Some brilliant new images of my project for the new Macmillan Unit at Tameside & Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust have come to light. It is always refreshing to see how others see your work & the space it was created for. In this instance I was very kindly given permission by Mike Hearle, European Digital Marketing Manager for Construction Specialties– to use images from their website. Construction Specialities supplied and installed the solid timber handrails running through the unit. Take a look …the artwork was digitally printed and installed by VGL. The project was delivered by IBI Group Architects and Willis Newson, the UK’s leading arts and health consultancy.
Tameside Hospital New Macmillan Unit. Artwork by Christopher Tipping. Image by kind permission of Construction SpecialitiesTameside Hospital New Macmillan Unit. Artwork by Christopher Tipping. Image by kind permission of Construction SpecialitiesTameside Hospital New Macmillan Unit. Artwork by Christopher Tipping. Image by kind permission of Construction SpecialitiesTameside Hospital New Macmillan Unit. Artwork by Christopher Tipping. Image by kind permission of Construction SpecialitiesTameside Hospital New Macmillan Unit. Artwork by Christopher Tipping. Image by kind permission of Construction SpecialitiesTameside Hospital New Macmillan Unit. Artwork by Christopher Tipping. Image by kind permission of Construction SpecialitiesTameside Hospital New Macmillan Unit. Artwork by Christopher Tipping. Image by kind permission of Construction SpecialitiesTameside Hospital New Macmillan Unit. Artwork by Christopher Tipping. Image by kind permission of Construction SpecialitiesTameside Hospital New Macmillan Unit. Artwork by Christopher Tipping. Image by kind permission of Construction SpecialitiesTameside Hospital New Macmillan Unit. Artwork by Christopher Tipping. Image by kind permission of Construction Specialities
OK – so better get a move on – realised I have already shown loads of images in the space of one hour’s walking ! With 5 more hours to go I had better move quickly on ! –
Map-like tracery on farm windows – Tameside Hospital New Macmillan Unit – Art Project Research Walk. Image: Christopher TippingStewart Ramsden looking back towards Ashton-Under-Lyne. Tameside Hospital New Macmillan Unit – Art Project Research Walk. Image: Christopher TippingStewart Ramsden – heading up the ridge path towards Wild Bank. Tameside Hospital New Macmillan Unit – Art Project Research Walk. Image: Christopher TippingJust after mid-day, both landscape and temperature changes are quite dramatic. Tameside Hospital New Macmillan Unit – Art Project Research Walk. Image: Christopher TippingThe path to the top ! Tameside Hospital New Macmillan Unit – Art Project Research Walk. Image: Christopher TippingTriangulation point at 399m summit of Wild Bank with 360 degree views. Tameside Hospital New Macmillan Unit – Art Project Research Walk. Image: Stewart RamsdenStewart at the summit with coffee ! The views are brilliant & images don’t do justice to them. Tameside Hospital New Macmillan Unit – Art Project Research Walk. Image: Christopher TippingTop of Wild Bank – Tameside Hospital New Macmillan Unit – Art Project Research Walk. Image: Christopher TippingBitterly cold up here, the ground is frozen. Can’t hang around. Tameside Hospital New Macmillan Unit – Art Project Research Walk. Image: Christopher Tipping
Tameside Hospital New Macmillan Unit – Art Project Research Walk. Image: Christopher Tipping12.39 – Tameside Hospital New Macmillan Unit – Art Project Research Walk. Image: Christopher TippingTameside Hospital New Macmillan Unit – Art Project Research Walk. Image: Christopher TippingTameside Hospital New Macmillan Unit – Art Project Research Walk. Image: Christopher TippingStone had been quarried here – Tameside Hospital New Macmillan Unit – Art Project Research Walk. Image: Christopher TippingHigher & Lower Swineshaw Reservoirs are now in view – Tameside Hospital New Macmillan Unit – Art Project Research Walk. Image: Christopher TippingSheltered and protected from the wind in the lee of this massive dry stone wall escarpment – Tameside Hospital New Macmillan Unit – Art Project Research Walk. Image: Christopher TippingTameside