BEHIND THE PHOTO.....

This is one of my favourite photos taken at Victoria Bridge Manchester UK. Once again it has a pictorial feel. Taken with a 300mm zoom lens it and cropped tightly to emphasise the woman (I kept her just off thirds) and a sense of encroachment of the urban environment.

Cheesden Where?

Industry, cotton manufacture, steam engines, chimneys and tail races are all terms which tend to make the toes curl of the average architecture junkie. I have been brought up in an environment surrounded by such elements and it has been one of my principle concerns since childhood to make sense of my grim industrial and urban locale.

Most of my life I have been pained by the reality of my surroundings, but through trying to understand the history of industrialisation of my area I have at least found some acceptance and in other ways realised that the Bill Brandtesque streetscapes are a part of my identity. Through accepting some of the uglier aspects of my urban surroundings I have gained a sense of peace which has enabled me to see value in the accrington brick, the proud foundation plaques and the cast iron gutters dotted throughout my existence.

Strangely, the photography of my locale has evolved from factual to the pictorial (a little out of fashion today). The image above is taken in Heywood Lancashire.

Industrial canal Manchester UK
As a direct result of this journey I have found in my own backyard an industrial site which is (in my opinion) worthy of World Heritage Status. The Cheesden Valley, Heywood, Lancashire. What is remarkable about this valley is that along its three mile length from top to bottom we have the remains of several mills which represent the full chronology of the industrial revolution from waterpower to steam and finally electricity. I have set up a mini site and am updating it as I manage to get around and take more photo's. (I am currently engaged in transferring these pages over to my new fotofacade web site).

Cheesden Lumb Lower Mill - late C18th water powered

I have spent the last few years travelling throughout Europe photographing the urban streetscapes both historic and contemporary trying to quell my anxious zeitgeist and all along the answers were in my own back yard.

All images are copyright Andy Marshall

You can view around 200 of my 'industrial' images at Alamy

URBS - Urban Blogging Awards

Thanks to Gridskipper for including my blog in the 2005 Urban blogging awards nomination for world's best urban architecture blog. I'm humbled at being associated with some of the best architecture blogs in the business including A Daily Dose of Architecture and BLDBLG.

You can vote for me by sending an email to tips@gridskipper.com asking for fotofacade blog to be nominated

Lime's Fine

The above image shows a photo I took of Lime plaster at Kilpeck Herefordshire.

Around about September 2001 I was taking my post graduate diploma in Building Conservation at the College of Estate Management in Reading, UK. One of the most memorable occasions was the Lime Day at Sherborne Estate (National Trust) Gloucestershire. It was hosted by Rory Young an expert in the use of lime renders and decorative plaster. One of his projects was the new Millenium Ceiling at Wilbury Park in Wiltshire commissioned by Miranda, Countess of Iveagh.

Here are a few pictures of the day spent getting our hands dirty

It was at this event that I learn't about the remarkable qualities of Lime mortar. In most applications it is far superior to modern cement mortar (but admittedly is a little more complex to mix and apply). With regards to historic building refurbishment and renovation it is almost always that Lime Mortar is recommended for use where required. There are a number of reasons for this. Firstly, older buildings are often built without wall cavities, and for centuries have relied upon the porous qualities of stone, brick and lime render to help aid evaporation of dampness. Concrete mortars added later to historic buildings have had the effect of forming a waterproof shield which traps moisture within the walls and causes rising damp and mould growth. Lime mortar therefore, has a wicking effect. It also is softer than modern cement mortars and is able to move with time. Lime mortars used in the construction of Durham Cathedral enabled the slow evolutionary settlement of the massive piers over a period of 20 years until the structure found its own level. Lime mortar is also self leaching. Over time with the effects of rainwater travelling down its surface it is self - healing. Over time Lime mortars take on a beautiful natural ochre colour.

Now Lime Mortars are even being discussed for use in Newbuild. Ian Pritchett takes up the argument in this article

Further Links:

Interesting Research by the University of Bristol

A Conservation Engineers View on the use of Lime Mortar

ARCHIPEDIA - A is for....

ANTE-FIXAE

Detail used largely in classical architecture (especially Greek Classical) to provide a termination or end cap to a ridge. Normally decorated with an Anthemion or Palmette relief