SeanF 12 Posted December 6, 2012 Report Share Posted December 6, 2012 Hello All, hope your all keeping well this weather? I'm hoping someone can help me with this question. Does any film footage exsist in relation to the "Grand" openings of the Victoria Shopping Centre and the Broadmarsh Shopping Centre???? I ask partly because I purchased sometime ago a Blu-ray copy of "Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush", and there was a feature that celebrated the new town centre of Stevenage. And after talking to a pal of mine who works for the BFi, he said that loads of this features were made in the 50's, 60's and early 70's, with town and city councils celebrating their leap into the world of modernism. It would be fascinating to get a snapshot of what the publics reaction was to both places Quote Link to post Share on other sites
letsavagoo 968 Posted December 6, 2012 Report Share Posted December 6, 2012 Sorry Sean but I do not know about film of the opening but I well remember the Victoria Centre being built. I was working at Raleigh as a 'gofor' in the design offices and used to go frequently to J E Wrights on Huntingdon Street for supplies. I used to walk through the Vic Centre while it was under construction. There were a series of passage ways through the site lit with strings of bulbs. I suspose with health and safety you wouldn't get this today but that is how it was. Looking back now I cannot understand why they did not keep the train station at this site building the shopping centre on top. Tunnels and bridges ready made directly out of the City. The site of Nottinghams only station is now placed out of the City Centre. As for film, I suggest you look here. http://www.macearchive.org/ I have aquired some Raleigh footage from them recently. Good luck. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
poohbear 1,360 Posted December 6, 2012 Report Share Posted December 6, 2012 The station had to go to provide the car parks.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
letsavagoo 968 Posted December 7, 2012 Report Share Posted December 7, 2012 Poohbear. For many years there was still the 'big hole' where the Mansfield Road tunnel exited where they could have made room for the station. For quite a while it was just left as unused space. It is only more recently that the car park has been extended into this area. I would think that a tunnel could have been run to the south under the centre to exit towards the Trent etc. Still it's done now but surely a central ststion would have been preferable. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
poohbear 1,360 Posted December 7, 2012 Report Share Posted December 7, 2012 In the early thirties the council built a ring road with the future in mind...at the time it was incredibly wide and way over the top for the traffic on the roads then...but someone had the common sense to look to the future. Unfortunately in the 50s and 60s these people were long gone and replaced by planners that didn't even look into the next week let alone the future. What an opportunity missed to use the existing railway lines and tunnels for trams...ready made routes from the outskirts of the city right into the center without further congestion on the roads. Pity the common sense of the thirties wasn't available thirty years later.All they thought about then was the great God motor car. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cliff Ton 10,547 Posted December 7, 2012 Report Share Posted December 7, 2012 The RCTS website have some great photos which I've mentioned before, and among them are pictures of the Victoria hole when the car park is under construction, the old station has almost gone, and a couple of running lines still exist. You realise that the planners could have accommodated a new, smaller station, kept some running lines, and still had a shopping centre and car park. Like this. The original extent of the car park (under construction), and the unused remainder of the hole which existed for many years. The famous footbridge through the roof of the station. And a slightly surreal shot showing a lack of station. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Limey 242 Posted December 7, 2012 Report Share Posted December 7, 2012 I may be wrong, but I seem to remember that when the Victoria Centre was first built, the trains were still running - and there was an area to the north, before the tunnel, that could easily have accommodated a small (commuter) station. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SeanF 12 Posted December 7, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2012 Many thanks folks for all your input and for the images. I did have a look at the M.A.C.E Archive and came across a video from 1964, where the architect discusses his plans for the revelopment. I was shocked that it was decided to develope the area that early - as I had always believed it was around 1968.... All in all I personally feel that it was a great shame that the people of Nottingham lost such a well loved building as the train station. But I do find it hard to undertand why it was demolished yet the Victoria Hotel survived. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ChrisB 150 Posted January 28, 2014 Report Share Posted January 28, 2014 When the centre gets it's 'makeover' with fancy new entrances on the corner and at the clock tower, perhaps there will be another Grand Opening (or re-opening) Everyone should be there with their cameras because it will be talked about on here in fifty years time! 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ChrisB 150 Posted January 28, 2014 Report Share Posted January 28, 2014 Broadmarsh More rubbish! How the centre could look - but most probably won't! Could create 2000 jobs, There could be up to 1000 people working there. These 'developers' make the most ridiculous claims because they know that stupid gullible councillors will fall for it every time. No one wants Broadmarsh now, that's obvious to anybody. Pull it down, reinstate Carrington Street, make it easier to reach the bus and rail stations and do everyone a favour! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
