Bill Stephenson | Hyde Park Flats, 1988
Bill Stephenson’s portraits of the last residents of Hyde Park Flats, Sheffield, 1988. Taken from his acclaimed ‘Streets In The Sky’ series.
Hyde Park and Park Hill was the largest social housing estate of its type in Europe, built on one of Sheffield’s seven hills. The development was divided into two distinct areas: the low rise Park Hill Flats and the high rise tower blocks called Hyde Park. The development had dominated Sheffield’s skyline for over thirty years.
Photo © Bill Stephenson, all rights reserved.
Leroy Edwards age 14 and friend in the children’s play area.
Photo © Bill Stephenson, all rights reserved.
Boys playing football during the summer holidays in St John’s C of E primary school playground.
Photo © Bill Stephenson, all rights reserved.
Couple on their way to the nearby canal basin carrying fishing nets, sandwiches, and pop for a picnic. Their three children cannot wait and are playing ahead of them.
Photo © Bill Stephenson, all rights reserved.
Kenneth Brisset age 14 and sister age 3, on a 4th story parapet.
Photo © Bill Stephenson, all rights reserved.
Sue, the owner of Sue’s shop. Despite the shop being regularly pilfered, she provided a life line to many tenants by providing ‘strap’ (derived from ‘strapped for cash’). Strap was a short term loan made to customers who cannot pay immediately. Defaulters names and their debt were eventually written on cards and placed in the shop window.
Photo © Bill Stephenson, all rights reserved.
Sunburnt Nicky McQuillian age 4, buys a Cornetto at Sue’s Shop.
Photo © Bill Stephenson, all rights reserved.
Donna Hargreaves and Carmen Bello both age 14, sit on a 4th storey concrete parapet. It was usual to see young people sunbathing on these balconies catching the last of the days sunshine.
Photo © Bill Stephenson, all rights reserved.
Shirley Edwards, Sonja Marples both aged 17 and Kenneth Brissit age 14, near Manor Oaks Road at the rear of Hyde Park. The girls are posing as models. To the girls annoyance they being ‘trailed’ around the estate by Kenneth.
Photo © Bill Stephenson, all rights reserved.
Jean, Eric Maybury and granddaughter Naomi age 6. Jean is the Secretary and Publicity Officer for the Hyde Park Tenants Association.
“Despite the neglected condition of the building and increasing anti-social behaviour at that time, I found a close community reluctant to be broken up and dispersed throughout other housing estates in Sheffield. I did not meet a single resident who wanted to be rehoused, despite the condition of the flats, they considered Hyde Park to be their home, and also a significant landmark and were proud to be tenants in such a prominent building overlooking Sheffield.” – Bill Stephenson.
Photo © Bill Stephenson, all rights reserved.
Roller skating paper delivery girls Anita Cutts and Emma Guirham.
Photo © Bill Stephenson, all rights reserved.
Faisal and Sarah find romance by a service lift.
Photo © Bill Stephenson, all rights reserved.
Rachel Davies with bruised face after fighting with her sister.
Photo © Bill Stephenson, all rights reserved.
Sisters Nola and Noel outside the Samuel Plimsoll pub.
Photo © Bill Stephenson, all rights reserved.
Man with fighting dog.
Photo © Bill Stephenson, all rights reserved.
Woman on her way across ‘the bridge’ between tower blocks. She is carrying sweets, pop and biscuits to a children’s party.
Photo © Bill Stephenson, all rights reserved.
Tony ‘The Ton’ Greaves and Martin age 8, outside the ‘Pop In’ centre. The young kids at Hyde Park looked up to Tony as a role model and was nick named ‘The Ton’ as they believed he could lift a ton weight.
Photo © Bill Stephenson, all rights reserved.
Peter Marples on his BMX bike en route to Sue’s shop.
Photo © Bill Stephenson, all rights reserved.
Tom, Anne, Pete Savage and Dean O’Brien in the cafe.
Photo © Bill Stephenson, all rights reserved.
Simon Fairhurst weight training in the youth club. His trousers have been re-tailored to fit him. Simon’s shoulder tattoo say’s ‘Sheffield’.
Photo © Bill Stephenson, all rights reserved.
Boys playing pool in the ‘Unemployed Club’ section of the youth club.
Photo © Bill Stephenson, all rights reserved.
Tracy heads into Sheffield for a Saturday night out.
Gallery first published 19th January, 2023. © Bill Stephenson / British Culture Archive. All rights reserved.
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