tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72996746047835972082024-03-13T17:35:28.789+00:00natural lightthe evolution of Liverpool and surroundsAlan Carrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03884098195110970012noreply@blogger.comBlogger59125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7299674604783597208.post-12787479669055026162018-09-26T20:49:00.002+01:002018-09-26T20:49:42.116+01:0034,361 Deaths<br />
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Great George Street pedestrians heading into Liverpool centre will
have noticed a sobering use of the black hoardings which are hiding
their view of the overgrown waste ground to their left. This is where
the amazing New Chinatown is supposed to have been built <i>(see previous
post)</i>.<br />
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Whilst developers, lawyers and city council attempt to sort out the mess, an Amsterdam based organisation, UNITED for Intercultural Action, have posted a list of <i>'34,361 documented deaths of refugees and migrants due to the restrictive policies of "Fortress Europe".</i><br />
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UNITED have facilitated up-to-date and translated versions of The List in several
countries using public display structures such as ad-boards and
newspaper supplements.The Liverpool list was produced by London's Chisenhale Gallery and Liverpool Biennial. It was printed and distributed by The Guardian for World Refugee Day (20th June, 2018).<br />
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The 34,361 death toll is from 1993 to May 5th, 2018. The 2018 list can be downloaded from <a href="http://www.list-e.info/" target="_blank">http://www.list-e.info</a><br />
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All of the images in this post were photographed in Great George Street within the last few weeks.Alan Carrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03884098195110970012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7299674604783597208.post-86297974288728954952018-09-23T22:40:00.000+01:002018-09-23T22:42:04.106+01:00New Chinatown?Let's take a walk down Liverpool's Great George Street. We'll start at The Wedding House (by the St James Street junction) and head into town with the Anglican Cathedral ahead to our right.<br />
Something is happening on the left as we begin the walk. We can't see what because it's fenced off with 8ft high black paneling. Naturally this has been used as poster boarding for music events and other entertainments. <i>(See the next post for a much more important use of a section of the boards)</i><br />
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If you were able to look over the fencing you might be disappointed to see 5 acres of overgrown waste ground. This was the site for New Chinatown - trumpeted in 2015 as a world class development of homes, retail and leisure facilities. A city within a city. The paneling originally showed glittering artist impressions of the New Chinatown.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An artist's impression of Liverpool's New Chinatown from 2015. Image: www.newchinatownliverpool.com/</td></tr>
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Sadly, plans have foundered. The contractor went into administration in 2016 and no building has taken place on the site. The photo mock-ups have now disappeared, leaving the 8ft high black boarding to hide the waste ground. There might still be some hope that the ambitious project can be rescued - a new consortium is hoping to fight through the legal tangle and has entered into discussions with Liverpool City Council. They optimistically hope to start a 14 month building programme before the end of the year. We will watch with interest.<br />
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A good place to view the waste ground is from the Cathedral tower. For a
fiver you can go up to the top for the best view of the city - I
thoroughly recommend it!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view of Great George Street from the Cathedral tower. Look hard and you can see the black paneling (one third of the way up from the bottom of the frame) which hides the waste ground above it. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part of the 5 acre plot - nothing much has happened there in 3 years!</td></tr>
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<br />Alan Carrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03884098195110970012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7299674604783597208.post-43752344314150217362017-08-09T10:17:00.001+01:002017-08-09T10:17:19.977+01:00200 Umbrellas<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dNsYfnlp-7Q/WYrSffzdFII/AAAAAAAACWY/nII9AD5uXP0hUkcaUdo92rBJrFFtT2OBQCLcBGAs/s1600/small-crop-adj_IMG_6451.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="814" data-original-width="1200" height="434" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dNsYfnlp-7Q/WYrSffzdFII/AAAAAAAACWY/nII9AD5uXP0hUkcaUdo92rBJrFFtT2OBQCLcBGAs/s640/small-crop-adj_IMG_6451.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<u>The Umbrella Project </u><br />
200 vibrantly coloured umbrellas are suspended above Church Alley in Liverpool city centre, in front of the Bluecoat Gallery. They were installed in June 2017, and are expected to stay until the end of August. <br />
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The installation was created by the Liverpool based ADHD Foundation, and is intended to raise awareness of Autism and ADHD.<br />
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The u<span class="il">mbrellas</span> have also been
personally signed by children from St Oswald’s primary school in Old
Swan, many of whom have ADHD, autism and other
neurodevelopment conditions.<br />
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Alan Carrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03884098195110970012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7299674604783597208.post-8596637695410781622016-09-05T14:05:00.001+01:002016-09-05T14:12:05.523+01:00Save the Futurist? It's too late now!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">August 2015 - still the subject of a 'Save' campaign</td></tr>
