They were a legacy of the 1960s, 70s and 80s, as redolent of the times as any pop anthem or cult movie. Underpasses were the pit shafts of their day - cold and heartless, an assault on common humanity, temples of a subterranean subculture.
Category: Old Halifax
Municipal Muck
34/1001 : I took this photo of Halifax Town Hall 50 years ago whilst the stonework was being cleaned. I can understand the viewpoint of those who think it's right to preserve the industrial legacy of layers of soot and grime, but, to me, that's just like leaving an old master mucky!
Who Needs People?
The distinctive shape of St John the Baptist's Church in Coley near Northowram. It's the isolation of the church that has always been its most distinguishing feature, it's almost as though it purposely shuns the company of houses and people. It's been a prominent local feature for over 500 years: who needs people?
Beacon Drone
33/1001 : These days you can get a drone to fly over towns and capture a photographic record. 50 years ago there were no drones, but in Halifax you didn’t need one because there was always Beacon Hill. This shot from the early 70s is like a memory map of the town of my youth.
Stone Gods
32/1001 : THE GREAT WALLS OF NORTHOWRAM (1968) Some naïve folk believe these walls were built to hold quarry spoil and flatten fields. But no: they are the burial chambers of the ancient pharaohs of Queensbury and Shelf, deities still worshiped by many in these parts.
Such A Lovely Place
A small, 120 year old piece of cardboard. On one side, history is captured in the form of a picture of North Bridge, Halifax flanked by long-lost mills and theatres. On the other side, life is captured in the form of a prehistoric text message to Miss Speechley who lives in the Isle of Man. … Continue reading Such A Lovely Place
Triumph Of The Grey
An old fire escape and a new flyover; course concrete and bilious billboards: for me the 1980s always seemed like a monochrome decade. There was black and white and not much in-between, and we seem to be moving in that direction again. Oh, for the triumph of grey.
THE CLEAR OUT
I remember coming across this scene whilst walking, up Southowram I think, well over 50 years ago. It was almost as though someone had set out the various objects with a composition in mind. I like to think that the pictures were priceless antiques. I left them there.
SUNNY VALE
I know these are supposed to be 1001 Photos I took before I died, but I can't be absolutely certain whether I took this or my brother did. It was the late 60s and Sunny Vale Pleasure Gardens were already in terminal decline - as this picture of one of the boating lakes shows.
alanburnett.com 