Site Survey

As part of the Honours Project I am required to conduct a site survey. The information I gather will vary depending on how much I can gain access to. Following the research I had found online about the Paradox Clock Tower I decided to go down to the site and check it out myself.
I couldn't enter the site because it was shut off with a big fence but I managed to get a feel for the place, its surroundings and took some photos of the building exterior and the grounds it sits on.

Site Plan (Click to enlarge)

Parked in Prego carpark next to the Paradox Site. Can see the clocktower in the distance.

Walked up the road running along side the site to get a better look at the building. 

 The building id derelict. Plaster falling off the walls, broken and boarded up windows.

 Branches growing between the brick work and the signage.

The entrance. Boarded up tight so knowone can enter. 

 The building has a quite eery feel to it.

 Can see where the other buildings attatched to it at one point.

 This photo sums up the building for me, spooky, old, dark and intersting.

The Paradox signage that once glowed is now brocken. As you can see by the picture below.

Missing letters R & A from the Paradox sign and the clock window with the letters Vernon Pools on are smashed. 

Weird shape windows, boarded up. Wonkey, reminds me of a sort of haunted house attraction in a fair.

A better view of the entrance door.

Circle windows with this clock style panelling on all four sides of the building.

Ground to one side of the building, grass. A very large site in whole. Train track runs along one side, train service Ormskirk to Liverpool.

Concreted ground to the other side, once was a car park. A very busy road runs along the other side.

Driving past this building, you can't help but stare as you go by. Its a very ugly looking building but I find beauty within because of the top windows, the red rough brick peeking out from behind that plaster, the fact that there are still remains of  joining walls.The style of windows and that its a larger building vertically than horizontally is an interesting feature. Its stood in the middle of this large site that once contained a large building. It used to be filled with so many people, music and entertainment.

I found planning permission had been granted to knock down this graded building and build a Sports Direct facility in its place. I think that the idea is a good one because it will open up job oppurtunities but I would of liked to have seen a design incorporate this clocktower.



Whilst I was photographing and observing the surroundings I didn't really think about what its uses could be, all I thought was that I need to bring this building back into the 21st century with something new exciting and different.