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Lime Street's redevelopment has claimed another piece of Liverpool's heritage. The Futurist Cinema with it's imposing facade has been flattened. Despite a campaign to save the Edwardian gem, it has now been completely demolished. It was hoped that the facade could be saved but the best that can now be hoped for is that a small part of the original design (perhaps the bricks that formed 'Picture House'?) can be incorporated into the new building. The Futurist is one of 10 buildings that are being knocked down in Lime Street to make way for new commercial, retail and leisure premises.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">August 2016. Too late now! A few days later it was completely demolished.</td></tr>
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The Futurist was built in 1912 as the Lime Street Picture House (it was renamed in 1920) and closed in 1982. It has been allowed to decay ever since and whilst it wouldn't have been realistic to refurbish it and reopen as a cinema, surely the iconic frontage could have been saved (as with Manchester's Free Trade Hall for example)?<br />
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If you'd like a bit more history there is lots of information here - <a href="https://thefuturistcinema.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">https://thefuturistcinema.wordpress.com/</a><br />
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<br />Alan Carrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03884098195110970012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7299674604783597208.post-372937883977611342015-08-11T20:30:00.000+01:002015-08-12T13:26:46.066+01:0030,000 Reasons to visit Liverpool in AugustFor 11 months of the year the amazing tiled floor in Liverpool’s St. George’s Hall is covered up.<br />
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A removable floor is used to protect the tiles from damage and wear whilst allowing dancing and other events in the vast Great Hall. It always proves hugely popular with visitors when, every August, the covering is removed. <br />
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The stunning mosaic which is revealed consists of over 30,000 tiles. They were hand crafted at the famous Minton factory in Stoke-on-Trent. The mosaic was designed by architect Sir Charles Cockerell - as were most of the Hall’s spectacular interiors.<br />
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This year, for the first time since St. George’s Hall was reopened in 2007 following the lengthy £23 million restoration, there were opportunities for visitors to walk on the fabulous Minton tiles.<br />
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At its reopening, Prince Charles described the Hall as the finest neo-classical building in Europe. It should certainly be on every Liverpool visitor’s ‘must see’ list. There is plenty to admire apart from the Great Hall mosaic but an August visit would prove especially rewarding.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">inside the Great Hall (also known as the Concert Hall)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the Royal Arms</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Liverpool's city coat of arms</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the world famous Liver bird - the symbol of the city of Liverpool</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">classical figures surround the various crests</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c6BJUv3gtzk/VcpIaP3xcvI/AAAAAAAAB14/Qzh7jTg2j2A/s1600/small-adj-IMG_9779.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c6BJUv3gtzk/VcpIaP3xcvI/AAAAAAAAB14/Qzh7jTg2j2A/s640/small-adj-IMG_9779.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">stunning design and detail in Minton</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WGpe8KqmRno/VcpIX3xF1wI/AAAAAAAAB1o/rvVuhQCnP2c/s1600/small-StGeorges-adj-IMG_4317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WGpe8KqmRno/VcpIX3xF1wI/AAAAAAAAB1o/rvVuhQCnP2c/s640/small-StGeorges-adj-IMG_4317.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the south entrance at night</td></tr>
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Further reading<br />
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_George%27s_Hall,_Liverpool<br />
http://liverpoolcityhalls.co.uk/st-georges-hall<br />
<br />Alan Carrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03884098195110970012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7299674604783597208.post-9250147094574100492015-06-04T23:00:00.000+01:002015-08-11T20:31:29.010+01:00Lennon RevealedI went to Litherland (North Liverpool) yesterday to photograph the Beatles mural. It's a 45 minute trip up the motorway for me so I was disappointed to see that the weeds on the grassed area in front of the 'With the Beatles' portraits were obscuring John Lennon's eyes. I parked up and went to investigate. I didn't have any gardening gear so I decided to tear out what weeds I could with my bare hands, rather than waste the trip. The passers by (it's very near a supermarket) would doubtless have found my performance entertaining.<br />
The whole mural is amazing but it needs to be better looked after (besides the weeds and the rubbish, some of the paintwork has flaked off and there is a paint splash on Stu Sutcliffe's guitar (it's great that the original guitarist and Pete Best, the drummer before Ringo, are included too). <br />
