

 

[Merle Haggard]

I'm not sure of this assertion and I might be mistaken.

Some years ago a new waiting room was built on the Down platform at Market Harrbotough. It was some distance back from the platform edge and at an angle to the track alignment. If it was raining there was no shelter for passengers crossing the platform to join the train.The apparently eccentric location was, I thought, explained by 'it will be in the right position when we do the re-alignment for high speed'.

But, at some time during the recent re-modelling with that aim, it disappeared. There is a building on the down platform, but I'm pretty sure it's not the old one.

I may be completely wrong, I didn't take that much notice when the trains I was on stopped there - I would just like to know.

 

[swt_passenger]

I'm not sure of this assertion and I might be mistaken.

Some years ago a new waiting room was built on the Down platform at Market Harrbotough. It was some distance back from the platform edge and at an angle to the track alignment. If it was raining there was no shelter for passengers crossing the platform to join the train.The apparently eccentric location was, I thought, explained by 'it will be in the right position when we do the re-alignment for high speed'.

But, at some time during the recent re-modelling with that aim, it disappeared. There is a building on the down platform, but I'm pretty sure it's not the old one.

I may be completely wrong, I didn't take that much notice when the trains I was on stopped there - I would just like to know.

I think it was retained initially as it was also where the ramped access up from the station building appeared, but they’ve since added another bigger building further along the platform. The current Google aerial view shows it was still present at the time the realignment was complete and in use. But there’s also a later “Streetview“ across from the east side access road that shows the new brick building that you mention, and that is much larger; and the original building at the access has been rebuilt in brick and is now smaller than before.

The 2017-2019 “straightening” planning drawings show the earlier building being retained. So I think it might have been part of an additional separate project to provide better toilet facilities etc, and the various NR publicity pieces I’ve found suggest there was about a 3 year period when the original setup remained in use; however I can’t find a planning application for the new waiting room.