Crowds "clapped and cheered" as the life of an unloved shopping precinct came to a dramatic end.
Generations of Greater Manchester shoppers will remember the widely regarded "disaster" that was St Peter's Precinct. Built in 1967, it was at the time Oldham's flagship retail destination, and provided subway access to Henshaw Street, Cheapside and Market Street.
In 1968, a new Tesco supermarket was opened in the precinct by the Liverpool comedian Ken Dodd. It was also the location of the town's main Post Office and the still fondly remembered Piazza Café.
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But it wasn't long after it was built that the flaws in its design became painfully apparent. The precinct was deemed "ugly" by many shoppers and its exposed, roofless design meant that Oldham's winds blew wild, chilling to the bone those brave enough to shop there.
The subway link to the nearby C&A store is said to have acted like a wind tunnel while those on the upper floors would feel the building sway. With the precinct's layout leaving it hopelessly exposed to the elements, it soon acquired the name 'Windy City'.
The unattractive, windswept precinct had become so much of a running joke in the town, that an advertising feature placed in Oldham's The Advertiser newspaper in June, 1986 tried to make-light of its problems in an attempt to attract more shoppers.
The advertisement read: "Dull and uninspiring on first impression but don't be deceived. Pull on your warmest sweater to combat those notorious Oldham winds and you may be in for a pleasant surprise.
"There are many independent traders in this underestimated shopping precinct, each one offering a service on which customers can rely and thoroughly trust." Not quite selling it to prospective customers, a damning report into the precinct followed later the same year sealing its fate.
Plans for a new shopping centre to replace 'Windy City' had already been raised by the council. The conclusion of a council meeting to discuss a report into the precinct, published in The Advertiser, said the precinct was "a mistake and should be demolished" due to its design leaving it so exposed to the elements.
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Soon more newspaper stories appeared in The Advertiser announcing exciting plans for a new shopping centre to replace St Peter's Precinct. To make sure the new retail venture didn't suffer the same fate, the "three-level centre with car park and conservatory would act as a windbreak" hopefully putting a stop to the weather problems that plagued the old precinct.
The proposed new centre would in contrast be "attractive, warm, and a pleasure for shoppers to use." The Advertiser stated: "Many local folk can't wait to see the death of the notorious St Peter's Shopping Precinct, branded Windy City because of its hostile weather conditions."
Conservative councillor Richard Postle was also quoted as saying at a council meeting: "Having made a mess of it before it is vital we get it right this time. St Peter's has always been a problem. It is almost totally exposed and out-classed by the centres of other towns."
A proposed design for the new £30m costing - later increased to £70m - 300,000 sq. ft shopping centre were released to the public. Aimed at "injecting Oldham with a brand new lease of life" the plans revealed what must surely have been seen as a Godsend for the town's shoppers - a glass roof.
But what to call this new space-age shopping paradise? One of the earliest proposed names was Crystal City.
But by 1987, and as costs for the new complex rose, new names were put forward by local shoppers including Seventh Heaven, Valentine Parade, and even the Aladdin Shopping Centre.
Other names suggested included The Mills Shopping Centre, The Aldhulme Centre, St Peter's Dome, Windsor Walk, Pennine Springs and Hartford Complex.
As the end of St Peter's Precinct drew near, the new name was announced. The Advertiser reported in January 1990: "Oldham's 'Windy City' will be blown away later this month. The town's concrete eyesore, St Peter's Precinct, will be reduced to rubble in the blink of an eye on Sunday, January 28 at 11.30am."
"Rising out of the ashes of the precinct will be the planned shopping development The Spindles. Developers Arlington's hope that the name will reflect the pride felt by Oldhamers for the town's long links with the cotton industry."
Large crowds were expected to see the despised shopping centre demolished. And they did, in great numbers, eager to see what was commonly viewed as a blight on Oldham's town centre come crashing down.
The feelings of years of disgruntled Oldhamers was perhaps best expressed by The Advertiser story on 'Windy City's' demolition on February 1, 1990.
Barely concealing the glee of the precinct's demise, The Advertiser reported: "Oldham's unloved St Peter's Precinct was blown up on Sunday. Nine-year-old David Ogden of Chadderton had the job many Oldhamers would have gladly done when he gave the signal for the ton of explosives to be triggered.
"The explosion ripped through the building blowing out windows and breaking its back. The block began to sag, its legs buckled and it came crashing down in a cloud of dust.
"The large crowd, who had braved the element to witness the last few seconds of 'Windy City' clapped and cheered as the dust cleared to reveal a large pile of smashed concrete and twisted metal."
The the dust settled and the remains of the detested concrete giant were soon swept away. In September 1993, the brand new Spindles shopping centre, opened by Oldham's mayor, welcomed a new crowd of shoppers - unmolested by the town's winds.
Does St Peter's Precinct awaken any memories for you? Let us know in the comments section below.
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