I will see if I can interest the artists who created the mural in giving it a small amount of restoration. I will happily help if they need it - this is a piece of public art that deserves a spot of TLC.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the Litherland Beatles mural</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John (from the Hamburg days)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stu Sutcliffe and Pete Best</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the 'With the Beatles' album cover portraits</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W2Y9qOW4ZE0/VXDIWPvyCWI/AAAAAAAAB04/FvGPDlO8o7g/s1600/small_Lennon_weeds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="510" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W2Y9qOW4ZE0/VXDIWPvyCWI/AAAAAAAAB04/FvGPDlO8o7g/s640/small_Lennon_weeds.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lennon before I weeded him!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rpA4o4SK-_s/VXDJuCG3_HI/AAAAAAAAB1E/bUktZVrF7kA/s1600/small_IMG_8282.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rpA4o4SK-_s/VXDJuCG3_HI/AAAAAAAAB1E/bUktZVrF7kA/s640/small_IMG_8282.jpg" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rory Storm and Joe Brown topping these bills ahead of The Beatles </td></tr>
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here are 2 videos which describe the origins of the project and show it being created<br />
<span class="_5yl5" data-reactid=".wg.$mid=11433704208470=24897a0f69d751b0578.2:0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".wg.$mid=11433704208470=24897a0f69d751b0578.2:0.0.0.0.0.0"><a data-reactid=".wg.$mid=11433704208470=24897a0f69d751b0578.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$range0:0" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3kAXzBkSAo" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3kAXzBkSAo</a></span></span><br />
<span class="_5yl5" data-reactid=".wg.$mid=11433704208470=24897a0f69d751b0578.2:0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".wg.$mid=11433704208470=24897a0f69d751b0578.2:0.0.0.0.0.0"><span class="_5yl5" data-reactid=".wg.$mid=11433704277515=29d82dfe3adb83c6e89.2:0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".wg.$mid=11433704277515=29d82dfe3adb83c6e89.2:0.0.0.0.0.0"><a data-reactid=".wg.$mid=11433704277515=29d82dfe3adb83c6e89.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$range0:0" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdKE5LRpF84" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdKE5LRpF84</a></span></span> </span></span><br />
<br />Alan Carrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03884098195110970012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7299674604783597208.post-31530448308033948312014-11-07T15:45:00.001+00:002014-11-11T16:34:35.644+00:00the MTUCURC muralThe badly peeling mural in the rotunda dome of Liverpool’s former Royal School for the Blind is an impressive work of social documentary. First though a little background. The school was founded in 1781 (the first blind school in Britain). The first premises were on Commutation Row and in 1800 a purpose-built school was opened up on London Road. The 'new' Hardman Street school was built in 1849-51 when it was necessary to move from London Road due to railway expansion. In 1957, following the move of the school to Wavertree (where the junior school was located) the building was sold to Liverpool Corporation. It then became Merseyside Police HQ. When the police moved to new premises in 1982 the old Blind School became the Merseyside Trade Union Community and Unemployed Resource Centre (MTUCURC).<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TLNKoVCZWfA/VFq_FeFhgiI/AAAAAAAABwE/dOQBDaatdJ8/s1600/small-BLIND_SCHOOL_masked_IMG_5297.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TLNKoVCZWfA/VFq_FeFhgiI/AAAAAAAABwE/dOQBDaatdJ8/s1600/small-BLIND_SCHOOL_masked_IMG_5297.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a>The mural was painted (in socialist realist style) by the late Mike Jones in 1986 to commemorate the ‘Peoples March for Jobs’. It features Karl Marx amongst the marchers and depicts scenes from industrial Liverpool (e.g. the docks, Halewood’s car factory and the foolishly demolished Overhead Railway). The MTUCURC closed in 2004 since when the building has remained empty. It would be folly to lose this important mural, but unless it is hastily restored by the building’s new owners (Hope Street Hotel), it will soon be gone forever. I worry that its restoration may not be part of the plans which will soon see the old Blind School turned into apartments, pub, restaurant and offices.<br />
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The mural's central figure is Edward Rushton, a Liverpool radical and founder of the school. He was an anti-slavery campaigner and a poet. He lost his sight at a young age by contracting opthalmia whilst serving in the merchant navy. The Everyman Theatre are staging<i> 'Unsung',</i> a play of Rushton's life, in March 2015. The following photos show sections of Mike Jones' mural.<br />
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Karl Marx joins the marchers and is that Arthur Scargill in front of him? Notice how part of the scene has peeled off. Is it really likely that the new owners will go to the trouble of restoring this important mural?<br />
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L to R - The Peoples March for Jobs (Liverpool - London, May 1981), the Women's Technology Centre (located within the MTUCURC), Tate and Lyle warehouse demolition.<br />
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the docks and Liverpool Overhead Railway. (The ship's name is M.T.U.C.U.R.C.)<br />
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a 1980s union march against budget cuts - the Militant Labour councillors adopted the slogan 'Better to break the law than to break the poor' (centre banner)<br />
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POST SCRIPT<br />
In 1993 Mike Jones painted a companion piece to this mural. Many of the same elements were included. It is called 'Unemployment on Merseyside: Campaigning for the Right to Work' and is housed in the Museum of Liverpool (the one by Pier Head)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4eqL_RRfYh8/VGDdfzxDkOI/AAAAAAAABxM/h_kDOoYJ7xw/s1600/Mike%2BJones%2B-%2BCampaigning%2Bfor%2Bthe%2BRight%2Bto%2BWork.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4eqL_RRfYh8/VGDdfzxDkOI/AAAAAAAABxM/h_kDOoYJ7xw/s1600/Mike%2BJones%2B-%2BCampaigning%2Bfor%2Bthe%2BRight%2Bto%2BWork.jpg" height="640" width="491" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/mol/visit/galleries/peoples/unemployment.aspx</td></tr>
