Tyre

Tyre, originally uploaded by fotofacade.

Freetown

For more information about my Freetown project check out the Freetown Set here

Shoe

Shoe, originally uploaded by fotofacade.

Freetown

For more information about my Freetown project check out the Freetown Set here

Bovril

Bovril, originally uploaded by fotofacade.

Just at the end of Bridge Street opposite the Brickcroft pub is a small dead end street used for fly tipping. It's a real microcosm of contemporary life. I spent an hour or so photographing within a few square metres

FREETOWN

FREETOWN (NON HDR), originally uploaded by fotofacade.

Freetown is a locale which lies within the hinterland of the expanding town of Bury in Lancashire. Its origins lie in the "free" land which was situated between Church glebe land and the local landowner - the Derby Estate.

Freetown developed as Bury's sweatshop, providing the fragmentary services needed for the rapidly expanding paper and cotton mills around the town. It was a place of artisan craftsmen, and individual entrepreneurship. By the 1830's domestic houses were being built alongside the industrial structures. Street's were called after Pitt, Kay, Cobden and Bright and had strong political attachments. In 1846 a Parliamentary enquiry described Freetown as a filthy place and one of the worst areas of the country to live in.

Freetown is a still a chaotic mix of industry, leisure and commerce which has developed in a completely haphazard and organic way, no doubt encouraged by its status as being free from church and landed gentry control. This "in-betweeness" is all the more apparent by the eclectic nature of it's plan form, the layered tapestry of industrial architecture, and the temporary nature of some of the structures inhabited.

Today most visitors to Freetown would find it raw, dirty, full of shadows, and detritus. It survives, surprisingly, smack bang next to the ordered form of the expanding town centre. It survives, in spite of a society intent on political correctness - and in this respect it is still free. This is what I find remarkable, and dare I say it, refreshing about the place. Areas which look destitute, and survive within the penumbra of our economy, are fertile with real messages about our society and the vast difference between what is perceived and what actually IS.

Over the next few days I will post more images of Freetown

Rochdale Town Hall Clock Tower

Rochdale Town Hall Clock Tower, originally uploaded by fotofacade.

The original clock tower was destroyed by fire - this tower is by Waterhouse and is an iconic site throughout the Rochdale Borough.

Town Hall Vertigo

Town Hall Vertigo, originally uploaded by fotofacade.

Seriously, best viewed LARGE

The steps at Rochdale

The steps at Rochdale, originally uploaded by fotofacade.

The old worn steps leading down to Rochdale Town Centre veiled behind a wall of winter trees.

Bury Silhouette

Bury Silhouette, originally uploaded by fotofacade.

Bury Parish Church from Chesham Local Nature Reserve

Whoooaaa!

Whoooaaa!, originally uploaded by fotofacade.

This morning I managed to cadge a lift during the inspection of a roof on this 42m cherry picker - a little too windy for my liking!

Sunset over Walkers Field

Sunset over Walkers Field, originally uploaded by fotofacade.

It was a damp and dull day today, but I looked out the back window of the attic and saw that maybe the sun might fall below the canopy of cloud in the distance. So, I fixed the camera to the tripod, checked the iso and put the mirror on lock - up. 20 mins later hey presto!

Putting up the prints!

Putting up the prints!, originally uploaded by fotofacade.

I must be settling in to the new home - started putting up the prints :-)

pics are hereand here

Double Folly

Double Folly, originally uploaded by fotofacade.

Graffiti on the folly built for Chesham House (now demolished) in the grounds of Chesham Woods, Bury

Chesham LNR Miniplanet!

Chesham LNR Miniplanet!, originally uploaded by fotofacade.

Open countryside, nature and wildlife for all....

The bridge at Lower Lee Wood 3 of 3

The bridge at Lower Lee Wood 3 of 3, originally uploaded by fotofacade.

Fine art rendition of the pathway over the bridge at Lower Lee Wood, Chesham Local Nature Reserve, Bury.

