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137. Goodbye Portcullis
2009.04.02
This is Portcullis House.
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This is its birth certificate.
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Outside.
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Inside.
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Calling time on the old building. It's not every office that has a ship's bell.
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Ha ha, these things get everywhere.
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Packing up ready to go.
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All waiting to be moved out. It seems that there isn't a collective noun for photocopiers. I'm going to suggest a reproduction of photocopiers, but I'm sure you can come up with better.
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The view of PH from my office.
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One of the few artistic features of PH - a 70s style mosaic on the annex complete with missing tiles.
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You used to be able to walk there across the bridge from my building.
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But it was quite a walk.
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Now they've put a new sign up (just to annoy me I think).
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And there's an even bigger sign outside.
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Will the last one out, please turn off the lights.
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Portcullis House, Southend. For the past 44 years it has been home to the department that dare not speak its name. Not any more. This week it was officially closed.
It will not be mourned for its beauty. It will not be mourned for its architectural merits. It will not be mourned because it was a nice place to work. But it will be mourned.
There are two good reasons that the department's presence there will be missed:
1. Because over the years thousands of people have spent a significant chunks of their lives in that building. Indeed, I suspect that there may even be people who have spent their entire working lives there. I imagine that most of the time, most of them didn't particularly enjoy being there. Or at least could think of places they'd rather be. Nevertheless they will have had significant events there, made friends there, and have enduring memories of the place.
2. More important than the generation of people that have worked there is the generation of people who will never work there. Southend is increasingly becoming a town with little in terms of employment prospects. For the young generation there is becoming a stark choice. If you want to work you have to go to London. Either paying a ridiculous amount for housing or spending a ridiculous amount of time commuting. Either way the prospects for this town's youngsters look a little bit more bleak than they did this time last week.
Goodbye Portcullis.
Portcullis House, Southend. For the past 44 years it has been home to the department that dare not speak its name. Not any more. This week it was officially closed.
It will not be mourned for its beauty. It will not be mourned for its architectural merits. It will not be mourned because it was a nice place to work. But it will be mourned.
There are two good reasons that the department's presence there will be missed:
1. Because over the years thousands of people have spent a significant chunks of their lives in that building. Indeed, I suspect that there may even be people who have spent their entire working lives there. I imagine that most of the time, most of them didn't particularly enjoy being there. Or at least could think of places they'd rather be. Nevertheless they will have had significant events there, made friends there, and have enduring memories of the place.
2. More important than the generation of people that have worked there is the generation of people who will never work there. Southend is increasingly becoming a town with little in terms of employment prospects. For the young generation there is becoming a stark choice. If you want to work you have to go to London. Either paying a ridiculous amount for housing or spending a ridiculous amount of time commuting. Either way the prospects for this town's youngsters look a little bit more bleak than they did this time last week.
Goodbye Portcullis.
11
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Great set. Interesting info on this building and it's past.
dontblink · 2009-04-02: 20:01
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Wonderful shots - so many great angles and such a variety of interesting content. I really like the angle on #3...and the brick wall on #10....but the two long hallways especially appeal to me! At first I thought maybe the place was coming down then saw the "To Let" sign...so hopefully at some point it'll be put to use again?
lookagain · 2009-04-02: 23:20
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Nice and interesting set. Like the first one a lot . :o)
Ryana · 2009-04-03: 03:30
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wow Amazing Reportage! That building looks so big! and you're right, many people might have live there for long !
onlyricky · 2009-04-03: 07:18
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Very interesting set. I've never seen an arquitecture collage like in photo #10. Very cool!
????? · 2009-04-03: 07:20
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It does make for some interesting shots :-)
jet28 · 2009-04-03: 07:58
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Thank you for that moving and instructive post. It's a fascinating record. I can only hope the future isn't as bleak as you forecast. As for the collective noun, I would suggest a "breakdown" of photocopiers and a "mushroom cloud" of toner cartridges. The breakdown could, of course, apply to their users.
revenant · 2009-04-03: 09:36
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Wonderful shots!!!!!!!!
urmysunshine · 2009-04-03: 10:18
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Beautiful set, i like # 12 & 15.
????? · 2009-04-03: 11:23
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A school of scanners?
????? · 2009-04-03: 22:12
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love this post. the context you give to this makes me want to go back to actionism and jpournalism. did nobody try to squat the building? i mean... it's HUGE and could provide shelter for so many homeless...
stormfish · 2012-07-18: 08:09
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