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Alan Carrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03884098195110970012noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7299674604783597208.post-26994210472843815132014-03-24T09:24:00.002+00:002014-03-24T09:27:03.858+00:00Lark Lane<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5uu1PpoKfzw/Uy_5w0ClbLI/AAAAAAAABiU/M5GUhMfp2uE/s1600/small-LarkLane-20x20_IMG_0615.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5uu1PpoKfzw/Uy_5w0ClbLI/AAAAAAAABiU/M5GUhMfp2uE/s1600/small-LarkLane-20x20_IMG_0615.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a>I love this grungy, distressed old painted sign for a garage in Lark Lane (what a beautiful alliterative street name that is). It's in an area of Dingle (near the Welsh Streets) that may well be demolished before long. I thought I'd better record it whilst I can. The faded colours came up much better than expected - I'm going to have this printed BIG, it'll look amazing. Maybe I should do a project on old street advertising - it's a great aspect of social documentary.Alan Carrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03884098195110970012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7299674604783597208.post-4094925361068564192013-09-16T10:58:00.000+01:002013-09-17T00:27:47.721+01:00Inside the Orphanage<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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From a distance this Grade II listed building looks stately - perhaps an important and prestigious academic institution.Closer examination reveals that the huge building is derelict with all its windows boarded up. The location is the lovely Newsham Park, Liverpool - well worth a visit if you've never been. The building is the Seamen's Orphanage (later the Royal Liverpool Seamen's Orphanage) which was opened in 1874 to provide support and education for the orphans of British seamen. It could accommodate up to 400 children. The orphanage closed in 1949 and was sold to the Ministry of Health in 1951. It became Newsham Park Hospital until it finally closed in 1988. It is now derelict and in private ownership.<br />
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There are plans to reopen part of the building (around the main assembly hall) for leisure purposes. In order to test the public's interest, access to parts of the building (ground floor only) was made available over the weekend of 13-15 Sept 2013 as part of Liverpool Heritage Open Month. There was a great deal of interest - the first time in over 100 years that the public had been allowed access to this important building. Inside, it was like stepping into a time warp.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The balcony of the assembly/dining hall. Perhaps a hospital governor looking down at 25yrs of dereliction,</td></tr>
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The walls with their flaking paintwork and plaster, the old hospital beds and equipment, ancient wheelchairs and commodes - all evidence of its latter function. Hopefully the leisure project will be successful - this is a very important part of Liverpool's maritime heritage. Twenty five years of closure and neglect is not what the Seamen's Orphanage deserves!<br />
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<i>P.S. </i><br />
<i><a href="http://projectnewshampark.org/joomla/" target="_blank">Project Newsham Park</a> is a useful website if you would like to learn more about Newsham Park (and the orphanage) </i><br />
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<br />Alan Carrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03884098195110970012noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7299674604783597208.post-56806481642753520832013-05-31T08:58:00.001+01:002013-08-16T12:10:23.483+01:00Disappearing Heritage<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="userContent">The former Liverpool offices of Harland and
Wolff (the world famous Belfast shipbuilders who built The Titanic) are
about to be lost forever. The demolition of this fine building in Regent
Road is now happening (why did Sefton Borough Council ever sanction
this?). This photo was taken on 6th May 2013. The interior is largly demolished and when I visited last week the dismantling of the famous facade appeared to be underway. There may be nothing left in a few days!</span><br />
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<span class="userContent"><b><span style="color: red;">UPDATE</span></b> (August 2013)</span><br />
<span class="userContent">it's all gone!<i> </i>Looks like they destroyed our heritage for container storage! <i>See below</i></span><br />
<span class="userContent"><i> </i></span><br />
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<span class="userContent"> </span>Alan Carrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03884098195110970012noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7299674604783597208.post-21156267539583096702012-10-22T20:28:00.003+01:002012-10-22T20:28:32.281+01:00The Great Money TrickLiverpool City Council commissioned local artist David Jacques to produce this artwork as part of the City of Radicals programme in 2011. It is inspired by Robert Tressell's socialist novel 'The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists'. Tressell, who died in Liverpool in 1911, was a house painter and signwriter. The Great Money Trick is a key chapter in his political novel. Jacques' Dale Street awning pays tribute to Tressell by creating the lettering in century old signwriter style.<br />