Hospital New Macmillan Unit – Art Project Research Walk. Image: Christopher TippingLower Swineshaw Reservoir in the distance – Tameside Hospital New Macmillan Unit – Art Project Research Walk. Image: Christopher TippingThree trees, a stile and a sign-post. Stopped for some lunch – Tameside Hospital New Macmillan Unit – Art Project Research Walk. Image: Christopher Tipping1.36pm Walking around Lees Hill. Tameside Hospital New Macmillan Unit – Art Project Research Walk. Image: Christopher TippingFantastic Moss and Lichens cover stones here…Tameside Hospital New Macmillan Unit – Art Project Research Walk. Image: Christopher TippingTameside Hospital New Macmillan Unit – Art Project Research Walk. Image: Christopher TippingArnfield Reservoir is just to the right of this image – Most of the land is criss-crossed with dry stone walls. Tameside Hospital New Macmillan Unit – Art Project Research Walk. Image: Christopher TippingDry stone wall turned green – Tameside Hospital New Macmillan Unit – Art Project Research Walk. Image: Christopher Tipping
Mature trees on path to Hollingworth Hall Farm – Tameside Hospital New Macmillan Unit – Art Project Research Walk. Image: Christopher TippingTameside Hospital New Macmillan Unit – Art Project Research Walk. Image: Christopher TippingTameside Hospital New Macmillan Unit – Art Project Research Walk. Image: Christopher TippingTameside Hospital New Macmillan Unit – Art Project Research Walk. Image: Christopher TippingLovely detail – Tameside Hospital New Macmillan Unit – Art Project Research Walk. Image: Christopher TippingHollingworth Hall Farm – Tameside Hospital New Macmillan Unit – Art Project Research Walk. Image: Christopher TippingHollingworth Hall Farm sign – Tameside Hospital New Macmillan Unit – Art Project Research Walk. Image: Christopher TippingPublic Footpath No. 198 Stalybridge via Shaw Moor. Tameside Hospital New Macmillan Unit – Art Project Research Walk. Image: Christopher TippingUp a narrow path between fields and on towards Moorside Farm – Tameside Hospital New Macmillan Unit – Art Project Research Walk. Image: Christopher Tipping
I have now made two visits to Merthyr Tydfil & am preparing to go up again this week for two days to meet with the project team and Capita, who will be delivering the Bus Station. Capita recently completed the The River Taff Central Link and Bridge – a new road system that connects Merthyr Learning Quarterat the existing Penry Street Bridge, through Avenue De Clichy, across the new road bridge located south of Swan Street, and via the new road in front of the College. The new bridge is a major landmark for the town.
The town centre is fascinating & has some wonderful architecture. Just remember to look up above the shop fronts to see the architectural detail! Key anchor buildings are still extant & a good deal of regeneration is breathing new life into these buildings and by default, back into the town centre. The RedHouse, an arts and cultural centre – in the former Town Hall – is a singular example of great regeneration practice & takes in the adjoining Penderyn Square – “As part of the Heritage Quarter development, a new civic square outside the renovated Old Town Hall will be a key focal point for the cultural identity of Merthyr Tydfil. The square will be a vibrant environment that will host events across the year celebrating the heritage of the town”.
I have done a lot of walking and am talking to whoever I can to enlighten me on the legacy and heritage of the town, but also about its aspiration and spirit for the future.
I have also been asked to contribute to a feasibility study commissioned by Merthyr Tydfil CBC, to look into replacing the existing footbridge link from the College, to St Tydfil’s Shopping Centre with a new footbridge which also extends to the site of the new Bus Station on Swan Street. The project is being delivered by Mott MacDonald & Knight Architects. This pedestrian connectivity is a critical element in unifying the accessibility of trains, buses and pedestrian routes in the town. It serves also to improve and build upon the visual impact a new footbridge may have as a landmark attraction and destination along the Taff Trail, bringing more tourists and visitors to the town centre.
