IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Brightmore Drive, SHEFFIELD, S3 7NG

Part of the Netherthorpe complex built in 1962. The 41 metre tower at 2-112 Mitchell Street was refurbished in 1998, when it received its current white and dark blue cladding. Crawshaw has 15 floors, 14 of them residential; containing 56 two-bedroom apartments.

The University of Sheffield's Arts Tower from the steps that connect Bolsover Street and two Council-owned tower blocks, Robertshaw and Crawshaw, on the Netherthorpe estate. This tower is home to a rare paternoster lift without doors and that moves continually without stopping at floor level. Also, now that the University of Leicester has closed its paternoster lift it is one of only two left in the UK. Built over 40 years ago by the Schindler Lifts, it is the tallest of its kind in Europe with 38 two-person cars. It travels to the top of building's 22 stories and a journey between two floors takes just 13 seconds. It allows 76 people to be moved up and down the Arts Tower at any one time, i.e. more than a double decker bus. In terms of the tower's location, University Square roundabout lies 15-20 metres behind the photographer, whilst the suburb of Walkley lies ahead.

This picture shows three of the four Netherthorpe Tower blocks which stand alongside, but not accessible from, Sheffield's Inner Ring Road. The nearest is Adamfield, then Robertshaw, then Crawshaw. A fourth block - Cornhill - is off picture to the left. These Tower Blocks were built in 1962 - to 'tie in' with the building of the Inner Ring Road - and were all re-furbished in 1998. For view the opposite way … see … Image

The demolition of Victorian terraced housing in Netherthorpe began in 1956 as part of the redevelopment of an area of 48.5 hectares and new council owned dwellings were constructed in phases between 1959-1972. These included four tower blocks that were completed in 1962, these two being named Robertshaw and Crawshaw. All four were re-clad in a blue and cream colour scheme, and improved, in 1998. This dual carriageway, together with a central section of tram tracks, links University Square roundabout (behind the photographer) with Infirmary Road.

Housing the Department of Chemistry.

The Arts Tower is a building at 12 Bolsover Street in Sheffield belonging to the University of Sheffield and opened in 1966. English Heritage has called it "the most elegant university tower block in Britain of its period". At 255 feet (78 m) tall it is the second tallest building in the city, after the 101 m, St Paul's Tower on Arundel Gate, which was topped out in 2009. It is also the tallest university building in the UK. Viewed from the temporary Sheffield Wheel on Fargate in October 2010.

For more information about the Tower Blocks … see … Image See also … Image

When descending the Brook Hill dual-carriageway section of the A57 in a city-bound direction it is almost impossible not to be struck by the differing ages and architectural styles of the two wings of the Dainton Building. The older wing is named after Sir Frederick Dainton (1914-97), the Sheffield-born academic chemist and former Chancellor of the University of Sheffield and the newer east wing, after Sir Richard Roberts (born Derby, 1943), a biochemist and molecular biologist who was awarded the 1993 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Phillip Allen Sharp. Note the damage to the paintwork and railings caused by the traffic-related chemical deposits in the atmosphere arising on this normally busy stretch of road; a somewhat poignant chemical reminder outside these buildings.

Looking across Brook Hill (A57) towards the Dainton Building and the Richard Roberts Building which house the University's Chemistry Department. See Image] for a similar view taken 40 years previously. As well as the obvious changes to the far (Richard Roberts) building, the bus stop outside the Dainton building has been moved, the metal fencing has been extended and the road has also acquired double yellow lines so the modern picture doesn't have any parked cars.