Map of Chesham Local Nature Reserve, Bury, Lancs

Chesham House Wood 2 of 3

Chesham House Wood 2 of 3, originally uploaded by fotofacade.

Fine art rendition of a beautiful spot in the woods during an early autumnal morning. Chesham Local Nature Reserve, Bury

Map of Chesham Local Nature Reserve, Bury, Lancs

Chesham House Wood 1 of 3

Chesham House Wood 1 of 3, originally uploaded by fotofacade.

Fine art rendition of Chesham House Wood in the Chesham Local Nature Reserve, Bury. I am fascinated by pathways and crossways and thus the emphasis in this and the other three photos

Map of Chesham Local Nature Reserve, Bury, Lancs

Lower Lee Wood

Lower Lee Wood, originally uploaded by fotofacade.

I was up with the birds this morning continuing my quest to record my locality. Lower Lee Wood is part of the Chesham Local Nature Reserve in Bury

Map of Chesham Local Nature Reserve, Bury, Lancs

Tomato Incarnate

Tomato Incarnate, originally uploaded by fotofacade.

Further to gathering in the last of the vegetables on our allotment we came across this little devil of a tomato. This is the real thing - no photoshoping! Perfect for that halloween salad lunch!

Harvest Festival

Harvest Festival, originally uploaded by fotofacade.

The sun is noticeably lower in the sky and the weeds have stopped growing. The wildflower garden is ready to seed and the last of the onions have finished 'airing' in the allotment shed. Leeks are coming into prominance and we've lifted a few for a tasty Italian Leek Risotto. Charlotte is busy clearing up the annuals around the gazebo.

On the map!

On the map!, originally uploaded by fotofacade.

Having moved house, I went to Waterstone's in Manchester to get a map of the area and imagine my surprise in finding one of my photo's on the front of the map of my new area! (where the photo goes to doesn't get reported at the photo agency).


This photo is of the Burr's country park in Bury and if your close by it is well worth a visit

Edgar Wood: the one that got away

Edgar Wood: the one that got away, originally uploaded by fotofacade.

There's always something left in the oven when your cooking for a dinner party. This is the one that I missed out for the exhibition.

Part of the Art Nouveau style gate entrance to the courtyard of Long Street Methodist Church (1901)

View from the attic window

View from the attic window, originally uploaded by fotofacade.

It's good to be back :-)

We finally moved to a new home and now we're back up on the internet which is a relief. So I can start to re-acquaint myself with old friends.

Edgar Wood: Durnford Street

Edgar Wood: Durnford Street, originally uploaded by fotofacade.

Along with Sellers, Wood provides us with an intimation of the Modern in Middleton near Manchester. For me this has intimations of the Wiener Werkstatte and the Palais Stoclet.

Despite it being listed most of the building was demolished recently (just the tower block remains)

See the full exhibition here

Edgar Wood (architect) miniplanet

Edgar Wood (architect) miniplanet, originally uploaded by fotofacade.


See the full exhibition here

Between the 6th and 9th of September 2007 I held an exhibition on Edgar Wood in Middleton at Long Street Methodist Church. Here are the prints from the exhibition which are still available for purchase. All funds go to the Friends of Long Street Methodist Church. For cost and purchase information you can flickr mail me or contact me at enquiries@fotofacade.com.

“There is an individuality about Edgar Wood’s work that represents the unique spirit of Middleton.

His work is rooted in the history, the culture and the buildings of Middleton.

If you look closely at the images in this exhibition, you might notice a dialogue between Wood and the Middleton of his time. A dialogue, which includes form, pattern and decoration, absorbed through his association with other historic buildings such as Saint Leonard’s Parish Church and Hopwood Hall.

Middleton is suffering from an architectural “snow blindness”. This white-out is caused by the fact that we have so many unique and notable buildings.

Edgar Wood’s buildings alone mark out this proud old town as being a little different than others.

How many cities, notwithstanding towns, have the benefit of the unadulterated patronage of an architectural genius – and also reflect the full architectural development of such a genius?

