Things to do on Kenton Bar Estate
Kenton bar was actually a great place to play. Because of the design of the estate there were many places that had NO CARS. This was great for parents who could let their kids into the streets with no worries about them being knocked down. Some memories that come back to me:-
The Shopping Centre – as you know the site of the Great Pyramid. Apart from climbing the pyramid there were a number of activities that one could partake in – no need for Wii’s and PSP’s in those days.
A cheap skateboard and a piece of old plywood was all that was needed for fun at the shops. Place the plywood against the steps in from of the flats just down from the pyramid and it transformed them into an instant stunt ramp. I learned all my basic skateboarding skills there – bank turns, 360’s the works. The long smooth slop coming down from the pyramid was great for slalom and speed trials. The blue tiled area adjacent to the pyramid was great for freestyle. All in all a great an Le Corbusier inspired skate venue – what could be better?
A plastic ball and two stones for goalposts was all that was needed to transform the tarmaced (is that a real word?) area into an international class football venue.
Climbing frame and seats – after your sporting exertion you could relax by sitting on the concrete climbing frame and stretch out on the alcove seats – bliss.
Cycling – as for skateboards – same venue can be used for stunt cycling :)
Dear readers – more to come re: relaxation and play on Kenton Bar – I am sure Mensforth has more tales too.
The book refers to sandpits for toddlers, not certain I remember that. Also something on the lower Piazza with movable walls, all I remember down there was a fairly dull climbing frame. Was there a 1-2-3 on the upper Piazza?
ReplyDeleteWas there a witches hat near the children's home?
The nearest sandpit I can think of was the one belonging to kenton Comprehensive school, down and east of the plateau...This was designed for secondary school pupils doing the long jump, or that hop-skip and jump thing...personally I hated having to jump in it at all as it often had dog muck in it(what kind of person lets their dog defecate in a school long jump sand pit?...actually in them days many people didn't actually bother to'walk'their dog,they just 'let them out' the door to wander the estate like us, the kids in big gangs ha ha! Hey shades, you've inspired me to a new post:Dogs on the estate...COMING SOON!!!
ReplyDelete'Something on the lower piazza with movable walls?...' Nonsense...unless...Hoffman discovered LSD in 1938?...
1-2-3 step pyry on the upper piazza?...YES! one of only 3...(visible on the 5th picture of the eight wonder of the world)
Witches hat near children's home?...YES!
See post 'parks on the estate'...'a weird thing with a roof that span'...
I remember going to a Bonny night at the area outside the Children's home, 70 or 71. It was rather anarchic and I can remember a horizontal rocket whizzing past my feet.Anyone young enough to go to the YWCA in Dugdale Road?
ReplyDeleteEvery year I can remember there was always a bonfire on Bonfire Night on that park/grass outside the home...I remember me and the master went to the Kenton Quarry one bonfire night and bought 2 pints of ex each and then walked out the pub and drank them back at the bonfire outside the home ha ha!...we must have been about 12...(mutley dog laugh...)
ReplyDeleteIncidently, just in case you wondering avid reader, NO! we did not chuck the 4 empty pint glasses into the fire!
ReplyDeleteMe being an ex cubscout by this time(I was 12 you will recall me saying) took them back to the Kenton Quarry to be washed and re-used...
I remember we used to have skateboard races doen the road from the top of leeches estate to the bottom!!
ReplyDeleteyou could also free wheel down from the top of Ryal Walk to Gunnerston Grove on your chopper bike...hmmmm....
ReplyDeleteI remember going to the the 'Y Dub' to see 'Night Of The Living dead' as Dougie Black (who ran the club I think) managed to get it on the old reels of film. Had to walk home over Kenton School field afterwards absolutely shit scared!!
ReplyDeleteI don't remember Doug showing any scary films like that, but then again I was only about 12. I can remember lots of cartoons & a film that started off black & white then changed to colour for the last reel as it had a big fire scene in it.
ReplyDeleteI was told many years later that he got the sack because he was a kiddy fiddler.
I don't know if I've mentioned it before, but some of us were in "The Idiots", the "Y" Club Concert Party that used to tour old peoples homes and suchlike. I had a good boy soprano voice so sang songs like Edelweiss, whereas Alan(?) Hall (who lived in the row facing the childrens home at right angles to the club) wore a top hat and mimed to "I went to your wedding". He was a short lad to looked comical in the hat.
ReplyDeleteDoug played the piano and we did sketches as well, telling crap jokes.
Yes he showed scary films - Twins of Evil, Night of the Living Dead spring to mind. It was the highlight of my week to go to the film club (and for many others too). I must say if he was a "kiddy fiddler" it was not apparent to me. Just a typical youth club leader - seemed a nice bloke to me. I was also a member of the judo club - "Ren Bu Kan" run by Mr. Todd (who also collected the pools money weekly) The tallest bloke I ever met. I can sti;ll remember getting a weekly drubbing by Paul Ajala but I always came back for more@!!
ReplyDeletePaul was fearsome, and has done very well. I used to cycle up from Tynemouth, get chucked about and cycle home again. Happy days
Deletehttps://www.judoajala.com/trainers/paul-ajala/
I don't remember Doug showing any scary films like that, but then again I was only about 12. I can remember lots of cartoons & a film that started off black & white then changed to colour for the last reel as it had a big fire scene in it.
ReplyDeleteI was told many years later that he got the sack because he was a kiddy fiddler.
Every year I can remember there was always a bonfire on Bonfire Night on that park/grass outside the home...I remember me and the master went to the Kenton Quarry one bonfire night and bought 2 pints of ex each and then walked out the pub and drank them back at the bonfire outside the home ha ha!...we must have been about 12...(mutley dog laugh...)
ReplyDelete