Revealing hidden histories behind our shop fronts
TONY HENDERSON on the pictures that capture the North East’s high streets
STREET-WISE photographer Sarah Loveland‘s North East images have won a place in Historic England’s national archive.
Sarah was one of the photographers who responded to Historic England’s call for images of the nation’s high streets.
The “Picturing High Street” project marks the final year of Historic England’s High Streets cultural programme and its £95m High Streets Heritage Action Zones scheme.
The aim of the pictures venture, a partnership between Historic England and Photoworks, was to document a year in the life of England’s high streets.
Tom Frater, regional director for the North East and Yorkshire at Historic England, said: “We were overwhelmed by the amazing responses from the public to our call for photographs of high streets.
“Through contemporary photography, people have captured what makes high streets such special places for social connection, revealed the histories hidden behind shop fronts and celebrated the communities that are keeping them alive today.
“This new national collection is a truly brilliant historic record of high streets today for generations to come.”
The two winning pictures by professional photographer Sarah, who lives in Shotley Bridge in County Durham, were of Middle Street in Consett and the Westmorland Road front of the Dog and Parrot pub in Newcastle
The Consett picture was taken in the middle of a misty day around Christmas. “It was freezing that day,” said Sarah.
“I like street photography, which captures moments that need to be recorded and I was totally chuffed to have my pictures in the national archive”
Images by two other North East photographers have also been accepted for the archive.
Calm Before the Shopping Storm is a view by Danial Kennedy along Alley 2 of the Grainger Market in Newcastle at around 7am just after it had opened.
Street photography is a hobby for Danial, who lives in Blaydon and is an account executive at Karol Marketing in Newcastle.
He said: “There were no shoppers that early and it was interesting to see the traders beginning to get ready to start their day.
“It was a real surprise that the picture is going into the national archive and exciting that it will be there forever.”
Photographer and film maker Carl Joyce-captured a view through the window of the Bronx Barbershop in Saddler Street in Durham.
He pictured a man having his haircut, framed in the O of the shop sign.
It is the second of Carl’s pictures which have been accepted into the national archive.
The other was during an appeal by Historic England for images to record everyday life during Covid lockdown and Carl photographed a pair of blue PPE gloves on a washing line in Ushaw Moor, Durham.
Louise Fedotov-Clements, Photoworks director, said: “This incredible and ground-breaking national programme has produced a unique and important photographic representation of the high street.
“The works highlight a diversity of views featuring the places, people, histories and activities that help us to understand our relationship to, and the importance of, the high street today.”