Sighthill by Chris Leslie

Documents three double multi-storey high rise flats several months leading up to their demolition. I Interviewed former and present residents about their lifes in the flats and what they expected in the future for Sighthill after the flats were gone. I wanted to piece together some kind of historical documentation of the flats and the area before they disappeared forever.
The urban neighbourhood of Sighthill was built in the 1960s as a response to the pressing housing shortage in Glasgow, a legacy left over from the city's rapid industrialisation and consequential burgeoning population. Drawing on the most basic of modernist ideas the estate was built with no democratic planning or input from the people it was intended to house. What resulted was a bleak and monotonous landscape that housed over 7500 people. By the mid 1980s Sighthill was labelled a 'sink estate' with high unemployment, drug abuse, high levels of crime and poverty. Three of the high rise blocks of flats were demolished in 2008 and a three further blocks of flats were due to be demolished at the end of November 2009.
This film was part of my MA Documentary Photography Project -
Hope, memories, loss and community - Four stories of regeneration in Glasgow.
www.chrisleslie...
Using photography, video and audio this was a project aimed at capturing people's hopes, fading memories, lost livelihoods and the disappearance of homes and communities; issues that can be largely ignored in the utopian goals of regeneration. Now that the project is complete, most of the areas I documented no longer exist.
www.chrisleslie...

[@AjAllan2010]

I lived in Fountainwell Avenue from 1974-1987. All of my childhood memories - great place. Thanks for sharing. :)

[@roosterg21]

I went to Sighthill Primary and lived in Pinkston Drive. Great documentary. Just hearing about St. Stephens and the Friday night disco brought back a lot of memories........

[@mxchanzi]

roosterg21 Lived in pinkston drive and went to Sighthill nursery but then moved away sad to know that everything of my childhood is gone but the memories make up for it

[@jillreilly3474]

I loved sighthill I had family staying here when I was wee my granny and grandad stayed fountainwell place and me and my cousins use to go stay here every summer holidays and some weekends in 80s and I have the bestest memories of this place I feel sad seeing the flats pulled down but new toward the end it wasnt the same place as it use to be when I was wee !!!❤

[@hazzachannel1]

CHRIS LESLIE YOU DOCUMENTED AN INCREDIBLE STORY. I WAS VISITING SIGHTHILL EVERY COUPLE OF WEEKS IN 2007. IT WAS HARD TO DO, AND EVEN HARDER TO CONNECT WITH ANYONE. THANK YOU.

[@cegesl4521]

I lived in sighhill when l moved to glasgow between 2005 to 2006 it gave me a chance to build my life in uk and am glad hope it will be a good one for the next generation you can be anything you want to

[@allthatjazz9000]

I want to be a billionaire, but all my relatives are poor and I have no talents. So that's bollox.

[@freya6941]

So many memoirs, childhood memories were amazing then as the years rolled on Sighthill changed dramatically. It’s hard looking back now as my family is 100% fractured and there is nothing left of those days.

[@r1ckySV]

All that gone in just a few seconds! That was well put together!

[@spookybaba]

Demolition at night? These kind of videos make me sad for the people who had good memories of the place. I do hope they ended up happier.

[@Fountainwell49man]

I lived in Sighthill from 1966 to 1986. I’d love to see a video of these people today, particularly if they still stay in the area.

[@katswhiskers]

Love, love, love this film. It captures beautifully the strength and dignity of the blocks and the people. Thanks so much for making it!! x

[@fountainwell49man65]

Debbie McCabe was a friend of mine, she horrified us one day sitting in the stairs at 49 while it bucketed down with rain outside, by telling us the facts of life about periods. Have a great life Debbie!!!

[@Kerrzo]

Great video it was great to see the old place I have some many memories from it

[@nefertiti129]

Oh....I feel touched....all those memories flashing back. I use to live at one of the flats at Sighthill!! Fountainwell avenue....

[@michellem3455]

I used to vist my auntie, uncle and cousin when I was a kid in Barony Heights. I remember sitting on the seesaw or springy aeroplane with a bottle of coke and crisps watching the trains used to love visiting Sighthill

[@Diordreams.]

Does Sighthill have any connections to Red Road flats? Edit: this is an amazing film. Well done. I’m not from Scotland but I feel the emotions of the people in this film. ❤

[@brianmcaleer3958]

Sighthill & Red Road were both part of Glasgow's social housing stock and were about 1 - 2 miles away from each other. No connections other than that (possibly family connections though).

[@bonhambley714]

i lived in fountainwell place for about 10 years. the problem was with housing policy and management by Glasgow City Housing. They didnt have to be like they ended up. The people who lived there were mainly transient populations in the end. Most people didnt stay too long but some like myself made it home. I moved on the month before the stock transfer. It was always obvious they would be demolished if the housing stock was transferred.

[@barryelliott3018]

Good sharing

[@gartnait1]

wiz oan the same flair as andy.Aboot 15 year ago.Sighthill had a bad reputation but wiznae a bad place to be fair.

[@awesomecaz]

Can someone tell me the tune playing? It's really great.

[@saskiawells9472]

Omg these poor people x

[@grahamwilliamson2574]

In the end 15 seconds ...lots of peoples dreams and aspirations..turned to dust...symbolic metaphor for a lot of great.urban areas decimated by neglect and apathy..very sad

[@oliverelizabeth95]

well dne margaret u stood ur ground till end xx

[@fruitloops51]

Lived on pinkston Road in 2009

[@lewief3289]

whats the song

[@shaunjon6692]

good laugh in sighthill,good memories ,bad memories -----

[@annemariecandyflip6531]

I don't really like the place, way to big and high. Cramped rooms, small windows. I've see the Gallowgate Twins inside on a video and it was way much better than any other multi storey block like Sighthill or Red Road Flats : spacious living rooms, light with big windows on every corner....everybody is talking shit about the Twins but the landings were pretty neat. It must have been nice to live there in happier times

[@AlanCampell]

Its even worse no shops ripped the heart out it

[@rexter6944]

Sad 😢

[@Randomguuuuy]

junkies out by 9pm that was true ,junkies got battered if out by 9pm no joke,sad but true

[@leewightman8251]

That's the flats fae small faces

[@jeddslater7777]

Glasgow’s Garry frazor

[@234cheech]

used ty go to fairbridge drake

[@annother3350]

The subtitles aren't helping!! That first guys accent is fucking strong...or maybe that was the heroin

[@annemariecandyflip6531]

There aren't even subtitles!!

[@BrassLock]

I left Scotland in 1946 to eventually arrive in sunny Western Australia in 1952, and sadly missed out on all the interesting experiences of multi storey apartment living. It was a very strange decision indeed to explosively demolish three of them at night. Most countries around the world do it in the daytime, so the ambulance officers can easily find spectators wounded by flying concrete. I suppose the Council was embarrassed by wasting taxpayer's money by building these failed edifices. Best to blow them up in the dark, hoping no one will notice the mess.

[@jimjardine4705]

Cant understand a word he is saying. A proper narrative would have been better.

[@lenninduffy186]

A dae I'm gleswegian

[@brianferry4592]

Clean ur ears out ya fanny

[@adamd6648]

Yer clearly fae the posher side ae glesga were Kelvin groove is n shit.

[@annemariecandyflip6531]

Excuse I'm Dutch and my English is okay. I have seen many of those videos and ithe accents are hard to follow

[@allthatjazz9000]

Aye dae anaw. Edinburgh

[@oranbhoy67]

i fancy that second chick niiiiiice