Photo Gallery
Property Developments
Croft Court 1976 - 2000
Ultimate 1960s clearance of all substandard Huthwaite properties exposed a vast development area spanning all the older Yards.
Built 1976 to provide council accommodation for an expected rising number of single elderly, Croft Court was an extensive complex later managed by Ashfield Homes. Comprising flats and bedsits all linked by a network of wheelchair accessible covered walkways, residents shared access to equipped communal facilities, or had rooms including alarms to alert warden care assistance.
This Main Street car park invited visitors, although foot entrances into connecting walkways were also found at various points off Swanson Avenue and Back Lane. My grandmother Mrs Walker spent her final years here, unfortunately not just among other elderly residents.
Frail residents noticed their sheltered corridors had soon attracted gangs of young drug users able to force quick escapes through a vandalised labyrinth. Frightening off other potential elderly retirees left vacant rooms to be filled by desperate younger cases only worsening problems. Police seemed overwhelmed and totally powerless stopping this antisocial behaviour, and while the concrete prefab clearly lacked repairs or even costly regular maintenance, its demise ultimately led to seeing 2000 demolition.
Back Lane
Another block of flats retained on the right between Back Lane and Swanson Avenue helped in rehousing. Fencing off the entire Croft Court safely began salvage operations, witnessing full site clearance by 2002. Much less time was apparently needed to then privately construct a very nice and quieter row of bungalows facing onto Back Lane.
Swanson Avenue
Clearing the central area allowed separate residential development by extending Swanson Avenue, lining both sides with similar type retirement bungalows. But where this steep roadway climbs off Main Street, an individual block of retirement care flats addressing Summerhill Court shares 1970s prefabricated designs.
Summerhill Court
Self contained care assisted flats suiting most dependant seniors are more readily sighted off Chesterfield Road. Built just after Croft Court and sharing those prefabricated designs used elsewhere around Ashfield, these replaced site of Wrights Yard after condemning old Harper Lane terracing. This complex took name by also replacing a private Summerhill House once stood topside.
12 Feb 13 by Gary Elliott Updated 26 Apr 13