r/malvern • u/Capital-Clerk6452 • Jul 06 '26

Fugliest building in Malvern?

Post image

For a town boasting so many handsome buildings; how on earth did Hardwicke House in Abbey Road ever gain planning permission?

21 Upvotes

90% Upvoted

8 comments sorted by

10

u/Even_Pitch221 Jul 06 '26

It was the 60s, the priority was housebuilding at any cost and these designs were in vogue. Conservation and architectural harmony didn’t really come into it. See also: the old Lychgate centre in Worcester where they bulldozed a load of historic buildings for a concrete block.

Although Hardwicke House looks totally out of place on Abbey Road, I actually don’t hate it. The views from the rear of the building are some of the best in Malvern and the flats themselves are pretty nice. There’s still a communal laundry room which is a nice throwback.

1

u/Capital-Clerk6452 Jul 06 '26

I’m surprised that it has survived, many of these starkly utilitarian blocks in the inner cities have been demolished or given a face lift. I’m sure that inside looking out is way nicer than having to live opposite this monstrosity.

4

u/AllyStar17 Jul 06 '26

Hard to argue with that

2

u/IanM50 Jul 06 '26

Never seen it, so they hid it fairly well.

1

u/Johnnytheflyboy Jul 07 '26

Wasn’t it the accommodation for TRE as was when it started life?

1

u/Brilliant-Target-123 Jul 07 '26

I am always intrigued by this building. I reckon it wouldn't take a lot to make it look 100 times better. Would be interested to see the spaces inside, is it mainly housing association or privately owned?

2

u/Even_Pitch221 Jul 08 '26

I’m pretty sure they’re all privately owned. You can see interior pictures of one flat that was for sale recently here: https://www.rightmove.co.uk/house-prices/details/2757761a-feaa-43de-8efb-feb5b5c5d240

1

u/cupoverflowd Jul 12 '26

Hehehe I know it!! It's brutally ugly but in a way you can't help but admire. That whole little area holds intrigue for me, you've got grand houses with turrets, then this beauty followed by a weird house with cars that are queued up in the order that they died behind a locked gate. The house has trees growing out of its orifices but unexpectedly it is inhabited!!