Milton Keynes New Town – views from 1987 and 2012

23rd January 2017

Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire was designated a New Town on 23 January 1967 – 50 years ago today. I’ve visited twice, once in 1987 and again in 2012. I think it’s a great town (surely it should have city status by now) and although some neighbourhoods were looking a little weathered in 2012 there was also lots of new and original housing being built.

Milton Keynes has a spacious feel about the place and I love the futuristic thecentre:mk (now part of Central Milton Keynes Shopping Centre) with its steel-framed, Mies van der Rohe inspired, architecture. Designed by Derek Walker in 1973 this building is over 1km in length and now has Grade II listed status.

Below are some of my shots from those visits to Milton Keynes showing The Centre, Tinkers Bridge, Broughton,Witan Gate, Oxley Wood and finally the Art of Silence sculpture by Bernard Schottlander in the grounds of Challenge House.

Unfortunately I only have two scans from the 1987 visit, but I hope you enjoy the views and Happy Birthday MK!

Tinkers Bridge, Woughton, Milton Keynes.

Mad Hatters Tea Party, Tinkers Bridge, Milton Keynes — Mad Hatters Tea Party, Tinkers Bridge

Secklow Gate, Milton Keynes — Secklow Gate

Chasewater Crescent, Broughton, Milton Keynes — Chasewater Crescent, Broughton

Foxfield, Broughton, Milton Keynes — Foxfield, Broughton

Vizion, Witan Gate, Milton Keynes — Vizion, Witan Gate

Oxley Woods, Milton Keynes — Oxley Woods

The Art of Silence, sculpture by Bernard Schottlander

See the full image set on Flickr.

Chris Guy Administrator

Digital specialist and photographer with an affection for urban wanderings and brutalist architecture.

You can read my full bio here and also find me on Twitter, Instagram and Flickr

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