The Towers Killingworth

the eye-catching , radical aspect of township 3-tier housing estate called killingworth towers – apartment blocks built in 1970s. tenanted local authority, made of dark grey concrete blocks , named bamburgh, kielder , ford tower etc., after castles. consisted of combination of 1, 2 , 3 storey homes built on top of each other rising 10 storeys in towers, tremendous views.

the estate designed mimic medieval castle outer wall , inner keep connected lifts , rubbish chutes ramps , two-tier walkway (see gallery). design seen on maps of towers imprinted on cast-iron drain covers within estate. walkways led ¼ mile-long elevated walkway leading straight through covered killingworth citadel shopping centre. communal configuration experimental , typical of time.

decline

the concept create community interaction, large parks in grasslands around towers , adult social clubs. design did not live expectations , estate started , feel prison rather castle introduction of measures stop anti-social behaviour youths congregating within tower instead of in parks.

grating retrofitted prevent risk takers sliding down 100 ft high girders holding walkways. cast iron grills erected stop transit over-exuberant youths racing bikes , skateboards along smooth walkway racetrack . dogs fouled walkways, rubbish chutes blocked, vandals damaged communal bins, stairwells, lifts , multi-storey residential car parks joined list of problems. towers never popular , demolished in 1987.

the last remaining eyesore, walkway shops, demolished served no purpose after towers demise, stood alone 10 years until funds found bring down.

the land occupied 2 new estates of privately owned homes built cussins homes , barratt homes.