close
close

Demolition date ‘confirmed’ for Only Fools and Horses tower where Del Boy ‘lived’ to be replaced by £850m flats

Nelson Mandela House remains one of the most famous fictional houses on British television, having featured in the iconic sitcom Only Fools and Horses. But in real life, the exterior image of the famous tower block is Harlech Tower, on the South Acton Estate, but it is due to be demolished in 2027, MyLondon can confirm.

The iconic tower block in Ealing provided the exterior of Nelson Mandela House in Peckham and is seen at the start of each episode during the title sequence. He also appeared in the 1985 special To Hull and Back. The three-bedroom flat was home to the Trotter family, including Del Boy (Sir David Jason), his younger brother Rodney (Nicholas Lyndhurst) and other relatives who lived there during the show’s 1981-2003 run.




But Harlech Tower will soon become a piece of history as Ealing Council plans to demolish it within three years. After World War II, that particular area of ​​Acton was redeveloped with new high-rise housing.

READ MORE: Disabled Sutton woman slips down stairs on bottom to leave home after faulty lift installation

Only Fools and Horses stars Nicholas Lyndhurst as Rodney Trotter, David Jason as Derek ‘Del Boy’ Trotter and Lennard Pearce as Grandpa(Image: BBC)

The new housing schemes were a modern feature as the flats had en suite bathrooms and central heating which was a huge luxury at the time. But despite taking 30 years to complete, Harlech Tower fell into disrepair rather quickly – which made it so perfect to feature in Only Fools and Horses as the shabby home of a working-class family.

Ealing Council plans to replace the ‘skinny’ tower blocks with high-quality homes that will be able to house more people. In a statement, a spokesman for Ealing Council explained the importance of replacing Harlech Tower and plans to provide social housing in the area in the future.

They said: “In 1949, work began to clear out the old housing in South Acton and replace it with a new estate centered around large tower blocks of the type that sprang up across the country after the Second World War. time to be a big step forward, with indoor bathrooms and central heating – lasted over 30 years.

“Unfortunately, it fell quickly and into decline, suffering from the same fundamental design and social problems that marred many post-war high-rises. Harlech Tower was already so dilapidated by 1981 that it was a perfect fit when the BBC producers were distributing the film. on the heels of Nelson Mandela’s House for Only Fools and Horses, the opening credits.

Related Articles

Back to top button