Add to this the remarkable collection of significant other buildings scattered throughout the town, and we have something that can’t and won’t remain unnoticed forever.

It is important therefore for us, as custodians of our historic town, to ensure that Middleton’s importance is recognised beyond its borders, and that we look after our historic built heritage – down to the very last detail.

This exhibition is intended to further this cause, and also to bring attention to the threats and dangers, which are apparent to some of his buildings.

Long Street Methodist Church is one such building, and it needs your support to continue its future as a priceless part of Middleton’s built heritage.

Thanks to the Friends of Long Street Methodist Church for commissioning this work.

This exhibition is dedicated to my Mum and Dad. “

woodyoubelieveit

woodyoubelieveit, originally uploaded by fotofacade.

Allotment stories

Allotment stories, originally uploaded by fotofacade.

Went up to the allotment after a stressful day this evening and just tinkered about, pruning here and gathering fruit there. Cleared out the pea patch ready for winter vegetables and gave the tomatoes and cucumbers a long hard drink. The onions are doing fine drying out in the shed.

Harvesting the onions

Harvesting the onions, originally uploaded by fotofacade.

I get so much enjoyment out of sketching and recording things. We got an allotment in April and now were able to reap the rewards. We harvested some of the onions over the weekend and strung them up in the shed (after doing this sketch)

North City Library Community Project

North City Library Community Project, originally uploaded by fotofacade.

More images from the North City Library Community Project

North City Library Community Project

North City Library Community Project, originally uploaded by fotofacade.

I tried to introduce a bit of deliberate symbolism here. I get the impression that the building is infusing energy into the book shelf and subsequently the cultural outreach in an inner city area.

Yesterday, I was invited along to join in the fun at the North City Library Community Photography Project and it was great to mix with others and see how they interpreted the building. All the Manchester flickrites should check out the next event and try and get along to photograph this wonderful building which has helped regenerate the Harpurhey area - more about the future events at the 'I Love North City Library' pool.

Saint Mary the Virgin, Bury, UK

Saint Mary the Virgin, Bury, UK, originally uploaded by fotofacade.

South Chapel: GLASS SAFETY BOX with Early C21st PAT tested Torch by DURACELL and late C19th trefoil iron key

Saint Mary the Virgin, Bury, UK

Saint Mary the Virgin, Bury, UK, originally uploaded by fotofacade.

The glory of the double hammer beam roof looking beyond Giles Gilbert Scott's iron screen towards the west end rose window.

Saint Mary the Virgin, Bury UK

Saint Mary the Virgin, Bury UK, originally uploaded by fotofacade.

Chapel Screen by Giles Gilbert Scott (Liverpool Anglican Cathedral and K2 telephone box, Battersea Power Station)

Door Detail, Bury Parish Church

Door Detail, Bury Parish Church, originally uploaded by fotofacade.

Victorian iron work at its very best. Here on the vestry door at Saint Mary the Virgin Bury, Lancashire UK.

We are not amused

We are not amused, originally uploaded by fotofacade.

By using a really low angle and a wide angle lens I tried to convey the strong presence of the statue of Queen Victoria in Derby Square, Liverpool. The city is full of remarkable architecture including plenty of sculptures and statues like this.

Looking forward to the 2008 year of culture.

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Oriel Chambers, Liverpool

Oriel Chambers, Liverpool, originally uploaded by fotofacade.

Not a great photograph - but a remarkable building. Oriel Chambers is reputed to be one of the first iron framed commercial buildings on the planet - built by Peter Ellis in 1864. In terms of it's style it is a pre-cursor of the modern movement. A must see building for archi buffs!

Memories of Maine Road

Memories of Maine Road, originally uploaded by fotofacade.

This image says it all to me about the end of football at Maine road. It is so symbolic with the deflated football lost and ragged on the barbed wire over the turnstiles

Maine Road, home of Manchester City Football Club was demolished in 2003/2004. For me (as a City Fan) the ground was a hallowed place - so over the last few days of its existence I spent some time taking my own impressions of the stadium.

