As Saddleworth Road runs into the town of Elland, there is a strange outcrop of trees sprouting out of the tops of truncated mill chimneys. This phenomenon is unique to this area and biologists travel from around the world to witness it. My 1980s photo captures it at an early stage of development, but I … Continue reading Truncated In Elland
Nine From The Tyne
I used to call this feature "Twelve From ...", but what with tariffs and trade wars, it will have to be "Nine from ..." until further notice. This, therefore, is nine photographs from last week, or Nine From The Tyne.
A Pre-Burdock Prospect
Scanning some of my old negatives from fifty-plus years ago, I come across one I haven't featured before. You could run an entire pub quiz for folk of a certain age who grew up in the Halifax area on this image alone. It is pre-Burdock (as we say in these parts) but only just so: … Continue reading A Pre-Burdock Prospect
Mrs Hall Of Newsham
Whilst in Whitley Bay, I found a rather good second-hand shop with a small selection of Victorian photographs for sale. The price negotiation was complicated by my profound deafness and the shop-owner's challenging regional accent, but a price was eventually arrived at. Here is the first of the ten photographs I bought. A pencilled caption … Continue reading Mrs Hall Of Newsham
Home Again
Home again. Home to the hills and the mills, home to the stone and the sets. The scale of Newcastle was grand, but perhaps a little too grand. I like to see fields at the end of streets and moors on the distant horizon. It's good to be home.
Passing Whitley Bay
We've visited several art galleries during our short trip to the North East, but few have anything to compare to the triptych mosaic on open display in the entrance hall of Whitley Bay Metro Station. Entitled "Passing", it was created in 1983 by Ian Patience and a group of young people from a Youth Opportunities … Continue reading Passing Whitley Bay
It’s A Grand Place
We spend hours walking the streets of that great big architectural theme park that is Newcastle Upon Tyne, in constant danger of walking into lampposts as we gaze up at the ever-changing skyline. Bridges appear from the rooftops of Victorian offices, cathedrals and castles nestle up to Edwardian shopping arcades. It's a grand place.
Hello Newcastle
I accept that I am old and therefore I should complain about everything, but I must confess the train journey up here was excellent, the city of Newcastle looks splendid, and the sun is shining like a lifted tariff. Hello Newcastle.
Off Travelling
We're off on our travels for a few days, so a change of scenery from those old, run-down northern industrial views you have come to expect from me. Yes, that's right: Newcastle, here we come.
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