More about Beecholme


Beecholme is also the first postwar "mixed development" housing scheme in Hackney, with a mixture of houses and flats with the taller block having five storeys and containing one-bedroom and bedsit accommodation. It is featured in Volume 15 of Hackney History and was the site of Beecholme House, the family home of Maj. John André (d. 1780), who was executed as a British spy in the American War of Independence.

Thursday 6 June 2013

New sculpted benches at Beecholme


The long awaited two new "sculpted" benches were completed and installed recently.

They co-ordinate with the first (installed in 2011) both in form and relative position on the square:




...and on a map of just the green:

Sculptor Tim Norris did all three and one of the reason the new ones took so long was that Tim was booked up with other work. We had to wait for a window in his busy schedule.

The wait was worth it though, as I'm sure you'll agree.





Here's one newly added 9th June:







                                                Photo above; Tim Norris

• See photo slideshow of the construction and installation in detail of the original sculpted bench here

• See the post with photos of the opening of the original bench and the press coverage here

My cartoon of the first bench installed in 2011:





• See some 60 photos in 4 sets on Flickr here

• See more of Tim's work including many other bench designs at
http://www.timnorris.co.uk/



   You may also be interested in the huge effect the Visual Environment Project has had over the last 6 or 7 years since we first started it, both to crime and anti-social behaviour as well as the increase in Quality of Life.


   See this presentation about the changes with before and after photos. 


    The simple fact is that if you give people something worth taking care of, they do just that - take care of it, whether its carpet or artwork on bins.

   Conversely they fight against an environment that degrades them in the eyes of others, like the worst council estates did in past years and some, unfortunately, still do (though not nearly as many in Clapton due to Mavis McGee and the Clapton Residents Panel, who does walkabouts with officers to demand things do get repaired and improved) 

David White
Secretary Beecholme TRA
Secretary Hackney Homes Clapton Residents Panel
Secretary Clapton Arts Trust



PS on a personal note:
   I haven't posted much lately due to a serious illness. I've been in and out of hospital and am currently in a hospice for pain relief before going home.

   So please bear with me if I've been slow in answering emails or relating info. Some days I can't do anything - my apologies.

   If there is anyone out there with a few hours a week who would like to take over any of my secretarial duties (for the Clapton Panel you need to be a Hackney Homes resident) please contact me at david@davidwhitedesign.co.uk

Thank you.
David.

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