The Pianoman 1,541 Posted January 28, 2014 Report Share Posted January 28, 2014 If I were a shopkeeper in the Broadmarsh Centre at the moment I would be looking into getting a refund on my rent. No one seems to bother going in there. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bubblewrap 3,815 Posted January 29, 2014 Report Share Posted January 29, 2014 More rubbish! No one wants Broadmarsh now, that's obvious to anybody. Pull it down, reinstate Carrington Street, make it easier to reach the bus and rail stations and do everyone a favour! Could we have Drury Hill back too? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SeanF 12 Posted February 8, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 8, 2014 Agree completely with you ChrisB. And yes Bubblewrap Drury Hill would make a better addition than what is there now... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted October 26, 2016 Report Share Posted October 26, 2016 I took a day off school when Viccy Centre opened..not that much commotion to be honest..thought that an official day took place later..seem to recall a plaque and a velvet curtain? Had snuck in there one evening with my Mum..Liked Westerner and Western Jean Company. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
radfordred 6,284 Posted December 8, 2019 Report Share Posted December 8, 2019 Plans for 1975/76 Broadmarsh, check the all shops out? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cliff Ton 10,547 Posted December 8, 2019 Report Share Posted December 8, 2019 In the early years Broad Marsh Centre was much better than Vic Centre. It started to be neglected and go downhill in the late 90s. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
radfordred 6,284 Posted May 31, 2020 Report Share Posted May 31, 2020 Shush ...... the new plans for Broadmarsh & the reinstating of Drury Hill anyone not aware these are areas in Nottingham in the city centre Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cliff Ton 10,547 Posted May 31, 2020 Report Share Posted May 31, 2020 The rebuilding of Broad Marsh has come seriously unstuck. https://www.nottinghampost.com/news/nottingham-news/questions-over-intu-broadmarsh-future-4175682 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Stuart.C 497 Posted May 31, 2020 Report Share Posted May 31, 2020 I can save a Couple of Billion on Rad-Reds posted plan, the moment they start excavating they'll find all sorts of archaeological features that will delay the project. Maid Marion Way underpass or surface road won't be required at all if the volume of traffic into the city is going to be down due to lack of shoppers. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jill Sparrow 10,398 Posted May 31, 2020 Report Share Posted May 31, 2020 I wish they could put it back as it once was. Terrible acts of vandalism were committed in Nottingham. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beekay 5,261 Posted May 31, 2020 Report Share Posted May 31, 2020 At the back of my old grey matter, I vaguely remember before all that, when there was a row of Alms houses on, would it be Kirkwhite street., or the start of Arkwright street? I could have only been a toddler at the time. Don't know what I'd be doing down there or if I was with a parent. Wonder if CT has a picture of that time. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cliff Ton 10,547 Posted May 31, 2020 Report Share Posted May 31, 2020 The closest I can think of to that area might be the Burton Almshouses which could be seen from London Road at the Trent Bridge end. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beekay 5,261 Posted May 31, 2020 Report Share Posted May 31, 2020 They're the ones CT., thanks. You have clarified the name of the road. I'd forgotten about Carrington street. Arkwright street must have started at Canal street. So, so long ago. The Walter fountain was before my time, but I do remember the Alms houses. Also turn left into the old Broad marsh bus station, where one caught West Bridgford and Clifton buses. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cliff Ton 10,547 Posted May 31, 2020 Report Share Posted May 31, 2020 I remember them because some of the bus services from Clifton went over Trent Bridge and along London Road. Those almshouses were still there when I was a kid. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cliff Ton 10,547 Posted May 31, 2020 Report Share Posted May 31, 2020 On the subject of the opening of Broad Marsh Centre, this shows it as I remember it in those early days.....better than Vic Centre. https://www.nottinghampost.com/news/history/shops-were-broadmarsh-centre-opened-1037997 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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