The site of the new Bus Station on Swan Street. Image: Christoher Tipping
This site, on the corner of Swan Street and Avenue de Clichy was until recently, the home of the Hollies Health Centre, which has now moved to state of the art new facilities in the Keir Hardie Health Park at Cyfarthfa. The old buildings have now been demolished. The old Police Station – right & centre of picture, is also in process of demolition to make way for the Bus Station. The back of the St Tydfil’s Shopping Centre can be see on the left of this image.
The new Bus Station site as seen from the new River Taff Road bridge. Image: Christopher Tipping360 Panoramic image of the Swan Street site. Residential flats and two schools lie to the south of the site & a sensitive response is imperative. Image: Christopher TippingThe current Bus Station off Castle Street. Image: Christopher Tipping
This image looks grim, but to be fair, the weather on the day was dreadful ! If you turned around, the views out to the surrounding hills are great, even on a horrible day. Castle Street now leads onto the new River Taff Central Link Road at one end and the Redhouse at the other – both, great examples of the power of regeneration schemes in the town to make credible changes.
The College, Merthyr Tydfil, which opened on September 2nd 2013. Image: Christopher TippingPanoramic image of the College at Merthyr Tydfil showing the new road and extensive public realm. The River Taff footbridge is at the far right of this image. Image: Christopher Tipping
This area was the site of the former Ynysfach Ironworks, owned and run by the Crawshay Family of Cyfarthfa Ironworks. The new road seen running through the site above almost follows the path of the former Glamorganshire Canal,which was fully opennd in 1794 and declined progressively between 1898 & 1951. Much of the Canal route is now buried beneath the A470 Cardiff to Merthyr Tydfil Truck Rd.
The view upstream from the River Taff Footbridge. towards the Civic Centre. Image: Christopher Tipping
Where the River Taff meanders to the left in the above image and turns the corner, was the site of the Ynysgau Iron Bridge, one of the first Cast Iron Bridges built anywhere in the world, started in 1799 & completed in 1800. The bridge was designed and built by Watkins George, a brilliant engineer working for Richard Crawshay of CyfarthfaIronworks, known as the Iron King. The bridge was constructed for the workforce to cross the Taff to reach the Ironworks. It was dismantled in 1963 and is now stored by Merthyr Tydfil CBC.
Sections and details of the Ynysgau Iron Bridge, dismantled in 1963 and now stored by Merthyr Tydfil CBC. Image: Christopher Tipping
Communications and advances in transport were critical factors behind the expansion of Iron production during the Industrial Revolution. Natural water supplies found in the Taff and its tributaries & streams provided the source of power, but this had to be managed and controlled. Innovation and technological advances were the powerhouses.
Merthyr Tydfil may no longer claim to be the Iron Capitol of the world, but transport and innovation continues to be the catalyst for change in the area.
The River Taff footbridge crosses just below the weir from the College to St Tydfils Shopping Centre. Image: Christopher TippingThe footbridge was built in the early 1970’s but wasn’t always covered. The bridge spans not only the River Taff, but the Avenue de Clichy & Wilkinson’s Carpark . Image: Christopher TippingLooking downstream from the footbridge the views change between retail carpark, highway and river. Image: Christopher Tipping
This distinct zoning of views as one crosses the bridge could also change considerable during the year. It’s a great feature from where to see the town – its downfall being that it isn’t particularly good to look at ! A new footbridge would have the potential to exploit this fact too and make the most of the opportunities presented.
Such a blue-sky day in Ramsgate on Saturday, we went for a walk along the West Cliff.
Ramsgate West Cliff Beach, Image: Christopher TippingRamsgate West Cliff Beach, Image: Christopher TippingChristopher Tipping on Ramsgate West Cliff Beach, Image: Shelly GoldsmithWest Cliff Boating Pool & The Monkey House, Ramsgate. Image: Christopher TippingWest Cliff Boating Pool & The Monkey House, Ramsgate. Image: Christopher TippingWest Cliff Boating Pool – Swan Boats resting. The Monkey House, Ramsgate. Image: Christopher Tipping
