The Garths were almost a community on there own. One , sometimes two entrances into the garths, Burleigh, High,Walton,River, St Patrick's and Covent Garden.
Whilst in the Fire Service in the mid 70,s , I was regular visiter there in the lead up to and after bonfire night. In particular I remember Burleigh and Wear Garth . At that time those garths were a nightmare for the fire service. Youths would make fires in the centre and get prepared for the arrival of the fire service. Armed will all kinds of missiles, mostly stones and rocks, they would gather them on the communal passageways that led to the individual flats. When we arrive, not only would we have the fire to deal with , we would be dodging rocks etc raining down on us from great heights. On one occasion I recall a car tyre coming over from the third floor and landing on a police cars bonnet
Not until later did I realise that this was a minority group of youths, hell bent on destroying the wonderful community spirit that can often be found in what we now call "social deprived areas". These design of these reasonably traffic free areas were clearly ahead of there time. What was not understood, I fear, was that people do not do particularly well in areas of high dwelling concentrations.
Whilst in the Fire Service in the mid 70,s , I was regular visiter there in the lead up to and after bonfire night. In particular I remember Burleigh and Wear Garth . At that time those garths were a nightmare for the fire service. Youths would make fires in the centre and get prepared for the arrival of the fire service. Armed will all kinds of missiles, mostly stones and rocks, they would gather them on the communal passageways that led to the individual flats. When we arrive, not only would we have the fire to deal with , we would be dodging rocks etc raining down on us from great heights. On one occasion I recall a car tyre coming over from the third floor and landing on a police cars bonnet
Not until later did I realise that this was a minority group of youths, hell bent on destroying the wonderful community spirit that can often be found in what we now call "social deprived areas". These design of these reasonably traffic free areas were clearly ahead of there time. What was not understood, I fear, was that people do not do particularly well in areas of high dwelling concentrations.
