Current condition
Demolished / No longer exists
Date completed
Date closed / demolished
These were built at the north end of Leighton Hill.
A resident remembers that Block A was commonly known as the 'Old Block', and Block B as the 'Middle Block'.
Blocks C & D were built a few years later.
Previous place(s) at this location
Later place(s) at this location
Photos that show this Place
1948
1948
1952
Comments
Leighton Hill quarters
Jaberu wrote:
The rooms in these old government quarters had exceptionally wide doorways. I recall reading somewhere that this was deliberate as the quarters were designed for emergency use as hospital wards, and the wide doorways were intended to facilitate the movement of beds. Can anyone confirm?
Re: Leighton Hill Quarters
As I recall, going back to 1948 when the quarters being erected, nothing was mentioned in the printed media of their use as standby emergency wards.
Leighton Hill quarters
You may well be right, moddsey. Thank you. This was probably just another myth - but the doorways were certainly rather wider than usual.
Re: Leighton Hill quarters - when were they demolished?
Does anyone remember in what year was the whole complex demolished? I believe some military quarters on Wong Nai Chong Road were also demolished to make way for the present day "The Leighton Hill". Thanks.
re: Leighton Hill
I remember walking around there when they were being pulled down, I'm guessing around 1999/2000 - the strikingly unatttractive 'Leighton Hill' complex was completed 2002. The govt also sold the blocks on Wong Nai Chung Road, which presumably allowed the developer to build a lot higher on the hill itself, given they were replaced with a public garden, town hall and road
Leighton Hill quarters
But please now see Keith Kilvert's comment under Life on Leighton Hill in the 1950s and 60s.
RE:Leighton Hill Governement Quarters
The China Mail of 2 December 1948 contains information on the construction and cost of Leighton Hill Government Quarters.
I've set the demolition date
I've set the demolition date to December 1999, based on 80skid's memory. Let us know if you have a more accurate date.
I've also changed the title from 'North Blocks' to their correct name, Blocks A & B.
Regards, David
Leighton Hill Government Flats
The Leighton Hill Government flats were described as,
"...the prototype of many similar buildings erected in Hong Kong and Kowloon, which are being proceeded with an effort to relieve the housing shortage for Government servants of all grades."
Peak Pavilions Flats, Queens Garden Flats and Kings Park Flats were quoted as being based on the same design.
(The Hong Kong and Far East Builder, November & December 1948)
Here's a link to one of the pages of the article, which includes a photo of the corridor within one of the flats. Yes, it is unusually wide but there's no mention of the reason being because the blocks were designed as a hospital.
Hong Kong and Far East builder, vol.7 no.2 (November & December, 1948)