The Phoenix - Corby

Corby's status as one of the UK's top tourist draws continues to grow. The (soon to be) world famous 'Beanfield Avenue Mid-Century Architecture Trail' (BAM-CAT) is just one of many key attractions in the town, and has been drawing in tourists, albeit mainly from the Beanfield Avenue area itself, for many years now. Here's a short walking guide to the trail which starts and/or finishes at The Phoenix pub (above), one of two convenient refreshment stops nearby (see also The Domino), and itself a striking modernist building in the mid-century 'toit plat' style that Corby is also (soon to be) world famous for.

The Phoenix

The Phoenix was originally built as a far eastern outlet of Birmingham's mighty Davenports Brewery. Readers of a certain age will undoubtedly remember Davenports as the 'Beer At Home' specialist, delivering their distinctive orange crates of foaming bottled Brummie beer to thirsty customers throughout the Midlands and beyond. If you don't remember the beer itself, you'll certainly remember the ridiculously catchy TV adverts. Davenports also built an estate of over 100 pubs before finally merging with the even mightier Greenall Whitley Brewery of Warrington in 1986. The Birmingham brewery was subsequently closed, though recently the Davenports brand has been successfully revived by Empire Star Ltd.

It's quite likely that The Phoenix would have been one of the last pubs Davenports built before its ill-fated merger with Greenalls. Davenports, in common with many other Midlands breweries, would have been keen to grab a slice of the lucrative Steel and Tube Works trade at a time when Corby's population was expanding rapidly. An image of the pub from its pristine heyday can be found online, a gleaming white, ultra-modern classic of post-war architecture that has something of the 'Art Deco Motel' about it. Unfortunately that image is commercially licensed so I can't reproduce it here, but the above photograph by Alex McGregor has been made available under a Creative Commons license, and gives a pretty good idea of what the pub looked like when it was first built, albeit not quite so gleamy-white. This was taken shortly before the £350 million refurbishment that resulted in the smart modernised pub we see today. We'll come back to The Phoenix of course, but it's now time to take a stroll into the areas remarkable near-future past...

The Beanfield Avenue Mid-Century Architecture Trail

Early morning at Beanfield Shopping Court and Flats

In common with all of Corby's later estate pubs, The Phoenix was built as just one small part of a neighbourhood shopping court that would have included all the essentials of 'moderne' life. Inevitably this includes the striking, if somewhat 'brutally' functional Viking Fish Bar, a minor classic of its type. In fact the whole shopping court is a treat for late 20th century concrete fans, and this includes a small block of balconied flats that have a period style all of their own. I've yet to find the Viking open, and therefore can't comment on the quality of the chips, but I'd have to say it's doubtful whether any of Corby's Fish Bars are less than excellent, there are quite a few to choose from, and competition fierce.

The Tower and Cross are often the most striking features of post-war church buildings like the one shown here, and this example at St Ninian's Church Of Scotland is certainly an impressive example that draws the eye correctly upward. A classic late 60’s design by C.L Gotch & Partners, occupying a large grassy plot adjacent to the architecturally noteworthy Community Centre. The substantial church hall has none of the decoration you might expect to see on a place of worship, it's more of a practical building with an emphasis on light and space that lends itself to a whole host of local community activities in addition to its primary function as a church.

There's a definite wow-factor about St Peters & St Andrews. The original church building would have been contemporary with nearby St Ninian's, a much plainer building that was sadly destroyed in a disastrous fire. The current impressive building dates from around 1966, and the work of Dodson, Gillet & Partners who seem to have specialised in ecclesiastical buildings in the post-war years. It's a stunner of bold angular design and multi-coloured glass, as impressive within as it is without from what I've seen. Even the tower has been beautifully embellished with a matching array of coloured glasswork. If you only get to see one fabulous modern church in Corby, make it this one, and the defunct Anglican Church of the Epiphany in the town centre. Go on, have two, treat yourself...

Head back to the pub now, taking care to admire the sturdy ‘bunkeresque’ Church of Christ, and the lovely decorative brickwork on the Life Gate Baptist Church next door. But not before a quick look at the nearby Catholic edifice of St Brendan's, a sturdy 1960's design by Reynolds & Scott. Perhaps a bit of come-down after the incredible St Peters & St Andrews, but this seems to be the Catholic way. Impressive in stature, but somewhat lacking in the decoration and bold design. I'm sure it would pay to visit during an evening service though when the church is lit from within, as the glass frontage is decorated with a huge glass panel featuring the Virgin & Child in a colourful burst of sunlight.

At this point the Trail affords a rare opportunity to view a classic Milliken Brothers designed Transmission Tower (Pylon to you and me) right up-close and personal. Chosen as the winning design by Sir Reginald Bloomfield in a 1927 competition by the then Central Electricity Board, the design was in fact regarded as something of a reaction to the Modernist trend sweeping the nation at the time.

Now back to the pub for a well-earned refresher, Guinness for choice, a design classic itself, though of course other national brands are available. I recall when the pub was first refurbished, one of the tradesmen was singing its praises on social media, and I have to say I can see why. Personally I'd have much preferred it if the pub had been restored to its former 60's glory, but that was probably never going to happen. Big pub companies like Punch, who now own the pub, have a pretty firm idea about what they want pubs like these to look like, and sleek 60's, slightly 'brutal' modernism isn't it, sadly...

Clearly what they were in fact aiming for was a brighter, cleaner, bang-up-to-date modern interior fit for the 21st century pub-goer, and that's exactly what we've got. A large single room wrapped around the bar servery with a number of distinct areas. Plenty of comfy bench seating, Darts and Pool in the games area, and all the Sport on the numerous tellys dotted around the pub, though mostly the Football sport I'd guess. It's a fine looking pub, though sadly I went during a very slow weekday afternoon session so it was hard to judge the mood of the place. Not many BAM-CAT tourists in at that time of day, presumably it's more of a weekend thing.

The view from the Bar to the impressive Community Centre