Lowfield Street by Steve Keene

by | Jun 14, 2015 | Local Comment

Lowfield StreetOn a spring Sunday I found myself in Dartford. I hadn’t planned on being there, but as I made my way into the town I thought I’d take a few photos on my phone. I entered the town from the south, making my way up Lowfield Street. This street was once a busy street, full of shops. Ten or so years ago Tesco went about buying everything up, promising to level the place and build a new store, to reinvigorate the area, bring jobs, regeneration,
all that stuff. They recently decided against that plan. So, now Lowfield Street is made up of mainly boarded-up shops and derelict buildings. This is the Death of the High Street and the Evils of Huge Corporations and all those other Capitalised Wrongs in action.
Dartford was always going to suffer for having one of Europe’s largest shopping centres down the road. Again, the Death of the High Street in action. But there is always a place for local shops. Until they are bought up and left to fall apart, I guess. I felt a little odd pointing my camera at hoardings and boarded-up windows. I took a photo of a St George’s flag fluttering in front of a block of flats. It felt like a cliché. Taking photos in black and white felt clichéd too, like I was labouring the point. Or maybe even manipulating what I saw. It was a beautiful day with a clear blue sky, and here I was making the place look drab and gloomy.
There was something a little eerie about Lowfield Street. It might have been the unseasonably warm weather, that made me feel like I’d wandered from a cool, grey morning into the height of a summer’s afternoon. It might have been the time of the week and the time of day. Sunday afternoons are quiet everywhere, right? Every shop was closed, but I suspect that one or two are still in business, they just don’t open Sundays. One or two properties looked like they had been re-purposed for storage. It was hard to tell with some buildings whether they were in the process of being pulled down, or being patched up. Neither standing nor not standing. Lowfield Street
Many of the buildings are pretty old. Even boarded-up and falling down they offered a glimpse of the town’s past. This is how Dartford was once. I’m not completely against redevelopment, but there needs to the promise of something better replacing what went before. I don’t think that happens often. A row of shops still seems a better experience than a generic retail barn. I made my way into the town centre. There was bunting and people milling about and a lovely view down to the old church. There are moments like this when Dartford feels like a real, distinct town, rather than a blighted suburb, a non-place, a lost place.
There is still the promise there. Just. Sadly, it is probably not in the boarded-up Lowfield Street. But it is still there. Somewhere.

Messy Dash Makes a Big Impact- Local Families and Supporters Raise £21,000 for We Are Beams

In an explosion of colour, laughter, and community spirit, over 1,000 participants took part in the We Are Beams Messy Dash on Sunday 6th July, raising an outstanding £21,000 to support disabled children and their families. Held at Dartford...

Ben Portsmouth brings the ULTIMATE Elvis experience to Orchard West on Sunday, 31st August

Ben is not just a tribute artist; he is the real deal, being regarded as the closest living performer to the legendary Elvis Presley. With global success in over 20 countries, Ben Portsmouth brings energy, passion and authenticity in a way that no one else can...

HAMILTON’S CLEVE SEPTEMBER RETURNS IN TITLE ROLE OF ALADDIN AT ORCHARD WEST THIS CHRISTMAS

Having won Dartford audiences over in his performance in panto last year at Orchard West, the Olivier Award-nominated Cleve September is set to return this season in the title role of Aladdin. Cleve will take centre stage alongside the previously announced TV...

Two days of entertainment and activity coming to Dartford

Get ready for two days of incredible entertainment as the Big Day Out weekend returns to Dartford’s Central Park on 12-13 July, bringing with it live music, vintage steam vehicles, family-friendly activities, and more – all completely free! Saturday will kick-off with...

FIND DARTFORD’S JASMINE

OPEN AUDITIONS ANNOUNCED!Your Chance to Shine in This Year’s Magical Pantomime Aladdin! Orchard West and Imagine Theatre are on the lookout for a shining star as they launch open auditions toFIND DARTFORD’S JASMINE! Aspiring performers are invited to attend auditions...

New social supermarket opens in Dartford

Dartford Larder, a new social supermarket designed to provide an alternative to Foodbanks, has officially opened in Dartford. Situated in Copperfields Walk, Dartford Larder aims to: provide an affordable shopping experience, tackle food insecurity, and resolve food...

WALKING WITH THE DARTS | JUNE-JULY EDITION

Hello again, welcome to another edition of Walking With The Darts, a monthly update on all things related to Dartford FC, courtesy of Dartford Living Magazine. Before I begin, please accept my sincere apologies for the lack of content recently. It has been a hectic...

How to transform your home on a budget 

By Qashish Dhiraj Mehta  Giving your apartment a makeover can feel like a uphill task. With a limited budget and limited space, every piece of furniture, every decoration, and every storage solution has to work overtime. But here’s the good news: a tight pocket...

Your Plans, Our Support: How Wave Community Bank support the local community with affordable loans

Life in Dartford and the surrounding areas often brings new opportunities and unexpected needs. Whether you're dreaming of solar panels on your roof to cut energy bills, need a new car for the daily commute, or simply require a smaller loan to by a...

Why Your Savings Belong at Wave Community Bank (Especially if You’re in Dartford!)

When it comes to stashing away your hard-earned money, you've got options. Big banks, online-only institutions, and then there's your local credit union. While the giants often grab the headlines, there's a compelling case to be made for choosing a credit union...