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Alan Carrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03884098195110970012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7299674604783597208.post-45912472727901522972012-10-20T09:40:00.000+01:002014-08-05T23:34:41.309+01:00'Tinned Up' AnfieldI recently visited a few of the Victorian terraced streets near to Liverpool's football stadium which are scheduled to be demolished as part of the Anfield and Breckfield Regeneration scheme ('creating neighbourhoods for the future'). Once levelled they will disappear beneath the large housing estate that is currently being constructed over the graves of recently demolished neighbouring streets.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WMeVeIWfmMQ/UIHltQIn9AI/AAAAAAAABFU/Lgj0gkfvOUw/s1600/small_154_Hartnup_St_5789.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WMeVeIWfmMQ/UIHltQIn9AI/AAAAAAAABFU/Lgj0gkfvOUw/s640/small_154_Hartnup_St_5789.jpg" height="640" width="489" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is no.154 Hartnup Streer. <span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id=".reactRoot[3].[1][2][1]{comment10151054077381836_7322334}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]"><span class="UFICommentBody" id=".reactRoot[3].[1][2][1]{comment10151054077381836_7322334}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]."><span id=".reactRoot[3].[1][2][1]{comment10151054077381836_7322334}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]..[0]"><span id=".reactRoot[3].[1][2][1]{comment10151054077381836_7322334}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]..[0].[0]">Six months ago the
bay windows of Hartnup Street were given a makeover with scenes of Liverpool captured by students from
Alsop High School. The idea was to make the street look more pleasing
for the April 2012 Sea Odyssey</span></span><span id=".reactRoot[3].[1][2][1]{comment10151054077381836_7322334}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]..[3]"><span id=".reactRoot[3].[1][2][1]{comment10151054077381836_7322334}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]..[3]."><span id=".reactRoot[3].[1][2][1]{comment10151054077381836_7322334}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]..[3]..[0]">
spectacular. It was hoped that the large crowds following the the
Little Girl Giant, her Uncle, and faithful companion Xolo as they pass
through Anfield wouldn't be offended by the shabby dereliction that is
Hartnup Street. The photos are still there (Oct 2012) but I was told by
one local that the street only has a couple of weeks left before the
bulldozers appear!</span></span></span></span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-veyF2uDKxxM/UIHokEaH-RI/AAAAAAAABFo/pImNMkUZfHc/s1600/HartnupSt_5779.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-veyF2uDKxxM/UIHokEaH-RI/AAAAAAAABFo/pImNMkUZfHc/s640/HartnupSt_5779.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hartnup Street becomes a photo gallery to welcome the giant puppets.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v7-waL4rHJk/UIHp78IUwRI/AAAAAAAABFw/Ps-4aKX9oKg/s1600/small_Granton_Rd_5818.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v7-waL4rHJk/UIHp78IUwRI/AAAAAAAABFw/Ps-4aKX9oKg/s640/small_Granton_Rd_5818.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Granton Road, bathed in autumn sun, looks too good to demolish (was refurbishment never a viable option for these houses?). </td></tr>
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I've wandered through several 'regeneration' areas of Liverpool where whole streets have been emptied and 'tinned up'. One familiar sound breaks the silence in all of these places. It's the hopeless 'cheep' of a smoke alarm - calling to a long departed occupier to replace the battery. Somehow that seems so sad!Alan Carrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03884098195110970012noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7299674604783597208.post-59018274527952655612012-08-06T00:43:00.002+01:002012-11-05T09:22:17.593+00:00A REMINDER OF SOPHIATOWN IN TOXTETH<br />
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Learning often comes unexpectedly. Recently I was wandering
through the ‘Welsh Streets’ in Liverpool’s Toxteth district. Because of my interest
in social documentary and heritage I have spent many hours with my camera walking
around the silent streets of ‘tinned up’ houses in Liverpool 8. This is one of
several areas in the city where a whole community has been cleared of
residents, their properties having been compulsory purchased in preparation for
demolition – all part of the council’s grand regeneration plan.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yrW_wFyRGWo/UB8BhJAi-sI/AAAAAAAABCE/4pOU-TC06sA/s1600/Madryn_4680.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="402" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yrW_wFyRGWo/UB8BhJAi-sI/AAAAAAAABCE/4pOU-TC06sA/s640/Madryn_4680.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Madryn Street as a poetry and songbook!</td></tr>
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One of the ‘Welsh Streets’ is Madryn Street where Ringo
Starr was born. (There is still some debate about whether no.9 should be
preserved as a national treasure!) I noticed that most of the small terraced houses
along Ringo’s side of Madryn Street have had sheets of song lyrics / poetry
pasted onto their sealed up doors and windows. Most of the lyrics are entirely
appropriate (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ghost Town, Anthem for
Doomed Houses, We Shall Not Be Moved </i>etc.) resulting in the whole street becoming
a cultural installation. I photographed several of them before the sun, wind
and rain hides their messages.</div>
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One of the poems was called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘The Day They Came for Our House’</i>. The prose included <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Armed with bulldozers / they came to do a
job / nothing more / than hired killers”</i>. The poem was credited to Dan Mattera –
that’s all I knew from the photocopied sheet of lyrics - so I educated myself later
