Saint Edmund's - The full scheme

Saint Edmund's - The full scheme, originally uploaded by fotofacade.

SEE IT LARGE!
Saint Edmund's, Falinge near Rochdale - is a real tour-de-force. Built in the 1870's for £28,000 (when a good church cost £4000). It is a Masonic Church and Pevsner says that it has symbolism to rival the Da Vinci Code Rosslyn Chapel. I am photographing the interior because it is due to close soon. "Almost every fitting and feature has reference to the Lore of masonry." Says Pevsner. The listing also states - Internally and externally such reference extends not only to the front, lectern and communion rail but to roof trusses, stained glass and more abstract qualities such as proportions which are said to relate to those of Solomon's temple Listed Grade II* - THIS BUILDING SHOULD BE LISTED Grade I

Stained Glass Miniplanet

Stained Glass Miniplanet, originally uploaded by fotofacade.

Well I thought that I would do this miniplanet to celebrate completing processing the full scheme of stained glass at Saint Edmund's, Falinge near Rochdale.
Here's a link to the full scheme in one photo
Saint Edmund's, Falinge near Rochdale - is a real tour-de-force. Built in the 1870's for £28,000 (when a good church cost £4000). It is a Masonic Church and Pevsner says that it has symbolism to rival the Da Vinci Code Rosslyn Chapel. I am photographing the interior because it is due to close soon. "Almost every fitting and feature has reference to the Lore of masonry." Says Pevsner. The listing also states - Internally and externally such reference extends not only to the front, lectern and communion rail but to roof trusses, stained glass and more abstract qualities such as proportions which are said to relate to those of Solomon's temple Listed Grade II* - THIS BUILDING SHOULD BE LISTED Grade I

Mantra

Mantra, originally uploaded by fotofacade.

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Check it out :-)

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Exhibiting Edgar Wood

People turning up for the event at Long Street Methodist Church including the Mayor and Mayoress and local Councillors

Last Wednesday Friends of Long Street Methodist Church held an open evening as part of the Heritage Open Days. It coincided with the display of a permanent exhibition of a series of Edgar Wood images, by myself,  supported by Middleton Township within the grade II* listed building.

Three of my images on display inside Wood's iconic building

Alan Gardner from Alan Gardner Associates gave an introductory talk about his ongoing work on providing a conservation based assessment of key Edgar Wood Buildings in the Middleton Conservation Area. On display were rectified images taken of Wood's unique Long Street buildings including Church and former school.

Dr. Archer (right) talks to Alan Gardner (centre)

We were also honoured to have Dr John H. G. Archer attend, who said a few words about his experience of Wood and also complimented the efforts of the people of Middleton in raising the profile of Edgar Wood as architect.

Also on display was English Heritage's Roofs of England exhibition which highlights the importance of vernacular stone slate roofs. Wood's Long Street Methodist Church has over 1500m2 of stone slate roof and is one of the most extensive and complete traditional roofscapes in the area.

English Heritage's Roofs of England Exhibition was well attended

During the weekend I was in attendance talking to newcomers and enthusiasts alike. It was a wonderful opportunity to talk about my photography, the importance of Edgar Wood and his wonderfully unique buildings at Long Street. It was great meeting so many enthusiastic people, including many local Middletonians who either own or owned an Edgar Wood property.

Dr Archer called in again on Sunday and I spent a pleasurable hour talking to him about Edgar Wood and discussing my photographs and the Roofs of England Exhibition.

See the online exhibition here

Le Corbusier: Villa La Roche (1923)

Le Corbusier: Villa La Roche (1923), originally uploaded by fotofacade.

See them all here

Windows

WINDOWS

The Architectural Photographer's Mantra

Get your own - Open publication

Exhibition Graphic

Exhibition Graphic, originally uploaded by fotofacade.

In September 2007 I held an exhibition on Arts and Crafts architect Edgar Wood in one of his seminal buildings the grade II* listed Long Street Methodist Church.

A generous grant from the local Middleton Township has now made it possible for the exhibition to be come permanently lodged at Long Street Methodist. The grand opening is on Wednesday 10 September to invited guests. It is open to the public on Friday 12 September - Sunday 14 September.

This is one of the information graphics to be shown at the exhibition.

Larger version here

Filigree Fenestration

Filigree Fenestration, originally uploaded by fotofacade.

"Record the diversity of architectural style and detail"

....as it says in the mantra..

Filigree Fenestration

Filigree Fenestration, originally uploaded by fotofacade.

"Record the diversity of architectural style and detail"

....as it says in the mantra..

Dad's Wall

Dad's Wall, originally uploaded by fotofacade.

Dad's Wall can be found in the garage at Mum's house, and it hasn't changed much since he died 6 months ago.

Through the wall I feel as though I can touch him some how - or connect with his memory.

Things have to move on and Mum has decided to clean it up and remove some of the 'clutter'. Good for her.

So I decided to photograph it for posterity. It looks like many other walls across the nation, but it has some of dads soul in it.

It is not his 'leitmotif', but it is his own evolved world: an organic development in terms of his tools, all tied into the warp and weft of the wall - and our lives.

It contains the semantics of one particular man, and by way of that, it is a wonderful cultural record.

Through photographing Dad's wall I have found happiness in the mundane and nobility in the unassuming.

You can see the microcosm that is Dad's Wall if you view this larger picture (may take some time to download)