Park Hall Flats Sheffield 2007/08/09

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Grenville’s ‘grand old lady’

To Grenville, Park Hill is a grand old lady who has “come on hard times. She just wants to wash her face and put on a new frock, and she’ll be out there!”

He affectionately calls the place his mistress: “She’s the only lady that’s called me from the marital bed at two in the morning and made demands,” he says.

Famed for his poetry, tv and radio appearances, and recently immortalised in a portrait by Urban Splash’s resident artist Gary Hindley, Grenville lived on the estate as a resident caretaker for 22 years and brought up his family there.

He retired as caretaker in January 2010 after 28 years service, and has many anecdotes – including saving the life of a resident who had collapsed against the inside of his front door and catching an escaped parakeet by climbing through the toilet window of a vacant flat.

Now settled in Manor Park, Grenville will not be saying goodbye completely to the Park Hill he loves.

“I’ll come down and see the old girl because she’s a lovely old lass. I think the community spirit will come back because of the way the flats are built, with the decked access. Sheffield people will talk to someone at a bus stop who they’ve never seen before in their life.”

These are images i got due to him giveing me access thanks..

Nice pics, GB. Well done for getting in there:thumb

I already have :(

You will struggle to squat in there moses.

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Originally Posted by silverstealth

You will struggle to squat in there moses.

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Indeed, just to note I was given access by the caretaker a good gent and kind, he said cool about taking images but publish when I have gone, now I have to chat up another person for access, there is security and it is a place not to be on your own with a camera, when I go it is with friends high vis and hard hart I would not venture there on my own or climb in though it can be done if you feel brave enough then message me where there is a will there is a means as they say, idd say well worth any effort to see before it gets tarted up etc..

Them diggers almost look like toys. Weird seeing it as only a shell now.

Here are some old silent documentary style videos of Park Hill before and after the flats where built:

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PART- PARK HILL SLUMS 1-5 (1950s) (Silent movie)

http://www.yfaonline.com/assetDetail...yword&start=11

PARK HILL HOUSING PROJECT (1962) (SIlent movie)

http://www.yfaonline.com/assetDetail...eyword&start=1

Wheres Park Hall? :p
Its a shame to see how its been stripped since we were last there. Awful place though, they should have flattened it like they do to so many nice buildings.

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Originally Posted by theoss

Is this the place you got in, but had to ring the bell at the secrurity shack to get out again??

The way I know is easy enough, but you may end up playing with trains if not careful.

Just to add, I partially agree with the caretaker's comment about Sheffield people, but I think much of that was lost along with the industry and it is just a little bit too multi cultural now.

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No i was given access..

I'd really like to have a good look round here before any more restoration. I've always loved this place. Here's a few I took on Boxing Day,

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Those gone and those remaining,

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That famous chimney,

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'You couldn't make it up'

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