Demolition of Aid and Abet

http://idox.cambridge.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do...

It's been on the cards for a while with the Station Road development but the planning application for the loss of the Aid and Abet building has finally come in.

I assume they are going to relocate elsewhere, like their exhibition at Kettles Yard?

Aw, more old railway buildings going. I know they don't have much purpose, but I like the fact they're there.

Just found this. This pleases me:

http://www.nrm.org.uk/ourcollection/photo?group=Liverpool%20Street&obj...

Yes, sadly I heard last week that they will basically get no more than their three-year lease 2011-14. Was hoping for cb1 to be 'Forever Under Construction', but it was becoming obvious the development was proceeding pretty quickly now.

Aid & Abet have existed as an organisation since 2009, independent of that specific space, as you say, but I don't know what their plans are yet, apart from making the most of the space this year (re-opening 15th March, with the appropriately titled 'We Object!').

Here it is last time it was at the end of its working life. I bet they didn't expect it to last another 60 years.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/86020500@N06/7984879830/in/faves-28890729...

Do you have any links to pics of the platforms between spillers mill and the London line?

I can't look right now, but there are quite a lot of pictures taken as you come into the station from the London direction. A lot of the images are quite hard to make out though with all the soot and steam. Would these have been the Oxford-Cambridge railway platforms?

Yeah.

I've found it hard to find photos of that sort of thing so I would also be interested. It took me ages to find a photo of Cambridge Station in the early 20th century before they filled in the arches with glass.

And here's the plan for Station Road again:
http://www.brookgate.eu/images/uploads/cb1_plan.jpg

Basically the only bit of Station Road which isn't going to be demolished and replaced are the language schools to the North at the Hills Road end, the Station itself and the Foster Mill.

This is one of the images I was thinking of SB___, although it's difficult to make out much near the station itself. The mill is almost the only recognisable landmark.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Cambridge_Station_panoramic_view_nor...

1978, platforms still there outside the mill, although service was obviously over:
http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1628842

I think the library have got a home movie or other minor film featuring the Bletchley train arriving or leaving Cambridge if you've got the persistence to get access to it.

I've got a very good historical large scale map of Cambridge Station from the 1920's on my work computer. It is quite amazing to see how large the arrangement of sidings, engine sheds, turntables and other bits are. Nearly all of it has been cleared and flats built on it now.

My dad has millions of cine films of the station from when he worked there including the elephants from the circus arriving on the platform and the Sleep Hotel when it was used for railway offices. There was a replica of the station ticket hall equipment inside in case there was a bomb in various wars. When station was overhauled in the 1980's when the Lord Bryon bar went and the false ceiling was removed in the hall, he worked in the basement for a while. I know he'd love to see the map SR and I'll have to send him over the links.

Now I'm freelancing and around more, I will nag him to do something with the films. I am sure they are of interest.

You've got a PM about the map. I'd love to see the films.

You can see quite a lot of railway footage on the East Anglian Film Archive (including a really good one of March sidings), but none of Cambridge sadly. http://www.eafa.org.uk/

DC, i'd love to see those cine films!

I'd also love to see these films -- they sound pretty unique. Cambridge Super-8 society help people to watch and digitise their old cine films -- I can ask them if it helps.

I had a look in the East Anglian Film Archive earlier in the week and there isn't really any more than a quick shot of Cambridge station, with soot-covered mill in 1944, but also an amateur feature film with a car chase involving Barnwell Junction station:

http://www.eafa.org.uk/catalogue/216907
(68:30-70:30 mins in)

How on earth did you manage to find that BT? Brilliant!

DEMOLITION show at Aid & Abet, 13-22 Feb, by Aid & Abet associate artists.

http://www.wereallneighbours.co.uk/cambridge_events/event.php?id=11382...

I've managed to get permission from Greater Anglia to photograph the site with a view to recording the history of them through my dad and his friends who worked at the station under BR. I hope I can get something of the demolition if I can stomach seeing it go. I know them so well, it's really sad. Wilton Terrace is a crime.

I'd like to see that footage after you get it, although it's going to be difficult to watch it go.

I found something on the developers' website noting how the industrial buildings were saved in 1993 and that by saving the remains of the mill they are implementing that. Erm ...

http://www.cb1cambridge.eu/heritage

Did you ever get anywhere persuading your dad to let you see/transfer the films? I'm doing the final event at Aid & Abet (after the show listed above -- a one-day festival called monomania). It would be great to see them by then and I'm sure Cambridge Super-8 would be interested to help screen or transfer them. OK, enough nagging :-)

The only reason that they saved the Foster Mill was because it was the only building on the site that was listed. And someone tried to get rid of that by burning it down...

I would also like to see the films if was ever completed.

I have nagged him again but my mum is in very poor health and waiting for an op so he's been otherwise occupied looking after her. I've suggested it's a good way for her to spend her convalescence, sorting out his films! I did find someone through Super 8 to help us.

We do have the elephants from the circus somewhere which I thought I made up in my head.

Thanks a lot for the update dc. Sorry to hear about your mum -- hope the op goes well. Good to hear Super-8 have offered to help. I'll leave you to it.

Today!

:-(

Lots of pictures of the old station buildings over the past 6-7 months, including today's demolition of the old Aid & Abet building:

https://flic.kr/s/aHsjXooQNG

Shame. I saw it was all fenced off and the old cycle shop was half gone on Sunday. I guessed aid and abet wasn't long for this world, at least in terms of the old building.

Went past this this morning, it's now half gone - at that distressing stage where you can see the old rooms inside and remember all that happened there, but you know it's the last time you'll see it.

I'll be more sad to see the Citylife building demolished. Been in there a lot in over the years

Is the Citylife building going then?

Yes, the barriers are up around Citylife is already being dismantled. It is being demolished to provide yet more student accommodation.

I went past Citylife last night and saw the barriers. I lived on York Street for about 3 years in the early 00's so I have fond memories of attending various gigs here around this time.