in the day. It<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>was written about the
clearance and obliteration of Sophiatown in the 50s and early 60s in South
Africa. Sophiatown was a vibrant, urban, multi-cultural community – one of the
oldest black suburbs of <span class="st">Johannesburg. Under apartheid, it was
cleared, demolished and rebuilt as a white suburb (renamed as Triomf). The
township had been famed for its culture of writing, art and music – notably
jazz and blues. </span>Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu were both Sophiatown
residents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Don Mattera<i> ('Dan' is a misprint)</i> was an activist in the struggle against
apartheid but he subsequently became a poet, writer and journalist. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘The Day They Came for Our House’</i> was
published in Mattera’s book <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘Azanian Love
Song’</i> in 1983. To my shame I didn’t know the history of Sophiatown and
hadn’t read any of Mattera’s books or poetry until I researched these things
when I returned home. I’m glad I did – the shameful story of racial clearances
in South Africa is something that we should all know about. Sometimes learning
comes from unexpected sources – in this case my walk down Ringo’s old street resulted
in my learning about 50yr old events from 6000 miles away!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x5q_JcpXxD8/UB8BgAQqvSI/AAAAAAAABB8/It7fb6LRwoo/s1600/Lennon_4646.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x5q_JcpXxD8/UB8BgAQqvSI/AAAAAAAABB8/It7fb6LRwoo/s1600/Lennon_4646.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0O-8fsldxlA/UB8Bjf_qSiI/AAAAAAAABCU/GxVlqru7MJQ/s1600/doomed-houses_4662.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0O-8fsldxlA/UB8Bjf_qSiI/AAAAAAAABCU/GxVlqru7MJQ/s1600/doomed-houses_4662.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wilfred Owen's 1917 poem - 'Anthem For Doomed Youth' reworked for condemned housing</td></tr>
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Alan Carrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03884098195110970012noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7299674604783597208.post-23324247999141145392012-05-24T00:20:00.001+01:002012-05-24T08:22:21.761+01:00The Missing Years<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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If you take a look at any social documentary photography before the late 1980s you will see images of children playing in the streets with bikes, carts, skipping ropes etc - reflecting the way they spent their leisure time within their own environment. This is important documentary information. Sadly, in this age of exaggerated fear for our children's safety, we have now made it unacceptable for photographers to record them in their surroundings. In the coming years we will find that we have lost a huge amount of information about how our children and their friends played and entertained themselves in their own neighbourhoods. The Facebook age will have recorded plenty of camera-phone images of children in the safety of their family surroundings, but little of the documentary material that previous generations of photographers have recorded.<br />
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This photograph was taken last week when I was returning to my car in Jamaica Street, Liverpool after a day in the city with my camera. I love the old warehouses in the area and when I saw two boys racing towards me on their bikes I thought it might be a chance for a vintage shot. Not wanting to alarm the children I had to 'shoot from the hip' - with my heavy DSLR this usually results in dismal failure, but on this occasion I got fairly lucky. I converted the image to B/W in order to recapture a feel of 60s Liverpool. It might not be great photography but it's social documentary and I'm happy with it! </div>Alan Carrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03884098195110970012noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7299674604783597208.post-60741400278244169622012-03-25T14:22:00.000+01:002012-03-25T14:23:20.843+01:00Fishing the Float #2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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East Float Dock, Birkenhead. This is a revisited location - see my entry for 7th Nov, 2010 (http://darkhorseliverpool.blogspot.co.uk/2010/11/fishing-float.html). The children keep themselves amused whilst the father is fishing. I noticed the girl swinging on the chain fence and thought it would make a good composition. I had to be quick before I was noticed. <br />
<br /></div>Alan Carrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03884098195110970012noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7299674604783597208.post-65216332258611046572012-01-17T09:42:00.000+00:002012-01-17T15:00:08.353+00:00Canning Nightscapes<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This view across Liverpool's Canning Dock is looking towards the Albert Dock - a hugely popular tourist attraction. The Maritime Museum is on the right (Tate Liverpool is also housed in these wonderful old dock warehouses). I was looking for a night shot of the nearby Museum of Liverpool from this location but felt that this would also make an effective 'nocturne'. I waited a few minutes for the wheel to stop (left of frame) and hoped that it would be static for the 20sec exposure. Long exposures at night often produce peaceful scenes - as is the case here. There is a sense of unreality - this could almost be a model. <i> (f18, ISO 400)</i><br />
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This is a view of the new Museum of Liverpool, also viewed from the Canning Dock. The waterfront museum was opened last year (2011). It may not be everyone's idea of great architecture but it looks good at night! <i>This was a 30 sec exposure at f14 (ISO 100)</i><br />
<i> </i><br />
