Bad News from Whitby (UK)
Nov 29, 2012 11:07:29 #
It's not very often Whitby is in the National News but at the moment, there is a story running about a row of old Cottages
that have had their foundations badly damaged by rain and this has caused a landslip. (See photo). These cottages are on a very steep bank, the gardens have slipped down the bank and are resting against the houses further down the bank. Five or six of these cottages have to be demolished and the owners were told to evacuate within half an hour and take only valuables and very personal items as the cottages were going to be demolished, they are that dangerous. Demolition was supposed to start this morning. I packed my camera kit and went to get a series of pictures of the demolition, from start to finish, (my plan). For starters, the police and security men were there and I couldn't get anywhere near the cottages. Fairplay, they don't want silly old men running about with cameras getting in their way. I ended up on the west side shooting across the harbour which by the way is the start of the River Esk and it's quite a distance. I got my tripod set up with my 70-300 and remote switch at the ready. I took a couple of shots to make sure all was set up OK and waited for it all to start. Four and a half hours of no action from the site, my mobile phone rang. My dear wife informed me that they cannot get any plant machines on the site and the cottages are to be demolished piece by piece by hand. It's supposed to be starting tomorrow, so watch this space. Don't laugh!!!!????
that have had their foundations badly damaged by rain and this has caused a landslip. (See photo). These cottages are on a very steep bank, the gardens have slipped down the bank and are resting against the houses further down the bank. Five or six of these cottages have to be demolished and the owners were told to evacuate within half an hour and take only valuables and very personal items as the cottages were going to be demolished, they are that dangerous. Demolition was supposed to start this morning. I packed my camera kit and went to get a series of pictures of the demolition, from start to finish, (my plan). For starters, the police and security men were there and I couldn't get anywhere near the cottages. Fairplay, they don't want silly old men running about with cameras getting in their way. I ended up on the west side shooting across the harbour which by the way is the start of the River Esk and it's quite a distance. I got my tripod set up with my 70-300 and remote switch at the ready. I took a couple of shots to make sure all was set up OK and waited for it all to start. Four and a half hours of no action from the site, my mobile phone rang. My dear wife informed me that they cannot get any plant machines on the site and the cottages are to be demolished piece by piece by hand. It's supposed to be starting tomorrow, so watch this space. Don't laugh!!!!????
The six cottages from the right are to be Demolished
Nov 29, 2012 11:23:55 #
Well, don't feel pregnant. In California the folks build their very expensive homes on the sides of mountains and also in the path of canyon fire paths.
Oh gee, it'll never happen here is the mentality.
Sarge69
Oh gee, it'll never happen here is the mentality.
Sarge69
Nov 29, 2012 11:54:10 #
jane g
Loc: western NY
This is so sad. My condolences to these families. We have been hearing quite a lot her about the flooding problems in England. I'm sure the people around New York City can sympathize after their experiences wit Hurricane Sandy.
Nov 29, 2012 12:32:47 #
That must be devastating to the people who live there. And the people who live near-by must be concerned that the same thing might happen to them. How sad.
Nov 30, 2012 07:50:35 #
Graham Thirkill wrote:
It's not very often Whitby is in the National News... (show quote)
I really hate that they have to deomo'd. Hopefully nobody got hurt. That said, I'm glad you are going to photograph this. I think as photographers, it is our duty to photograph things like this. This event will change the entire area, and it IS history. There might be a time when your images could be used in a history or reference book! Are you going to post in this thread or start another? Either way, I will be watching.
Robert
Nov 30, 2012 08:45:10 #
Pleur Unique
Loc: MO
This is unfortunate AND fascinating. Am glad you are on the case! I wondered if news media cameras are accorded closer proximity than you are.
Nov 30, 2012 11:19:00 #
Robert
Thanks for your interest, I agree it is up to us document with photographs. There is a very famous Whitby photographer called Frank Meadow Sutcliffe. He was a pioneer of early photography. Without his work there would be very little to see of Whitby's past. His photos are still very popular at a gallery in Whitby. The gallery owner in conjunction with Whitby Literary and Philosophical Society allowed the gallery to have all the glass negatives transferred onto film and he and his family have been selling these now for many years. Back to the present day problem, the row of cottages. Things are not as bad as they seem. It appears that just one of the cottages was occupied by it's owner. The remainder of them are all holiday lets. I know it's a terrible shame but they are second homes for these people, so they are not homeless like that one woman. I have been down today and no demolition work has started yet. They are having to build some sort of Road to get all the rubble and everything else away from the site. I will keep you posted with what is happening. I went also to Whitby Kipper House to take a couple of shots for someone on the forum which I did. Dererk & Barrie friends of mine now own and run the kipper business their uncle died and they have it now. They are very worried also because they are further along the same cliff as the cottages and that has started to crumble and fall directly at the back of their business. I have taken some photo's today and posted them on this posting. All the water that is coming from that exposed pipe and elswhere is running through the Kipper House Yard. You can see the danger they are worrying about, from these pictures.
Cheerio for now Graham
Thanks for your interest, I agree it is up to us document with photographs. There is a very famous Whitby photographer called Frank Meadow Sutcliffe. He was a pioneer of early photography. Without his work there would be very little to see of Whitby's past. His photos are still very popular at a gallery in Whitby. The gallery owner in conjunction with Whitby Literary and Philosophical Society allowed the gallery to have all the glass negatives transferred onto film and he and his family have been selling these now for many years. Back to the present day problem, the row of cottages. Things are not as bad as they seem. It appears that just one of the cottages was occupied by it's owner. The remainder of them are all holiday lets. I know it's a terrible shame but they are second homes for these people, so they are not homeless like that one woman. I have been down today and no demolition work has started yet. They are having to build some sort of Road to get all the rubble and everything else away from the site. I will keep you posted with what is happening. I went also to Whitby Kipper House to take a couple of shots for someone on the forum which I did. Dererk & Barrie friends of mine now own and run the kipper business their uncle died and they have it now. They are very worried also because they are further along the same cliff as the cottages and that has started to crumble and fall directly at the back of their business. I have taken some photo's today and posted them on this posting. All the water that is coming from that exposed pipe and elswhere is running through the Kipper House Yard. You can see the danger they are worrying about, from these pictures.
Cheerio for now Graham
Whtby Kipper House, see the supporting wire netting on the face of the cliff
Directly behind the Kipper House, the land has slipped, no supporting wire netting
Clff face has sliped showing exposed water drain. St Mary's Church can be seen and it's not far from the cliff.
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