September 10th – I was busy with technical stuff all day and finally got out as darkness fell. I spun up the High Street into Brownhills, up to Anchor Bridge, and back via Catshill Junction and Silver Street, catching the lights on the canal in all their unexpected splendour.
I love that view. The tower blocks across the old marketplace didn’t work out to badly, either…
May 16th – I notice the exterior works on the two remaining tower blocks in Brownhills are nearing completion. On Humphries house, seen here from Catshill Junction, the worker’s platform lifts are being dismantled. I’m still not fond of the colour scheme: Most of the building has been painted brilliant white, with the north-eastern faces a slate blue. I think it’s hideous, and looks unfinished. I note the two new flues running up the southern wall, which are from the new biomass communal heating plant… an interesting idea. Let’s hope it’s more reliable than the similarly ‘revolutionary’ underfloor heating installed when the flats were built.
Last time I posted on this subject, I was jumped on by someone whose relatives were apparently overjoyed to be living in these flats. Funny how the fiercest advocates of these design disasters never actually live in them themselves…
March 10th – Oh dear. Humphries House and Severn House, the last two extant tower blocks in Brownhills have been extensively renovated, and have been reclad to provide better insulation and to prolong their life. It’s been a bit of a mystery what colour they were going to be – they were originally skinned in an off-white media. It seems our question has now been answered; Humphries House is to be a vivid blue and Severn House a glowing pink. Does that mean one will be for fellas and one for the girls?
Have to say, that’s bloody horrible. Yuck.
BrownhillsBob's #365daysofbiking 