2012 
2019
Victoria Avenue in Southend began to be developed in the post-war period as a centre for tall brutalist offices and civic buildings. These remained largely undeveloped until the mid-2010s when work began to revitalise the ugly structures. Liam remembers having his driving theory exam in Baryta House further down the road in 2015, only to find half of the glass front door replaced with a chipboard, the toilets lined with orange classic 1970s tiling, and the entire block to be almost entirely abandoned except for the exam centre on one floor – he wishes he took photographs! However, we did manage to document one such structure before it changed.
Opposite the Civic Centre stands Carby House; a 1960s’ office block in a less brutalist utilitarian style. This stood abandoned since possibly the 1990s, although began to be converted into modern apartments reusing the shell of the buildings around 2017, completed around 2019. We entered what we believe was the northern block of the complex during its abandonment and reached the roof in September 2012. It was in a grim and gutted state and probably not the safest of places. Miraculously, the place has been completely transformed from the proverbial crackhouse it became and when we entered the refitted apartments in August 2019, we found it to have a modern appearance complete with roof garden beyond several under-construction top floors – which was sadly and very frustratingly locked.
Rooftop
1960s 
2012 
2019
