Darlaston today, from Bing! Maps. Click for a larger version.
Here’s a fine thing indeed from reader Tony Martin. Tony, you’ll remember, has made great contributions to the blog before on the subject of busses and other stuff, and he also unearthed the stunning Walsall Power Station open day pamphlet a few weeks ago.
I know it’s off the usual territory, but I do love Darlaston and spend lots of time there. It’s a place of fascinating history and architecture, and it’s very close to my heart.
Tony sent me the following as three images last week and I have to say, they’re fascinating. I love town planning stuff and civic models, and it’s interesting to see how different this projection is from what actually happened. I stitched the wide image together from two scans, so apologies of the blurs on the join.
Tony said:
Hello Bob
Out of your zone, but there is life beyond the M6!
The same clean out that produced the Power Station leaflet, brought up this leaflet that was produced by Darlaston UDC c1962.
It planned the wholesale demolition of the town centre and while some of this happened, the plan never came to fruition,
Tony Martin
What a wonderful thing, clearly the product of a more open, optimistic era, and huge thanks to Tony for taking the time to scan and share it.
Talking of such things, I’m still after a copy of the ‘Blue Book’ – the late 70s Unitary Development Plan sent to every house in Aldridge and Brownhills, that was somewhat controversial in the day.
If anyone knows of a copy, please do give me a shout, it would be lovely to have it available for posterity.
Oh, brave new world. Early sixties town planning futurism kindly supplied by Tony Martin.
I’m not sure any of this really happened at all. Note Rectory Street actually ceased to exist. Image kindly supplied by Tony Martin. Please click for a larger version.