Cleveland Tower
1994
Twiggy lived in Cleveland Tower, one of a pair with Clydesdale Tower opposite, on Holloway Head. "In the 1980s they must have been about 20% gay, because lots of people had been diagnosed with HIV it was obvious there was a connection and so at this time some people called them the 'Pearly Gates'. I moved in in about 1994, after having trouble where I lived before, the Council's policy was they would rehouse you and so luckily after seeing a solicitor I managed to get a flat in the Towers. It was rough when I first moved in as there was no security, lots of drug dealers. It's much better since we opted into a housing association, there is security and it feels much safer and the blocks were refurbished internally and externally about 2001."
Contributed by: Twiggy, 40