Landmarks

yerself · 14-06-2006, 18:34

I had a hard earned day off work today and whilst driving aimlessly along listening to Radio Lancashire I happened to hear that a panopticon was being officially unveiled in Blackburn. Then, lo and behold, a certain Gayle Knight came on singing the praises of this new local landmark in Corporation Park.
As I had my camera with me I thought I'd go along and take some pictures for the benefit of any Accrington Web members who may be interested (Tealeaf sprung to mind for some reason). I drove down Accrington Road and when in the Eanam area looked toward Corporation Park, the only landmarks I could see were a mosque and the telecommunications aerials situated near the tank on Revidge Road. I drove along Preston New Road and turned right into Revidge Road, carried on past Corporation Park, but never sighted the panopticon Gayle was enthusing about.
When I arrived home, without having seen this apparent enhancement to Blackburn and East Lancs in general, I put the following two words into the Oxford online dictionary: panopticon and landmark. Below are the results:
landmark

• noun 1 an object or feature of a landscape or town that is easily seen and recognized from a distance.

panopticon

/panoptik

n/ • noun historical a circular prison with cells arranged around a central well, from which prisoners could at all times be observed.

I wonder if Gayle could enlighten us as to the whereabouts of this easily seen and recognised circular prison?

Gayle · 14-06-2006, 19:00

It is in the park. If you'd have got out of your car on Revidge Rd and walked into the park you would have clearly seen it.

As for the name - I know it means circular prison but it also means Pan (panoramic) opticon (to see) - I didn't choose the name so can't particularly defend it. I personally think the name has put a lot of people off the project and I suspect the name will be dropped in time once they are all built and they are individually associated with each area. For instance, I suspect that the Blackburn Panopticon 'Colourfields' will always be known as the Cannon Batteries.

talentedbutslow · 14-06-2006, 19:02

ever ready???.........

garinda · 14-06-2006, 21:37

I wished you'd have parked your car and took a photograph for us.

When I was at school I used to go into the park every lunctime. There is indeed a cracking panoramic view of Blackburn from the top of the park, and it would be interesting to see what they have done there.

garinda · 14-06-2006, 21:37

I wished you'd have parked your car and took a photograph for us.

When I was at school I used to go into the park every lunctime. There is indeed a cracking panoramic view of Blackburn from the top of the park, and it would be interesting to see what they have done there.

WillowTheWhisp · 14-06-2006, 22:51

Have you got a pic of it for us Gayle?

I thought the point of these Panopticons was that they could be seen for miles around. Apparently you can't even see this one if you're within yards of it!

yerself · 15-06-2006, 08:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by WillowTheWhisp

I thought the point of these Panopticons was that they could be seen for miles around.

Exactly. On www.panopticons.uk.net they are described as 'Landmarks for the 21st century'. There are also a couple of pics of the Blackburn panopticon.

garinda · 15-06-2006, 08:46

Well it's not the blot on the landscape we were going to have on the Coppice.

WillowTheWhisp · 15-06-2006, 09:28

It's hardly noticeable! As landmarks go I'd put that one down as a non-starter. Still it's not as bad as the Wycollar egg or the Rossendale spaceship I suppose. I'd be interested to see how it manages to bring tourism, growth and regeneration to Blackburn.

Tealeaf · 15-06-2006, 11:14

I've just had a peep at the Panopticons site. This is what I've copied from there:

A Panopticon for Hyndburn

There are currently no plans for Hyndburn.

Lovely, thats all I can say!

Madhatter · 15-06-2006, 16:36

I'm not sure it is tea leaf. Hyndburn now has nothing and no plans for anything, which sort of sums up what always happens form what I read on here. Why can't you have something new but with elements that suggest some of it's history. The comming together of the past and present.

Gayle · 15-06-2006, 18:02

http://www.panopticons.uk.net/blackburn_news.html

The link to the full press release doesn't work - I need to fix that first thing tomorrow so please don't complain to me, I do know about the fault.

Margaret Pilkington · 15-06-2006, 18:09

There were some pics in tonights LET....but they weren't particularly attractive...however the LET told us that it gave a wonderful view of the town.

garinda · 15-06-2006, 18:09

It's a bit hard to judge from a couple of photographs, but first impressions make it look like a walk way from an inner city slum carpeted with oddments from the market.

Margaret Pilkington · 15-06-2006, 18:11

Ooooh Garinda........how I wish I had your knack of descriptive language.......that is exactly what it looks like! It looks like it has been cobbled together from offcuts.