The luxury riverside pigeon loft which was specially built for some of the finest birds in the world
Four workmen spent around six months on preparing the site
This might well qualify for the finest pigeon loft ever built.
The magnificent structure took pride of place near the banks of the Wear in Sunderland 70 years ago today but it’s background story was a real eye-opener.
It was designed by the owner, Colonel Armand Hopas of Cleadon in South Tyneside, who was recognised as an international authority on pigeons in the 1950s. He was a notable local figure and designer.
Col Hopas arranged for the loft to be first built in West Hartlepool.
Once it was complete, it was dismantled piece by piece and moved North by road to its final home in Sunderland.
Four workmen spent around six months on preparing the site and then putting up the building, starting in November 1955.
By May 1956, they were working on buttressing up the foundations on the steep sloping bank. A row of railway sleepers was driven into the ground to give added strength to the bank, which was lowered by five feet before the building of the loft began.
The photo shows the fine structure in place with St Stephen s Church in the background in the Ayres Quay area of Sunderland.
A Sunderland Echo report at the time said: “Standing tall and handsome in a coat of new white paint, this is to be the home of some of the finest racing pigeons in the country.”
We would love to hear from anyone who remembers this pigeon loft taking pride of place at the riverside, or who can tell us more about its creator.
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