The Beaconsfield Buildings in Kings Cross

Situated off the Caledonian Road the Beaconsfield Buildings were designed by Charles Barry jnr. and were built by the Victoria Dwellings Association in the late 1870s to provide ‘healthy and comfortable housing for the labouring classes’. The 383 flats were an attempt to alleviate overcrowding but quickly came to provided accommodation for over 1000 people. Conditions quickly deteriorated with the Buildings becoming known as ‘The Crumbles’. The flats were cleared during the late 1960s and early 1970s and the site became Bingfield park and adventure playground.