There is a singular lack of images of Chorlton during the middle decades of the last century.
Most are from commercial photographers who sold their work on to picture postcard companies, and never missing an opportunity also took plenty of photographs of individual streets, which they then offered up to residents for “a knockdown price”.
But by the 1950s the golden age of picture postcards was drawing to a close, just as cameras became cheaper and more readily available, which ushered in “the snap”.
The snap was usually a very personal image, sometimes a little out of focus and in most cases consigned to a photo album, or the back of a cupboard.
Sometimes the odd one gained pride of place on a fridge or notice board, only to fade with the years and become “tired” from much passing around.
All of which brings me to a set of sketches made by my friend Ann of the Chorlton she knew back in the 1960s.
Ann grew up on Barlow Moor Road at what is now 523 , and as part of various art projects she sketched some of the rooms in the house as well as view out across the back garden.
And include three of Chestnut Avenue, which were made in the summer of 1960 and included “The first house on the right which was an Opticians, when I lived at 523”.
Location; Chorlton
Pictures; Chestnut Avenue, August 1960, from the collection of Ann Love
I remember Ann, and her husband Howard. They taught, with my mother, at Chorlton High.
ReplyDeleteI remember helping to decorate their flat, when they moved onto, I think, Chandos Road, or it may have been Ellesmere Road!
What year as this? Howard taught at Chorlton High as part of his teaching practice, in 1966.He then moved on to Wilbraham High, for many years.What was your mothers name?
DeleteHoward and his first wife Anne divorced, he later married in 1971, to another Ann, and we lived on Devonshire Road, then St Werburghs. Later, Devon, and France.
I remember Ann, and her husband Howard. They taught with my mum at Chorlton High.
ReplyDeleteI remember helping to decorate their flat when they moved on to, I think, Chandos Road, or it may have been Ellesmere Road!
Mr Love was my art teacher at Wilbraham High. Unfortunately I have heard he died a while ago.
DeleteHoward's death has been greatly exaggerated. He is alive, and living in France. With his second wife Ann.
ReplyDelete