"ESTATE" Robert Clayton's Documentary Photography, written and narrated by Jonathan Meades.

Buy the book at www.stayfreepublishing.co.uk or on Amazon
A short film, starring Jonathan Meades, about Robert Clayton's documentary photography from 1991. The photography centres on the everyday life of the Lion Farm Estate, Oldbury, West Midlands which was the subject of a photo book published in 2015. Meades narrates his introductory essay from said book to images from the work, archive footage and contemporary material.

[@Fenellaribena]

My partner, Rob, moved here when the Estate was first built in 1963; he was four years old and the family home was compulsorily purchased for Slum Clearance. When the flats were first built they were seen as very luxurious (with inside toilets a real luxury) and loads of people wanted them. The Housing Stock began to run down in the early eighties because not enough money was spent on proper maintenance. Rob has the book which has some really great photos in. He says this is an honest portrayal of how the place really was at the beginning of the nineties, when the large blocks were on their last legs. The book is excellent and brings back loads of memories. Will share this with anybody I know who knew Lion Farm. Regards.

[@robclayton3670]

Thank you!

[@suzannabienkowski2033]

Well I lived in what would have been considered the slums in Poland. But for me, they were alright.

[@ianwaites4810]

Absolutely spot on. Thank God for the rational, understanding objectivity of Meades. He's fab.

[@gabisalkin8881]

Fantastic photos, and video - really well done. Can't get enough of Meades!

[@doktoruzo]

Jonathan Meades is always a good listen.

[@Jaws19show]

Beautiful photographs and essay. I lived on Lion Farm from 1975 to 1978, then we moved to the new estate on the Oldbury ring road.

[@evzbaby]

I delivered papers on Lion farm in the early 80's. I had to deliver to all the flats, Chilton, Cheviot, Albrighton, Wilson. Can't remember all of the names. mornings and afternoons mon-sat, just mornings on Sunday for a huge £6.70 which was the best paid paper round in Rowley Regis & Oldbury. This amazing documentary brought back Nostalgic memories. Thanks.

[@robclayton3670]

Thanks for sharing this great memory, you certainly worked hard.

[@pnelson3248]

Ha!...me to, 1982 I think it was, hated going up the farm flats just to deliver maybe 1 or 2 papers each block, stairs every time ...not the lifts...too stanky. Enjoyed it mostly, dont remember any bother from anyone either. Although wouldn't like to do that today, different crowd so to speak. Happy days.

[@busternineshoes]

This is really interesting. My cousins Gill and Wayne Fereday grew up on Borough Crescent in the 60's and I remember us playing on the concrete playgrounds. I was born in 62 and grew up on the Lyng estate in West Bromwich. When I see people comment 'grim' on things like this it really does make me imagine what sort of upbringing they had. I'm a photographer, and when Rob took these pictures, I was on my way from working in Northern Ireland to Yugoslavia. Lion Farm was a haven of peace at that time compared to the others.

[@carolmeller1705]

i was born in 62 and lived in one of the blocks of flats till i was 5 then moved to pedmore walk next door to the children's home until i was 15. that was great times.

[@charlottetaylor9270]

Yaaay love this..me my late mam and brother lived at 20 Wilson. House (2nd tower block) from.83-86/7...did not know this estate had a documentary done on it. X

[@sarahtaylor5526]

In 1986 at the age of 3 I feel out the flat window in one of the lion Farm blocks, I was in the new paper been trying to see if I could find a clipping of it but had no luck

[@deepestdub]

Fabulous stuff. Deserving of a much bigger audience

[@robclayton3670]

Please share and thank you for your feedback.