Check out the full set here

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Memories of Maine Road

Memories of Maine Road, originally uploaded by fotofacade.

Check out the full set here

Maine Road, home of Manchester City Football Club was demolished in 2003/2004. For me (as a City Fan) the ground was a hallowed place - so over the last few days of its existence I spent some time taking my own impressions of the stadium.

Dormer, Burano, Venice, Italy

Dormer, Burano, Venice, Italy, originally uploaded by fotofacade.

Burano is the most colourful place to visit. It is one of the smaller islands outside of Venice, famous for its lacemaking. The colours of the houses are kept the same and are subject to planning controls

Our Allotment

Our Allotment, originally uploaded by fotofacade.

We got an allotment at Easter. It was a bare patch of earth. Charlotte worked at planting the vegetables and my little project is ahem, the architectural little bit in the middle....:-)

Things change so quickly down at the allotment. The peas have come on with all the wet weather, as have the courgettes (although the mice have had more of them than we have).

I can't explain how soul enhancing having a patch of earth to scratch around in is. It's wonderful

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Isola di San Michele, Venice 3 of 4

Isola di San Michele, Venice 3 of 4, originally uploaded by fotofacade.

Hey, I'm sure that I have put this pic up before, but I LOVE IT! It has a wonderful symbolism to it. Taken at the remarkable Isola di San Michele - it is the burial ground of Venetians. I took it with my Bronica ETRSi 645 medium format camera - which I miss sorely. I miss the mechanical clunk and geared feel of the film winder. I miss putting 645 film into the back on a windy day. I miss its bulk, weight and feel.

Liverpool Cathedrals

Liverpool Cathedrals, originally uploaded by fotofacade.

View of the Anglican Cathedral from the Catholic Cathedral Liverpool UK

For King and Country

For King and Country, originally uploaded by fotofacade.

Bronze statue of King George V overlooking Queensway entrance to the Mersey Tunnel Liverpool UK

The Georgian Doorways of Rodney Street

The Georgian Doorways of Rodney Street, originally uploaded by fotofacade.

Remarkable it is that we have such an abundant survival of Georgian architecture in Liverpool. These doorways are beautiful examples which are situated on Rodney Street.

Vicenza Velo

Vicenza Velo, originally uploaded by fotofacade.

At first glimpse the raison d'etre of this image seems to be the idyllic and pastoral scene befitting of a red bicycle and an ancient wall. Look beyond that and you have a wonderful sequence and stratigraphy of surviving archaeology in the wall itself.

Zecca Mint, San Marco, Venice

Zecca Mint, San Marco, Venice, originally uploaded by fotofacade.

This beautiful building by Sansovino built in the local Istrian stone can, when contemplated from the ground, be read like a music sheet.

Gargoyle, Chichester Cathedral

Gargoyle, Chichester Cathedral, originally uploaded by fotofacade.

Great to see a contemporary slant on this Gargoyle at Chichester Cathedral UK. It just goes to show that the organic tradition of cathedral building is alive and well and that the C20th is well represented!

Pattern and Decoration in Architecture

Pattern and Decoration in Architecture, originally uploaded by fotofacade.

Here is a medley of shots showing pattern and decoration in architecture. You can see it best large here.

I have compiled this for my latest photo tips article on Pattern and Decoration here

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Pinnacle

Pinnacle, originally uploaded by fotofacade.

An ethereal shot of Manchester Cathedral UK

Yup, I did some post processing here - but I deliberately wanted to create an atmosphere.The cathedral was shrouded in fog and there was a strong backlighting from a street light. I was heavily influenced by the b&w film Nosferatu and this image fits the bill!

Venezia

Venezia, originally uploaded by fotofacade.

Sunrise on the Piazzetta San Marco Venice Italy

Santa Maria della Salute

Santa Maria Salute, originally uploaded by fotofacade.

Built by Longhena in the early C17th as a votive church in thanks for Venice being spared from the plague. He deliberatly used these spiral motif's elevate the dome and give it a spinning fairground feel