One long thread I did at the other place was on shopping centre postcards. So, get ready for it again - I’ll try and add one each day. Tragically, they are all filed alphabetically. So, we start in Accrington, and an odd-looking clock outside Dixons in the Arndale Centre: - ThreadSky

lccmunicipal.bsky.social • 191 days ago

One long thread I did at the other place was on shopping centre postcards. So, get ready for it again - I’ll try and add one each day. Tragically, they are all filed alphabetically. So, we start in Accrington, and an odd-looking clock outside Dixons in the Arndale Centre:

Comments

gj19eighty.bsky.social•191 days ago

That clock was a thing of local wonder. On the hour on a Saturday afternoon, you couldn't move for families gawping upwards at that thing opening up (as it is the pic) and rotating round. Think it played a tune too

claudem1cel.bsky.social•45 days ago

That's old Dixons have gone years ago

lccmunicipal.bsky.social•191 days ago

A Bank Holiday bonus… Eastgate Shopping Centre, Basildon

lccmunicipal.bsky.social•191 days ago

Staying with Basildon we move from ‘90s glitzy mall vibe to a ‘60s New Town look. Here is the main shopping precinct dominated by the residential Brooke House tower block:

lccmunicipal.bsky.social•189 days ago

Harpur Shopping Centre, Bedford

lccmunicipal.bsky.social•189 days ago

A trip across the North Sea now: Beverwijk, Wijkerbaan. I love the lighting (see second pic for close up).

lccmunicipal.bsky.social•188 days ago

Four Brent Cross postcards incoming…. One of my earliest childhood memories is of a long car trip in the mid-70s from Sutton to Brent Cross to see the new shopping centre. This domed roof with its little rectangles of colour created a lasting impression.

anise44.bsky.social•188 days ago

Sitting on the wooden benches in the seating well, feeling the chill of the fountain and listening to its roar, while eating your packed sandwiches 🥰

lccmunicipal.bsky.social•188 days ago

Brent Cross 2

planningtransport.co.uk•188 days ago

I remember absurdly long drives to shopping centres and other retail novelties like SavaCentre. Past feels like another world.

kristen-super-mare.bsky.social•64 days ago

'And did Dave's feet, in 80s times
Walk on this precinct's concrete paths?'

@xxhi-its-lauraxx.bsky.social @perlalaloca.bsky.social
#DepecheMode

kennybrown131.bsky.social•106 days ago

I could’ve sworn that was Alexanderplatz a couple of weeks before the Berlin Wall came down

ipsumlorem.bsky.social•64 days ago

@perlalaloca.bsky.social Last time I went to Basildon , they had demolished most of the main shopping precinct (but not the residential block). Dammit, I miss it.

tracyh.bsky.social•107 days ago

This was one of my all time favourite threads in the other place. I spent many Saturdays as a child visiting Eastgate.
I thought the Owl & The Pussycat fountain was unique, your thread opened my eyes... why were fountains such a feature? Which shopping centre started this trend? Questions.

lccmunicipal.bsky.social•107 days ago

Thank you - it’s quite good fun getting to do it all over again! I think fountains were very much an American thing and were imported along with the idea of “the mall”. All the ones I can think of got boarded over very quickly though!

tracyh.bsky.social•107 days ago

I don't go there often now, but pretty sure the Eastgate one is still there. I can go down such a rabbit hole with these things.
I really do enjoy the pictures, the history, you must spend so much time collating and putting out there for us to see.

azlarryan.bsky.social•95 days ago

Really interesting places that seemed quite nice when actually looked after. This century hasn’t really left its mark on our towns and cities at all so far. Also didn’t see the old Drake Circus in Plymouth, no worries if you haven’t got that far or don’t have pictures.

cleminan.uk•187 days ago

I do hope Nottingham's Victoria Centre clock makes an appearance.

lccmunicipal.bsky.social•187 days ago

I have a way to go before I get to “N”. But fear not, it will make an appearance, as will the Broad Marsh Centre!

cleminan.uk•187 days ago

The sadly departed Broadmarsh Centre.

I can only wonder what a postcard would show, one of the nation's last Wimpeys? It's probably the caves.

omatt.bsky.social•166 days ago

That's what I'm here for as well

ladyliminal.bsky.social•188 days ago

There is nothing tragic about alphabetical organising 😉🙌

henrylong9.bsky.social•107 days ago

Great thread.

lccmunicipal.bsky.social•107 days ago

Many thanks!

deepbronzegreen.bsky.social•189 days ago

Following this with interest, these little snapshots of the recent past are fascinating.

warringtonruncorn.com•166 days ago

When I was writing the latest Warrington-Runcorn album, the initial concept was based on features from other New Towns and expanding the focus of the project.
This track was the first written and based on childhood experiences of the Concourse in Skelmersdale.
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=goJ84Mw316E&si=dMq98ghhYJ34rKSY

chriso1.bsky.social•166 days ago

Sadly my local new towns - Newton Aycliffe and Peterlee - are in a very sorry state these days.

warringtonruncorn.com•166 days ago

I wanted to tour the New Towns performing it, but it just didn’t seem feasible.

chriso1.bsky.social•166 days ago

Probably not much of a receptive audience. Lots of transient people being moved up here that don’t really have the ties that locals possess.

staceynwing.bsky.social•95 days ago

Thanks 🤗

lccmunicipal.bsky.social•94 days ago

Welcome aboard - what took you so long?

staceynwing.bsky.social•94 days ago

Aw thanks 🤗 wasn’t sure about joining it then @staceyharris.com mentioned it - hope you are keeping well x

Comments

Posting Rules

Reply