<br /></div>Alan Carrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03884098195110970012noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7299674604783597208.post-8595869957015257142011-11-30T21:39:00.001+00:002011-12-02T09:08:28.967+00:00STRIKE!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Wednesday 30th Nov, 2011 saw the biggest one day strike in the UK for a decade. Unions had called members out to support their demands that the government rethink plans to reform public sector pensions. It is claimed that 2 million people went on strike throughout the UK. Two thirds of schools in England were closed (almost all schools were closed in Scotland), 7000 operations were cancelled in hospitals, emergency services couldn't deal with all 999 calls, no buses or trains were running in Northern Ireland ...... the list goes on. David Cameron called the strike "a damp squib" in Parliament. I'm sure he doesn't really think that but if he does then he is SO out of touch. I photographed the strike rally in Liverpool where 15,000 people marched through the city - I was amazed by the turnout at St George's Hall, and the strength of anti-govt feeling. <i>(See how the Prime Minister is portrayed in the Socialist Worker placard below - top photo, r/h side)</i><br />
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</div>Alan Carrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03884098195110970012noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7299674604783597208.post-53007773360210559632011-11-20T13:15:00.001+00:002011-11-21T14:14:14.318+00:00Finishing Touches<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The new black glass constructions at Liverpool's Mann Island redevelopment were almost complete in March 2011. Love them or loathe them <i>(if you have read previous entries to this blog you'll know my views)</i> they can provide interesting photo opportunities with their angular construction, dramatic outlines and reflective properties. Here, I was poking around in the entrance when I saw these men working on the glass roof which connects two of the buildings. I had to be quick - sometimes the best photos come that way!<br />
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<br /></div>Alan Carrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03884098195110970012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7299674604783597208.post-81110113460146933922011-11-06T08:28:00.000+00:002011-11-06T23:20:22.362+00:00Bold Street Dancer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This beauty was demonstrating Chinese dancing at the Bold Street Festival. There was a large crowd gathered around and she moved and twirled so quickly that photography was difficult. This was one frame that turned out OK I thought.<br />
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<br /></div>Alan Carrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03884098195110970012noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7299674604783597208.post-83947851626799757452011-09-26T17:06:00.001+01:002011-09-28T00:02:09.840+01:00Bold Street Festival - Pavement ArtYesterday was the Bold Street Festival (Liverpool), part of which was the James Carling International Pavement Art Competition. I'm going to put some photos here in the coming days - here's a bright starter from Italy's Alberto Forlenza. I don't need to identify the subjects.<br />
<span style="color: red;"><b>UPDATE </b>: I've decided that the pavement art photos merit a separate blog which I've called <b><a href="http://boldstreetart.blogspot.com/">Bold Street Art</a> </b>- this is where all future posts related to the Bold Street Festival will be - <b><a href="http://boldstreetart.blogspot.com/">http://boldstreetart.blogspot.com</a></b></span><br />
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<br />Alan Carrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03884098195110970012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7299674604783597208.post-70782762359269935872011-09-17T01:42:00.001+01:002011-09-17T09:55:39.226+01:00The Leaving of Liverpool<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ABF2AI7SG5w/TnPsBeWt8HI/AAAAAAAAApA/5YBdo9pwreQ/s1600/CunardBuilding-QM2_1292.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="448" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ABF2AI7SG5w/TnPsBeWt8HI/AAAAAAAAApA/5YBdo9pwreQ/s640/CunardBuilding-QM2_1292.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Cunard Building being used as a giant screen</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">QM2 - a firework farewell</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Leaving of Liverpool</td></tr>
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The last day highlight of Liverpool's Festival of the Waterfront (8-15 Sept) was the evening departure of the Queen Mary 2 - Cunard's magnificent star of their fleet. There were thousands lining the Mersey at the liner terminal - and the QM2, lit up against the night sky, looked spectacular. A firework display was Liverpool's farewell gift to the great vessel followed by the strains of The Leaving of Liverpool, Sailing, You'll Never Walk Alone and (ludicrously) Z-Cars. At the opening bars of this last tune the QM2 made her excuses with several blasts on the ship's horn <i>(I think they call it a whistle - whatever it is called it makes a lovely, mournful sound)</i> and began a gentle glide from her berth.<br />
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I watched as the great lady slowly sailed away and grabbed my last photos of the day. For the geeks my night shots were all hand held at stupidly high ISO and f5 - I had a tripod and all the necessary gear for remotely fired long exposures but there was no chance of setting it up in that crowd and the vantage point really needed to be much more elevated.<br />
