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Mr Goldfinger's Tower

from Check Your Stereo by Steve White

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No, not the one in Kensington. Balfron Tower, that Brutalist figure towering over any journey on the Blackwall Tunnel Northern Approach. A fine example of Erno Goldfinger's work and sadly also a fine example of modern day social cleansing.

The song tells the story, but for the full version you should read Municipal Dreams blog posts on the subject, the first of which is here:

municipaldreams.wordpress.com/2014/10/14/balfron-tower-poplar/

lyrics

f you're pushing a pram you're gonna struggle
To open those heavy swing doors
And the East wind don't half whistle
Down the access corridors
But we've got good neighbours
In an East End kinda way
And you milk doesn't go missing
Even if you leave it out all day
And it's condescending I'll accept
That I don't like their curtains
But the flats are well kept
And I say this without malce
We're better off here than we would be
In Buckingham Palace

It's Mr Golfinger's Balfron Tower
27 storeys and they're all ours
It's Brutalism's finest hour
It's Mr Goldfinger's
Balfron Tower

These flats have an advantage
Said Erno, cos he understood
The tenants are all families
With roots in the local neighbourhood
They're off the Brownfield, they're off Rowlett Street
We're gonna house neighbours side-by-side
A pavement on every floor
An East End street 300 feet high
And if you knock on the door of 130
There's the only celebrities that you'll find
'Cos that's where Erno
And Ursula Goldfinger reside

It's Mr Golfinger's Balfron Tower
27 storeys and they're all ours
It's Brutalism's finest hour
It's Mr Goldfinger's
Balfron Tower

Yeah, it's not for everyone
Living up in the sky
People got lonely, people got frightened
When Ronan Point blew sky high
And it suffered for maintenance
Suffered with vandals
Stuff got left that needed someone to mend
As the GLC gave way to Tower Hamlets Council
And there was never quite enough money to spend
But it was still solid houses for local people
It was still a community
The caretaker still knew all the kids
Even if it was on CCTV
And it's in 28 Days Later
Here's where Danny Boyle did his filming
Goldfinger's homes for local folk
Became a grade two listed building

It's Mr Golfinger's Balfron Tower
27 storeys and they're all ours
It's Brutalism's finest hour
It's Mr Goldfinger's
Balfron Tower

In 2006 there was a consultation
Sold Balfron Tower to a private firm
HARCA's a regeneration initiative
But will we ever learn?
They promised new bathrooms, promised new kitchens
Promised a whole range of repairs
All the stuff that the council couldn't afford
Just now privately owned, so why should we care?

Then they started moving people out
Started selling their flats
Moved the gentrifiers in, changed the rules
If you were out, then you're not coming back
Moved in an art installation
Moved in a Shakespeare play
Started making the place look interesting
'Til the last locals went away
Now they're on the open market
With views of The Wharf and views of The Dome
Empty flats owned by investors
That East End families used to call home

It's Mr Golfinger's Balfron Tower
27 storeys that were all ours
It's brutal in it's darkest hour
It's Mr Goldfinger's
Balfron Tower

credits

from Check Your Stereo, released August 20, 2015

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