THE EXCALIBUR PREFAB ESTATE
On 15th March, in superb spring
weather, a splendid two hour organized walk took place round the estate. There
was scant publicity but an embarrassing number of people turned up - from as
far afield as Scotland. Despite much press publicity about bulldozing, it turned
out that almost no prefabs have actually been demolished, so far. Areas have been cleared of their occupants
and groups of empty prefabs are now hidden behind black hoardings, but they are
almost all still there.
On this estate there were two
types of prefabs and six, in the most original condition, have been listed
grade II. Lewisham Council have complained that English Heritage is
irresponsible. The Excalibar estate is in poor condition and the land is urgently
required to build new homes for needy and deserving people.
Some residents love their prefabs;
they remember the old slogan - popular at the time prefabs were built - 'an Englishman's home is his castle' and are
determined to stay. The Estate still has a bit of its old secluded atmosphere.
It is relatively traffic free and as well as roads, pedestrian walkways run
between some of the bungalows. Pay a visit while you still can. A prefab museum
has been opened at
17 Meliot Road SE6.
See:
https://www.facebook.com/PalacesForThePeople
1 comment:
I live nearby and have been documenting the estate for a while - these are my pictures http://www.flickr.com/photos/clogsilk/sets/72157642629837185/
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