A Town In Transition

My photograph of Halifax dates from the early 1970s and shows the town during a time of transition. Centre stage is the Homfray carpet mill (although by then it had become part of the Riding Hall Carpet Group), which ceased production not long after the picture was taken and was demolished by the start of … Continue reading A Town In Transition

Dirty Old Town

I frequently met my love by these gas works walls; they were opposite the carpet mill where I was working at the time. Around then, I may have walked a little way up Old Bank in Halifax to take this photograph. In many ways, I suppose it was a "dirty old town", but it was … Continue reading Dirty Old Town

The Sirens Of The Gas Works

I know what you're going to say - you're going to say, "You cheat; you've used that photo on your calendar before!. What about 1st August 2024?" . It is not the same image, however. Throughout my life, I have been drawn to Bank Bottom in Halifax, like Canaletto was drawn to Venice and Cézanne … Continue reading The Sirens Of The Gas Works

Smokescreen

A photograph of mine from back in the days when smoke and steam swept through the ginnels and industrial waste dyed the becks and brooks. It was taken from Old Lane in Halifax, looking towards the then-mighty Crossley's Carpets Mill. Most of the buildings still exist - the smoke and the steam are long gone.

Shoulder Of Mutton

In a single handed attempt to save the fortunes of that threatened institution, the British Pub, I have decided to embark on a series of visits to public houses. Where better to start than the splendid Shoulder of Mutton in Northowram, the village where I grew up? Spreading over three adjoining buildings, parts of the pub … Continue reading Shoulder Of Mutton

Memory Road

This is a scene I am so familiar with that I can almost physically feel its presence just by looking at a photograph. And it doesn't matter that it was taken half a century before I crossed this road - on my way to school, to the bus, to visit friends - or that many … Continue reading Memory Road

Cathedral Of Commerce

An early colour photograph of mine (note the pre-decimal currency) and one where the exposure left a lot to be desired. What it lacks in technique, it makes up a little for in atmosphere and in the light from the windows of that cathedral of commerce, Halifax's Borough Market.

Forever Gaumont

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 113 year history; for just … Continue reading Forever Gaumont

Halifax From The Hill

I spend far too many hours messing around with Photoshop filters, but it keeps me out of mischief, and occasionally I come up with something that has added value as an image. This view of Halifax from Beacon Hill is a case in point: tones and shades have been sacrificed so that attention can be … Continue reading Halifax From The Hill