A couple of weeks ago we had a wee discussion about a 1960's New Town near Glasgow called Cumbernauld. Well recently I was in the vicinity so took some photo's. It's a pretty bleak place now The centre itself is due to be demolished in the next couple of years. I'm going along to a talk about its brutalist architecture this week and the launch of a new book on it, should be interesting. The circular windows used to house office suites on one side and penthouse apartments on the other. I remember visiting a Public Domain software company several times in them back during the ST and Amiga days. Further along from the office windows. That roof needs mowed! The centre was split into two with a covered walkway and a bridge over the centre roads. I remember catching the bus back to my old house in Glasgow from the section on the left right were that double decker is sitting. The centre also included a nightclub, library, nursery etc in the block below. One of the things I remember most about Cumbernauld was the church buildings. A lot of them had pointy spires like this one. Made them very easy to spot. And there was a lot of ornamental brickwork like the curved piece you see here. Ideal for a wee boy wanting to play on.... Inside one of the little used office sections Considering this shot was taken on a weekend there's not many people about. Shops now mainly consist of charity shops and few independents. I'm surprised Argos are still there. Like something out of a Star Wars movie.... Spot the church spire....
Cumbernaulds most famous claim to faim is that it was the location for the filming of Gregory's Girl, a classic 1980's film. Not sure if it was as big down in England, but it is still one of the best loved films of the decade up here.
It looks like the end of the world in that Cumbernauld shopping centre, Al - like you are the last man standing in there and everyone else has been vapourised/beamed up to the mothership. You deffo get a strong whiff of "failed architectural Brave New World" concept. What a shame it's all gone to rack n ruin and yes, odd to see the chotch spires amongst this post-modernist bleak dystopian landscape. You have some interesting retro memories of the place recalled here, eg the ST/Amiga PD library and Gregory's Girl was my fave film from north of the border throughout the entire 80s and there's a bit of me that still lurves the filim... wonder which bit?! Clare Grogan will always be one of my fantasies and Dee shouldn't be overlooked either!! Lovely memories, Al. Great film if you aint seen it yet, guys.
