Surrogate (Virtual) Walks

Contents

Overview

There are 9 virtual walks available on the National Disc (these are called 'surrogate walks' in the Domesday documentation).  The available walks are as follows (note: these are the 'index' names for the walks rather than the on-screen title):

  1. A countryside walk
  2. A walk around a council flat
  3. A walk around a farm
  4. A walk around a showhouse
  5. A walk around a stone cottage
  6. A walk around a terrace house
  7. A walk around Brecon
  8. A walk around a detached house
  9. An urban walk

The titles and descriptions of the walks vary in the documentation, the title pictures, the indexed names and so on (and this can be a little confusing).  The sections are therefore organised by the indexed name and information about other naming is provided in each section.

In the following sections you will find details about each walk including pictures and geographical information (if known) on the locations of the walks.

A countryside walk

Description from disc

Title page

A Scottish Wilderness

The title picture for a countryside walk

Description

This is a forestry plantation and moorland in SW Scotland. Sitka and Norway spruce are planted in blocks of 3 to 30 years growth.  The wettest sites are unplanted and are covered by purple moor grass and cotton grass.  Heather grows on the drier soils.  The soils are poor and acid with thick layers of peat in places.  Rainfall is high.

Photographed: October 1985

Plans

Plan for a countryside walk

Frame information

Start frame: 37860

Total frames: 893

Geographical location

Unknown.  Mentioned to be in the Dumfries area (during a talk at the CfCH).

A walk around a council flat

Description from disc

Title page

Council 'High Rise' Flat

Title picture for a walk around a council flat

Description

Council estates characterised by semi-skilled and unskilled families, high unemployment and some ethnic groups.  Some households are large but there are many one parent families.  Residents are generally younger than average and tend to move frequently.  Few people have their own cars.

Typical locations: Hackney, Islington

Photographed: January 1986

Plans

Plan for a walk around a council flat (external)
Plan for a walk around a council flat (internal)

Frame information

Start frame: 30211

Total frames: 519

Geographical location

The high rise building featured in the walk is Trellick Tower. Trellick Tower is a 31-storey block of flats in Kensal Town, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, England.

The building can be found on Google maps using this link.

A walk around a farm

Description from disc

Title page

Farm and Farmhouse

Title picture for a walk around a farm

Description

This is an 890 acre mixed farm in East Anglia.  The main enterprise is a herd of 300 dairy cattle which graze outdoors most of the year.  Crops grown include grass for silage, some maize for feed, 260 acres of cereals (which are dried and stored on the farm) and 200 acres of sugar beet.  There are also pigs, battery hens and a farm shop.

Photographed: September 1985

Plans

Plan for A walk around a farm (external) 1
Plan for a walk around a farm (external) 2
Plan for a walk around a farm (internal - ground floor)
Plan for a walk around a farm (internal - first floor)

Frame information

Start frame: 38760

Total frames: 2056

Geographical location

The farm is located at: Grange Farm, Buxton Road, Norwich NR10 3PR, United Kingdom

You can view the farm on Google maps using the following link.

A walk around a showhouse

Description from disc

Title page

2 Bedroomed House

A show house representing one of the best selling semi-detached homes.

Title picture for a walk around a showhouse

Description

Typical occupants: Mostly white collar with a minority of skilled manual worker.  Young families with working wives, few old people.  Most workers commute by car.  High spending on consumer goods.

Typical locations: Tamworth, Basingstoke, Chelmsford

Photographed: February 1986

Plans

Plans for a walk around a showhouse (ground floor)
Plans for a walk around a showhouse (first floor)

Frame information

Start frame: 29961

Total frames: 234

Geographical location

The show house featured on the disc is located at 8 Halfway Close, Birmingham, B44 8JL.  You can view the house on Google maps using the following link.

A walk around a stone cottage

Description from disc

Title page

Stone Cottage

Title picture for a walk around a stone cottage

Description

Found in rural areas where the communities depend mainly on farming for their livelihood.  Also popular with retired and second-home owners.  Few shops and services but high levels of car ownership.  Population older than average with below average unemployment.

Typical locations: Cornwall, North Wales, Cotswolds.

Photographed: November 1985

Plans

Plans for a walk around a stone cottage (ground floor)
Plans for a walk around a stone cottage (first floor)

Frame information

Start frame: 32236

Total frames: 777

Geographical location

Unknown.  Likely to be near Bodmin, Cornwall (various reference to Bodmin and Fore Street in pictures).  Mentioned as being in Cornwall during a CfCH talk.

A walk around a terrace house

Description from disc

Title page

Terraced House

Title picture for a walk around a terrace house

Description

Typical occupants: Mainly skilled and semi-skilled workers in manufacturing and mining.  Age and family structure close to the national average but with more elderly people.  Unemployment is typical of country as a whole.  Property is a mixture of owner-occupied and unfurnished rental with low residential turnover.

Typical locations: Bolsover, Rugby, Merseyside

Photographed: November 1985

Plans

Plans for a walk around a terrace house (ground floor)
Plans for a walk around a terrace house (first floor)

Frame information

Start frame: 31784

Total frames: 442

Geographical location

The house in the walk is located at: 193 New Chester Rd, Birkenhead, Wirral CH62 4RD, UK

You can view the house on Google Maps using this link.

A walk around Brecon

Description from disc

Title page

Brecon

Title picture for a walk around Brecon

Description

Brecon in Powys (population 6,500) represents commercial and administrative life. It is the centre for the Brecon Beacons National Park and is also a market town with regular livestock auctions.  As one of the oldest Welsh towns Brecon retains a charter to allow street fairs.  Most people work in local shops and offices and there is a sense of a well integrated community.

Photographed: October 1985

Plans

Plans for a walk around Brecon

Frame information

Start frame: 33035

Total frames: 2738

Geographical location

The featured area of Brecon can be found on Google maps using this link.

A walk around a detached house

Description from disc

Title page

'Stockbroker Belt' House

Title picture for a walk around a detached house

Description

Here is the highest concentration of professional and managerial workers, many commuting to office jobs.  The unemployment rate is low.  Families are usually small with children in secondary or higher education.  Houses are mostly detached, in rural or semi-rural settings and owner-occupied.  Residential turnover is low.

Typical locations: Epsom, Solihull, Bearsden, Ponteland

Photographed: December 1985

Plans

Plans for a walk around a detached house (ground floor)
Plans for a walk around a detached house (first floor)

Frame information

Start frame: 30735

Total frames: 1033

Geographical location

Unknown.  The house is most likely in the Wycombe district as there are various references to Wycombe in the picture set:

  • #31329 - A map of Hurley
  • #31335 - Wycombe Tele-Pages
  • #31483 - Wycombe half-marathon medal
  • #31486 - Barclays Bank slip "Beaconsfield Bucks"

An urban walk

Description from disc

Title page

An Urban Environment

Title picture for an urban walk

Description

An area of mixed housing with a multi-ethnic population in a Northern English city.  Unemployment is high.  Some houses have been improved - others are in need of repair.  Major renovation of council owned terraces is underway.  The low rise estate was built in the early 70s.  Recent landscaping, provision of play areas and local workshops illustrates a change in the approach to urban planning.

Photographed: October 1985

Plans

Plans for an urban walk (North)
Plans for an urban walk (South)

Frame information

Start frame: 35786

Total frames: 2169

Geographical location

The location depicted in the walk is the Elswick Road area of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.  The top-right of the map is Westgate Road and the bottom-left is Elswick Road.  You can view the area in Google maps using the following link.