Chalkhill Estate
Chalkhill Estateis located in theWembley Parkarea ofnorth-west London.It was originally one of three largecouncil estatesbuilt in theLondon Borough of Brentby the early 1970s, along withStonebridgeandSouth Kilburn.The design was based on that ofPark Hill in Sheffield.The high-rise estate was demolished by 2000 and gradually replaced by new low-rise builds.
Location
[edit]The estate is located just east ofWembley Park tube stationand adjacent of the formerBrent Town Hall.It is divided from the Stadium Industrial Estate and the developments aroundWembley Stadiumbecause of theMetropolitan line/Jubilee line/Chiltern Main Linerailway tracks to the south. The Stadium area and alsoNeasdento the east are still easily accessible through the main roads - Bridge Road, Forty Lane, and Blackbird Hill, the latter of which forms part of the NW9 postcode.
Political basis
[edit]The acquisition of the land to build the Chalkhill Estate was one of the first examples ofeminent domain,or compulsory purchase. Many larger semi-detached and detached houses with large gardens lining the road opposite Brent Town Hall were demolished to build Chalkhill. This led to charges of a deliberate manipulation of area demographics so that Brent North – traditionally Conservative voting – would become a marginalparliamentary constituency,with the goal of a Labour-controlled council returning a Labour MP. This proved to be incorrect asRhodes Boyson,a Conservative, was returned as MP from 1974 until 1997.
Establishment
[edit]
Chalkhill was originally a manor in the ancient parish ofKingsburyin the county ofMiddlesex.[1]Chalkhill Estate was then developed as aMetrolandestate from 1921, but it was between 1966 and 1970 that the high density, high-rise council estate providingflats,shops,amedical centre,car parkingandopen spacewas built.
Dwellings consisted of single-storey one and two-bedroom flats, and larger two-storey family homes. The high-rise blocks were linked via high-floor open walkways, called "walkways in the sky". Walkways were affectionately named Goldbeaters Walk, Greenrigg Walk, Redcliffe Walk and Bluebird Walk.
In total there were about 1900 houses and flats.[2]Chalkhill Estate also contained recreational facilities for children and the elderly, such as playgrounds and seating areas with flower beds, much like apublic park.[3]
All dwellings had what was quite modern technology at the time, includingcentral heatingand "Garchey"systems (a waste-disposal machine in the kitchen sink).
Reputation and decline
[edit]
In its initial years, Chalkhill Estate was viewed as one of the finest housing projects of Britain.[4]By the late-1970s, however, crime was taking root. Local shops were frequently robbed. The neighbourhood around Chalkhill was deteriorating, and criminal activities in the area soon seeped into the estate. The praised "walkways in the sky" became convenient quick escape routes for criminals.
Milkmen, who had previously delivered to residents' doors, had to restrict operations due to the uptick of robberies. The buildings were decaying. Lifts weren't always operational, and the ones that worked often had a stench of urine. Residents had no other option but to walk up dozens of flights of poorly lit concrete stairs. The two high-rise car parks were just as dangerous, rife with car thefts and drug deals.
The recreational facilities suffered as well. Children's' play areas, such as the paddling pool and sandpit, became unsafe due to the prevalence of broken glass. The flower beds and seating areas for the elderly were destroyed as fast as they were repaired. Gradually these facilities were decommissioned or replaced, only to be vandalised once again.
The 1980s brought safety initiatives such as door entry systems and walkway closures, but did little to deter crime and overall deterioration. By the 1990s, Chalkhill Estate (along with several other local housing estates) was infested with drugs and gangs.
Redevelopment
[edit]The current Chalkhill estate has experienced a major modernisation that matches the rest of Wembley Park. New buildings and modernised architecture replaced the estate.
The 1,900 houses and flats were demolished in 1997, and a new low-rise estate was planned as replacement. Some of the old estate land was sold toAsda,who then built a large supermarket that opened in March 1999.
The first phase of the new low-rise estate was completed in 2000 and the final homes completed in 2003.[5][6][7]The full project was not completed until 2009, when the Welford community centre and its adjacent apartments were ready for occupancy.[8]
Despite the new layout and buildings, crime remained and gang presence increased. Multiple Chalkhill-area gangs arose, such as Crack Hill Mob and Chalk Hill Boys. The Press Road Crew remained notorious for crime in Chalkhill and surrounding areas. In 2003, seven members of the gang, with 100 convictions between them, were issuedASBOs.[9]Rivalry between the Press Road Crew andSouth Kilburngangs resulted in the murder of 29-year-old Jason Greene in 2006.[10]
There was an increase in reported incidents of youth robberies, shootings, and drug raids on the revamped estate throughout 2009–10. In January 2010, a young man was shot on the estate and left with a fractured skull after an incident on Chalkhill Road.[11]
In 2011, three high-ranking members of a £20m drugs network, which includedCharlotte Church's former lover Kyle Johnson, were jailed for a total of 22 years. During the police operation, £6m worth of heroin was recovered from a home on Chalkhill Road and in a nearby flat.[12]
Despite all the criminal elements that have plagued Chalkhill, some aspects are seeing improvement. The high-achieving Chalkhill Primary School and Chalkhill Park (completed in 2012) have garnered praise, and a local cafe called The Lounge was unexpectedly voted the best restaurant in all of London onTripAdvisorin 2018.[13][14]
Culture
[edit]Chalkhill Community Radio was launched in 2018. Love Chalkhill Festival is a public annual summer event.[15]
Notable residents
[edit]References
[edit]- ^"Chalkhill | Hidden London".
- ^Grant, Philip."Chalkhill – 1,000 Years of History"(PDF).Brent Council.Retrieved4 April2016.
- ^"Chalkhill Estate: Brent 1970-1979".British Pathe. 1975.Retrieved4 April2016.
- ^Cunningham, John (5 July 2000)."Estate of flux".The Guardian.ISSN0261-3077.Retrieved2 June2020.
- ^"Chalkhill Redevelopment Project: Summary of the regeneration project".Brent.gov.uk. 2 July 2011.Retrieved24 June2012.
- ^"Hidden London".Hidden London. 2005–2010.Retrieved24 June2012.
- ^"Chalkhill | Hidden London".hidden-london.com.Retrieved2 June2020.
- ^Grant, Philip (November 2012)."Chalkhill–1,000 years of history"(PDF).brent.gov.uk.Retrieved2 June2020.
- ^Moulds, Josephine (26 August 2008)."Five years on, did first mass asbo succeed?".The Guardian.ISSN0261-3077.Retrieved2 June2020.
- ^"Guns are not the way to solve problems".BBC. 14 November 2007.Retrieved24 June2012.
- ^"Man in serious condition after New Year shooting".Harrow Observer.6 January 2010.Retrieved24 October2012.
- ^"List of North West London Gangs — Chalkhill Estate".www.londonstreetgangs.com. p. Side bar > List of North West London Gangs > Crack Hill Mob. Archived fromthe originalon 22 March 2012.Retrieved18 January2019.
- ^"The Lounge Cafe: The Wembley Cafe That Has Been Voted London's Best Restaurant".Secret London.12 April 2018.Retrieved2 June2020.
- ^Francis, Martin (3 April 2017)."WEMBLEY MATTERS: A great eating place in Chalkhill, Wembley".WEMBLEY MATTERS.Retrieved2 June2020.
- ^"Chalkhill Community Radio developed to showcase talents celebrates first anniversary".3 June 2019.
- ^"Sophie Okonedo: On her way from Wembley".The Jewish Chronicle.7 October 2016.Retrieved2 August2020.
- ^"MTV Music".Archived fromthe originalon 13 March 2014.
