HISTORY
View from top of Carby House in 1963
View from top of Carby House in 1963
Built in 1963, Carby House is the northern most office building sitting on the junction of Victoria Avenue and Harcourt Avenue and resides next to the slightly larger Heath House.
Originally designed to be the “Gateway to Southendâ€, Victoria Avenue was once a bustling business centre and the location of some of Southend’s premium office spaces housing financial companies, insurers and Customs and Excise aswell as the local college and civic centre.
Steadily over the years the various businesses began to re-locate to other, probably more cost effective, locations and by the late 90’s most had fallen, and still remain, empty. Many were planned for redevelopment in 2004 however delays and the impending arrival of the credit crunch meant all plans stalled leaving the blocks to fall into increasing states of abandonment, vandalism and disrepair.
As of today no concrete plans are in place for Carby House (or many of the other offices along Victoria Avenue) however prospective plans by the local council are for a forced sale of the buildings by the current owners at which point they will be demolished and
new housing built in their place.
Carby House in more recent times (picture not my own)
THE EXPLORE
Visited with robg172, slayaaaa and Oakley, this was an impromptu explore that we decided to have a crack at on the way between a couple of other explores (reports to come).
Being a local resident I have passed these building innumerable times over the years and never had the urge to explore them as they are fetid concrete shells that have been smashed, graff’d and basically become a magnet for druggies, vandals and any of the other local degenerates. Basically a total eyesore. However being some of the tallest buildings on Southend’s skyline the rooftops have always been midly intriguing.
While slayaaaa checked out Heath House next door the rest of us decided to head up to the top of Carby House for a look. There are literally no redeeming features inside and it wouldn’t look out of place as a location from the end of Full Metal Jacket.
It looked like someone had been making home of one of the upper floors. Someone who had the world’s biggest thirst for White Lightning (there was literally a waist high mountain of empty bottles) and a serious lack of proper toilet facilities. However once on the roof there was no denying the wonderful views. As the old saying goes “You can’t polish a turd†however this one at least had a little bit of glitter on top.
South East Essex College - Home of my first explore
Hope you enjoyed
