Sounds Familiar

BRIGHOUSE NEWS : SATURDAY JUNE 26 1880 With nothing much to do other than read old newspapers, I found this article in a copy of the local Brighouse News from exactly 140 years ago. It was a report by the Chief Medical Officer, Dr Britton, on efforts being taken to combat the outbreak of scarlet … Continue reading Sounds Familiar

The Valley In-Between

I took this photograph a couple of days ago whilst walking in Greetland. It shows the view across some fields towards Wainhouse Tower and Crossley Heath school in the distance. It's a lovely sight, as fine a view as you could find anywhere in this land. What you can't see, however, is what I love … Continue reading The Valley In-Between

I Know Where This Is

I know where this is. It's familiar. I feel as though I've walked down this road, wandered along this canal towpath. In truth, I must have - I took the photograph. It was 35 years ago, and therefore I can be forgiven for forgetting the grid reference or the street name. It left, however, an … Continue reading I Know Where This Is

Market Days

By chance, because my negatives are filed with the logic of a Trumpian tweet, another group of shots featuring Halifax Borough Market came to the top of the scanning pile. These are from the 1960s: the advent of decimalisation was a Godsend for picture daters. Pictures of the market always seem to be popular - … Continue reading Market Days

Just Waiting

Just waiting. Waiting for a passing breeze or a swinging foot. Waiting for the earth to move. Waiting for a new start. Just waiting.

Yorkshire Stone

Yorkshire stone: from a passing stone wall. Stone with a crust like burnt toast. Stone with an interior like a golden honeycomb. Priceless.

The Car

It was a must-have photograph back in those days. Every time we got a new car - and let's not fool ourselves, a "new car" meant a car new to us - there had to be a photograph of my father standing next to it or sat inside it. The photograph would need to show … Continue reading The Car

Footfall On The Flagstones

Halifax Borough Market in the 1970s: fresh-baked teacakes, brown paper bags full of fruit, slices of boiled ham. Crowds of people - constant footfall on the flagstones.

Black Brook, Green Fields

If you have to be locked down. If you have to be restricted to just one hour's exercise a day. Let it be Spring. Let the sun shine. Let the waters of the Black Brook flow through the green fields.