Hardcore Valley Part 1 - Ashfield Valley Flats, Rochdale Greater Manchester.

Granada TV documentary made during the demolition of the infamous Ashfield Valley estate, Rochdale. early 1990s
Like many other estates built by local authorities to meet an increased housing demand back in the heady 1960s, the design ethic of Ashfield Valley was heavily influenced by French architect Le Corbusier and his utopian notion of "Streets in the Sky" - where deck access blocks of tenancies, interconnected by walkways would substitute and mimic traditional terraced streets- the idea being that community spirit and identity would be maintained and embraced - an aspect of life that traditional tower blocks were starting to become criticised for lacking; Ashfield Valley was an ambitious project for its time - over 1000 flats divided into 26 alphabetical blocks. It became known locally as "The Valley"
The flats went up . ...unfortunately the facilities and amenities that are essentially required to service the needs of over 1000 tenancies didn't follow and the project rapidly fell in somewhat of a decline - the estate started to become scapegoated by most Rochdalians . The Valley was viewed as a dumping ground This view was strongly reflected in the local media at the time .
The death knell for the Valley was inevitable. Despite some attempts to improve it that were too little too late, a strong community spirit and hints of a distinct counterculture developing -the bulldozers moved in essentially it had become Rochdale's ghetto and to most people who'd probabley never ever been to the place, a symbol of the failings of post war governments
The 3 smallest blocks of the Valley (J,K and L) remain - they have been renamed
I never actually lived on the Valley (ironically the council refused me a transfer there!) but spent at lot of time in the flats in the years towards its demise - its clear from its FaceBook page that despite its many problems a great number of people enjoyed their life on the Valley and look back on it with fond memories
RIP NORTI RASCAL
Check out my webpage its choc a block tower block
www.towerblockmetal.co.uk

[@PeterOwen88]

Rochdale was so beautiful back then!!!!!

[@Samspank]

omfg cant believe I lived there then .. like a dump in the third world but some awesome people x

[@mickyutjs]

great place to live in late 70s

[@treguard1982]

Very interesting. Thanks

[@minxious]

wow it's mad looking at it now me an my mates used 2 go there for an adventure as kids.I knew a few folk that lived on there!It looks great now though.

[@rochdaledirectory]

l remember living on Ashfield valley, it worked now we need more homes

[@jackywhipet]

its like that escape from new york film

[@SalfordUnCensored]

great documentary ,great people ...Cyril Smith..What a Joke ...

[@MarkLLynch]

I remember Ashey valley and some really good people and unfortunately a lot of dickheads.
When it was demolished a new council estate was built. Guinness trust. Enough said.

[@brogden100]

@marcsealey all the "shite"? my mother grew grew up on ashy valley , and to be honest she made herself a good life so u dont need to talk ur crap

[@tationzzz]

in rochdale where sandbrook park is now

[@MancstaSam]

Lol i grew up in hulme and remember them always comparing it with ashfield in rochdale..watching this documentary u cant really compare the 2 hulme was more inner city as this is out in the sticks lol..apart from the raised decked flats which look a bit similar theres no similarity..

[@azzadee321]

pheonix nights dj ray von at 3.23

[@rochdaledirectory]

for posterity Rochdales 80s

[@NikkiClo]

11:33 what is that?

[@hm07123]

where was the flats based i want to knw thanks

[@sparpunk]

Hulme cresents were much worse/better

[@PCH456469871278]

i love english folk. not this liquidised identity that we have to live with now. i dont know who i am!