TV studio buildings.

Does this help . . . ?

http://djgm.co.uk/stuff/location-of-the-replica-rovers-return-at-granada.jpg

Regarding the houses themselves, they're not very historically accurate - especially the brickwork which is not remotely correct in the fashion it is layed, and the bricks are so obviously reclaimed.

Still, the sash windows and pane arrangements are very good, as are the stae roofs, and all the naff additions like the Baldwins' 80s brickwork and ridiculous pediment over the door, or the Duckworths' of course, or the Platts' c1990 houses - all perfectly reflective of their times, and of how people decimate unified streetscapes with ridiculous personal effects

I would have thought that the decimation of characters was advatageous for the producers/writers of the programme. Everyone sees this as one of the reasons for its continued success.

The ability of characters to retain/lose their role is all due to public opinion at the end of the day.

Mmmmm - Mr Telefis - The home I grew up in was built with "reclaimed" brickwork as you put it. In the Manchester area it was commonly known as "Cheshire Brick".

You are incorrect therefore. The 1982-set for "Corrie" was constructed of "Cheshire Brick" (as you no doubt you alreadly know!) and painted with various effects to make it look otherwise.

That's what I mean by 'reclaimed' brick - that the producers and or set designers seem to have gone off looking for some Cheshire that 'looks old like', found a decent salvage yard, loaded up and relaid them for the Coronation St set.
Whereas the brick itself works very well and is very accurate, it is the method of laying that looks completely false - as most reclaimed brick laying does, as the layers of mortar are way too thick between the courses, and I'm not sure about the UK but in Ireland the laying of bricks in a modern stretcher by stretcher method prior to 1940 is completely unheard of.
It is this that just screams falseness to me - clunkily laid old bricks, and in a cheap modern fashion.
Maybe this is the method used by local authorities in Britain at the turn of the last century - but I doubt it...

Thanks for that. Im surprised they have kept the replica of the Rovers since the tours closed down about 5 years ago. Apart from a carpark do Granada actually use this area for anything now?

The current Corrie set which was built in 1982 had a few changes including a gap between the Rovers and Number 1 and a new house at Number 7. Thats why the bricks on Number 7 look newer as its meant to be 23 years old whilst the rest of that side of the street is supposed to look over 100 years old.

Perhaps Granada have kept the replica Rovers for corporate functions and the like.

Mind you, the last time I was at Granada to be in the audience for a show recording, they used the replica Rovers to
give out free drinks to those who had standby audience tickets. I was amongst them that day! To be honest, I'm
never gonna tick the section for standby tickets next time I apply to be in a Granada studio audience!

http://www.rp-networkservices.com/tvforum/uploads/bbc_south_southampton_2_havelock_rd.jpg

BBC South- Havelock Rd, Southampton




http://www.rp-networkservices.com/tvforum/uploads/bbc_south_southampton_1_havelrock_rd.jpg

Not the prettiest building, but it's ok. Built in the early 1990's I think judging by the old late '80's BBC inscription on the door...
The building is built just right next to the main railway line, at Southampton Central, on the hill.

Pah, you had it bloody good mate! We were kept waiting outside the front gate in the cold November air!! I don't think I'll bother with the standby option again either...

Late 80s I think. Southampton moved and Plymouth was refurbished at the same time. I think both projects were engineered by Quantel-Link Systems (the company formed when Quantel bought the Link camera and systems engineering company after Link went bust trying to build their last camera, which the BBC had ordered for nearly the whole of TV Centre)

Norwich was supposed to be next on the list - and work had already begun on enlarging the studio (foundations being dug in the car park) - when the project was down-graded, and became a simple re-furb.

From memory these all took place around 1989ish.

Late 80s I think. Southampton moved and Plymouth was refurbished at the same time. I think both projects were engineered by Quantel-Link Systems (the company formed when Quantel bought the Link camera and systems engineering company after Link went bust trying to build their last camera, which the BBC had ordered for nearly the whole of TV Centre)

Norwich was supposed to be next on the list - and work had already begun on enlarging the studio (foundations being dug in the car park) - when the project was down-graded, and became a simple re-furb.

From memory the Plymouth and So'ton projects were around 1989ish, with Norwich around 1992? (I think the Norwich refurb took place when the programme moved back into the studio from their newsroom set used during the late 80s)

I'd also been standing outside the studios for over an hour that day. It was only when it had started to rain that the
audience co-ordinators got on their walkie talkies, and were given permission to let us all in the replica Rovers.