[@chrish12345]

no please dont get the fucking masses and asses involved lol

[@linzianna]

I grew up in Rowley and know the estate and its people very well. I recognise a lady in these pics, I lived nearby for a while in whiteheath and met my daughters father here. I have a brother and a son who live in nearby Rowley high-rise flats on Reservoir Rd still today

[@Richard-ir7zo]

Hi m8t, I was born on the farm in 1983, and i was so amazed at looking at the photos you have here, i know most of the people in there lol the good old days how i miss them so much, I lived in one of the flats on the top floor, and played on the airplane part every day after walking up from school, hope you have more photos, if you do please contact me, thanks 👍

[@robclayton3670]

Hi Richard - I'm glad they have brought back memories for you. You would have been about 8 then when I shot them. You can find out a lot more about my project via this website: www.lionfarmestate.co.uk and a book is available with 67 pictures. Thanks for your message! Rob

[@charlottetaylor9270]

I moved there with my late mam and my brother in 83 when I was 6 months old this has brought back so memories too..wish my mam had gotten to see this footage. Thank u x

[@aaroninky]

Thank you so much for uploading this.

[@joshkettle1921]

Ayyy I saw my house on here number 1 crusader close. Man i loved that place

[@robclayton3670]

Thanks for the comment. I will be at Rounds Green Library Saturday 15th June 2019 from 11am talking about this photography. Come along if you can!

[@johndearn9457]

Lived on the "farm" until 1984, WAS a great place to live, but recent decline has had a massive effect on buildings and people

[@sophiaclayton153]

Great!

[@darrenscaysbrook6038]

Martin Parr's work makes up your mind for you but this work allows space for you to consider it. Nice work indeed.

[@rochellemalhi8626]

Rob Clayton I’m in awe of your work, although I’m local -ish , I was actually made aware by a friend in New York - i was wondering if you were scouting for a location or did you discover the area and that’s what sparked the idea ?

[@robclayton3670]

I was living locally and came across the location by accident - it really struck me visually. It felt powerful, desolate and dramatic - I knew I wanted to stay there and photograph. That was 1990. A generation later, I have been commissioned to return! www.lionfarmestate.co.uk

[@johnmoorefilm]

Superb

[@pnelson3248]

Lived just up from the farm, in one of the newer estates behind then the Rowley Rag. Spent a lot of time on the farm with school friends (St. Michael's) AND also had a paper round on the farm too. Now living up from the farm after living in Ireland for a short time and working around Europe. Just not the same feeling. Yes the streets are cleaner but the character and the general friendliness seems to be gone now. Although I guess this is the same everywhere? Progress.

[@evzbaby]

If your name is Paul we were in the same year. Steve Evans

[@youbuddha1]

nice shades

[@clairelisengami6702]

I live in that area I saw my house😂😭 It has changed

[@sarahtaylor5526]

I was born in lion Farm 1983

[@charlottetaylor9270]

I moved there with my late mam and brother when I was 6 months old x

[@gaffnaldo1]

This is a great video on a great subject matter, cant help be irked by those sun glasses....... No need

[@mootpointjones8488]

He suffers from an eye complaint, give the man a break.

[@concretemode]

Rob Clayton, are you from the area? How did you come upon the estate?

[@robclayton3670]

I am from the Midlands and was living in Wolverhampton at the time. However, I discovered the estate by accident almost whilst driving around the area.

[@concretemode]

It's endlessly fascinating and I wish the clip was longer. Meades' narrative is compelling.

[@rochellemalhi8626]

concretemode Are you familiar with the estate .

[@concretemode]

No. All I knew of Oldbury was visiting the Savacentre, though this estate doesn't look too different from Charlemont Farm in West Bromwich, that I am familiar with, and last time I was down that way in 2013 it looked worse than I remember it in the mid 1980s.

[@mrdevilishdan666]

concretemode savacentre, ain't heard it been called that in years, should see it now, refurbishing all the flats on the estate

[@nickbarber2080]

Right-to-buy,Care in the community and,for that matter,privatisation were all driven by the same motivation in the minds of the Tories who designed them...the release of public land into "The Market"...where Estate Agents,Banks etc could profit from their sale,mortgage and collateralisation. Part of Thatcher's "Service Economy"...read FINANCIAL services...

[@jhvoojh]

Righto m8.

[@ggrey5990]

Ah yes I grew up in Albright house, unfortunately. What a disaster of a place. All the romantacising on here is from people who have obviously got a short memory or just like to prentend. Lion Farm was and is a dead end, best forgotten.

[@chrish12345]

what a depressing place

[@MrMHughes68]

What a predictable remark.