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An unexpected bonus of the evening was the utilisation of the Cunard Building (the middle one of the 'Three Graces' - you know, the less 'showy' one) as a screen for Cunard images from past and present. I love it when images are projected onto buildings and grabbed lots of pics on the way down to the river. What a great evening - must find out when the next Queen will be dropping in.Alan Carrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03884098195110970012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7299674604783597208.post-13458231370164292712011-09-14T16:53:00.000+01:002011-09-17T12:26:36.784+01:00The Four Streets<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tjChibGqy_Y/TnEzmwnbnTI/AAAAAAAAAo8/uY4xxfk5qVA/s1600/cairns-st_0638.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tjChibGqy_Y/TnEzmwnbnTI/AAAAAAAAAo8/uY4xxfk5qVA/s640/cairns-st_0638.jpg" width="474" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">50/52 Cairns St. It seems unbelievable, but these houses are both 'tinned up'. <br />
I love the care that locals have taken with hanging baskets and painted steel doors.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Street Market - Cairns St (bringing people back into the greenest of the Four Streets)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beaconsfield Street - spot the cats peeping out of no.70s bricked up window</td></tr>
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Three images from the condemned 'Four Streets' in Granby, Toxteth (Liverpool 8). The first two photos illustrate the horticultural beautifying of Cairns Street and the third shows the different approach in the neighbouring Beaconsfield Street, where the bricked up windows and steel security doors have been painted in an attempt to disguise the bleakness that would otherwise exist (as in the nearby Welsh Streets). Have a look at <i>'Nerve Magazine'</i> for an article about Cairns Street (which contains more of my photos from the last Saturday market of this year on Sept 3rd). I hope the market continues next year - if the street is still there! <br />
<a href="http://www.catalystmedia.org.uk/issues/misc/articles/empty_homes_show.php">http://www.catalystmedia.org.uk/issues/misc/articles/empty_homes_show.php</a><br />
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<b><i>"In defiance of interminable cycles of top down ‘renewal‘, people
have painted curtains on bricked up bay windows, and planted emptied
streets with trees, picnic tables and burgeoning vegetable boxes. On the
first Saturday of every month they hold the thriving Cairns Street
market, complete with reggae sounds, curry stalls and vintage
bric-a-brac, a little piece of 1960s Portobello Road in inner Liverpool"</i></b> <br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">the above quote was taken from a footnote by URBED's Jonathan Brown to an <i>'Architects Journal'</i> article (29-Sept-11) - see following link for full article<i> - <a href="http://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/daily-news/civic-society-hits-out-at-gleeson-homes-designed-toxteth-scheme/8617912.article">http://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/daily-news/civic-society-hits-out-at-gleeson-homes-designed-toxteth-scheme/8617912.article</a></i></span>Alan Carrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03884098195110970012noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7299674604783597208.post-20368078107551726892011-09-13T00:51:00.002+01:002011-09-13T00:54:21.348+01:00Super 8<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e3BEMJtA3wY/Tm6a0ny5bTI/AAAAAAAAAow/bNV9jsmXN4A/s1600/LodgeLane_0724.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e3BEMJtA3wY/Tm6a0ny5bTI/AAAAAAAAAow/bNV9jsmXN4A/s640/LodgeLane_0724.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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This is the new Liverpool 8 Superstore in Lodge Lane<span id="goog_104400373"></span><span id="goog_104400374"></span>. Breathing new life into this part of the city (occupying the site of a failed KwikSave) this is the place to come for a huge variety of fruit / veg / ethnic groceries & household goods. Alan Carrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03884098195110970012noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7299674604783597208.post-35669380027489174782011-09-12T00:09:00.000+01:002011-09-13T00:53:12.626+01:00The Florence Institute - a scaffoldscape<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This is a privileged view from inside the Florrie (8th Sept,2011). It's a heritage open day and I managed to book a tour of this historic building. It's a building site - full of scaffolding. We had to wear steel toecapped boots, hard hats and vis vests as well as signing something that said we understood the dangers and would behave ourselves! This £4m project will provide a great visitor attraction and community resource to Toxteth / Dingle. The current plan is to open in March 2012 - I hope they make that date and I'll be an early visitor. Alan Carrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03884098195110970012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7299674604783597208.post-39695872995886992162011-08-06T00:54:00.001+01:002011-08-06T08:36:12.520+01:00The Florrie <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CVpMRH8920E/TjyCOissyHI/AAAAAAAAAoc/PxbPJ2igmTQ/s1600/small_florrie_9714.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="434px" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CVpMRH8920E/TjyCOissyHI/AAAAAAAAAoc/PxbPJ2igmTQ/s640/small_florrie_9714.jpg" t$="true" width="640px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Florrie under wraps</td></tr>
</tbody></table> 'The Florrie' is The Florence Institute for Boys in the Dingle area of Liverpool. It's a magnificent building that fell into a sad state of decay. Now being restored (the reopening is scheduled for Feb 2012) it is currently completely under wraps. This view doesn't give a true idea of the size of the building, but I liked the 'community garden' notice, the man with the dog and the two names on the wall. It's all about narrative!Alan Carrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03884098195110970012noreply@blogger.com1