Fitting A Square Church Into A Rectangular Hole

The early 1970s were critical years in terms of the preservation of the built heritage of Halifax. Not only was the future of a dilapidated Piece Hall being determined (see Faded Jewel), but right next door to that jewel in the crown was a diamond in the tiara - Square Congregational Church. Most of the … Continue reading Fitting A Square Church Into A Rectangular Hole

Faded Jewel

These days we are used to saying that the Piece Hall is the jewel in the crown of Halifax (or Calderdale, or Yorkshire, or England, or Europe: depending on the degree of our xenophobia), but it was not all that long ago that the building was facing an uncertain future. Those with long enough memories … Continue reading Faded Jewel

Beacon Lights

I think this is the fourth in my Halifax At Night series which must date from the late 1960s. The location is fairly easy to pin down - it is looking towards the junction of Northgate and Broad Street. You can just make out the imposing frontage of Northgate End Chapel hiding in the darkness on the … Continue reading Beacon Lights

Shaw Syke Redemption

These two photographs of mine fall into the "I think" category. I think I took them in the mid to late 1970s and I think they feature the old railway goods yard at Shaw Syke, Halifax. They look like railway buildings and that is unmistakably Beacon Hill looming in the background. Shaw Syke is just … Continue reading Shaw Syke Redemption

A Message To Gasophelists

Some people collect stamps, some collect books; others collect pictures of gas works. In no way is this meant as any type of criticism: in a world beset by lunatic Presidents, cultivating an interest in old gas works seems a particularly sensible way of passing the time. I frequently, however, receive emails from people asking … Continue reading A Message To Gasophelists

The Downfall Of Parliament

Demolition of Parliament Street, Halifax Today's dip into my photographic archive reveals an event of almost historical significance - the downfall of Parliament. To be strictly accurate, and a little less dramatic, it is the demolition of Parliament Street in Halifax, which must have taken place in the late 1960s or early 1970s. The modern … Continue reading The Downfall Of Parliament

The Gaumont Grandeur Of Halifax

To me it is, and has always been, the Gaumont Cinema. It’s had other names and been other things, but even today I would probably still refer to it as the Gaumont. The surprising thing is that it has only had that name for a comparatively short period of its 107 year history; for just … Continue reading The Gaumont Grandeur Of Halifax

Transported By A Slogan

GEORGE STREET, HALIFAX (1960s) Images can be evocative: they can conjure up feelings and emotions with the skill of a practiced magician - but so too can phrases. This is another of my "night shots" from the mid to late 1960s: neither the darkness nor the passage of five decades can hide the magnificent frontage … Continue reading Transported By A Slogan

The Days Before Burdock

This old image has gone through quite a journey. It was far from perfect when it started life, 55 years or so ago: the focus was suspect and the composition could have been improved by some selective demolition work. At an early stage in its life it got converted from a negative into a positive … Continue reading The Days Before Burdock