Something a little different this week.
From time to time, we like to document the demolition of old, iconic sites around Newport. The old Sainsbury’s site at Wyndham Street is no exception. Even though it served its function as a supermarket, it fitted into it’s surroundings well, built with red brick exterior walls and brown roof tiles, and tree lines around most of the perimeter.
Its proximity to the town centre meant that you could pop in during a lunch break or after work. The ample car parking space also meant that it served the wider community (it actually had 2 car parks). There was also a small – but practical – fuel station on-site.
Image: Copyright Cushwake Property
It closed back in 2010 and the land was bought by developers, the Fear Group.
Within months of the site’s closure, nature started to take its course. Years later, there was almost more greenery than concrete.
How it used to look… this is the main entrance, complete with small pedestrian crossing.
Image: Copyright South Wales Argus
March 2018…
Most of the shop floor has gone, along with half of the first floor staff space.
April 2018…
A number of the site lamp posts still remain, along with the exterior sign, guiding both customers and service vehicles.
Riverside walkway and rear car park…
This is a link to the ‘CollidingPlanets Exploring’ YouTube channel, where they visit the old site around 2016. Go 2 minutes into the video to begin the journey into the building.
Video: Copyright CollidingPlanets Eploring / YouTube (Google)
Under BeechWood 
…. the power of nature, destructive nature of some humans, and the mindful eye for the images created by destruction – thought provoking
LikeLiked by 1 person
It did not take long at all for the car park to be taken over by all manner of weeds, roots and bushes. Nature does remind us that it can return us to a certain state – even if we cover it in concrete, metal and plastic.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow. Such a waste of building and materials.
LikeLike
The site is now flat and fairly empty. In the last weeks of demolition, all materials were neatly (relatively) arranged across the site according to type. Plastic, steel, wood, fabric, foam. It’s strange how we can feel a soft spot for a building which basically represented a food retail outlet in such a functional and corporate way – as do most these days. But a lot of what made the building ‘work’ – its location, its size (its shop floor was small in comparison to today’s modern giant hangers!) and its design – will be missed somehow. Maybe its nostalgia or the curse of fearing the new… but it almost hid itself away on the banks of the river, only a stone’s throw from the city centre.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I actually felt a soft spot for it myself. 😊
LikeLike