Around the Block

Change happens.

There is nowhere that this is more noticeable than in our home towns and cities. It can be a slow process, over a few generations of natural transition or rapidly where the catalyst may be war or a major population shift.

In my schooldays the geography, and later at College the urban environment ,syllabus illustrated the development of cities on a planned basis. The concentric model had a core in a Central Business District working outwards to the residential suburbs. The sector model had less uniformity but still with the same social and economic uses. In fact, most of our modern cities have more of a multiple nucleii arrangement representing different rates of growth and development, following the pattern of settlements that had, in their early days their own autonomy before eventually merging with neighbouring districts into a large urban sprawl or conurbation.

This theoretical basis can be seen on a much smaller scale in our own local areas.

I came across a perfect illustration of urban change just today with the discovery of a grainy black and white photograph of a short block of properties. By way of background I feel it important to show the specific terrace on an old Ordnance Survey map from 1910.

The subject block is shown directly above 

The block consists of four properties, all rather irregular in shape to their rear two storey and single storey wings, set back with shallow forecourts to, in 1910, a rough surfaced but still busy roadway leading westwards to the Town Square, around which there are everyday shops and services. 

To the north there lies open countryside which did not come under development for housing until well into the 1950's. A landmark feature was the cutely named Sniggle Bridge where the road passed over a small stream although shortly after this O.S Map issue this watercourse was greatly widened to form an important land drain. 

Just to the south and east is a cul de sac of late Victorian terraced houses providing mainly rented accommodation for the working class or for those commuting to the City which is a bumpy 5 miles distant by horse drawn tram or on the, in contrast, smooth and fast steam rail line. 

The terrace, circa 1910

The old photograph shows the terrace in mixed use. It is likely to have been purposely built as seen representing a speculative development by a builder or businessman to maximise rental income. As well as the two end terraced shops units which will have had proprietors living quarters behind and above there are two quite grand looking houses in the middle. In Britain in that era actual home ownership was rare and private landlords were able to earn a decent income from lettings. In this case there will have been at least four incomes. 

The block has the appearance of having been recently erected with clean brickwork and tidy slate roofs and stacks. Windows are in the sash cord hung style and although in black and white there is a suggestion of matching paintwork along the terrace, again synonymous with a single landlord/owner. 

Shop facades are quite traditional although there is not enough definition to identify the trades carried on from the premises. The small group of people may be a single family with top-hatted father, formally dressed wife and eldest daughter and presentable children. Sunday would be a likely day given the smart attire as though the party were going to, or leaving church or chapel.

To the foreground right is a brick wall which marks the previously mentioned Sniggle Bridge.

Between the era of the old photograph and the one of the same block that I took just today there were significant changes in British Society, including two world wars, a boom and bust cycle for the economy and in terms of demographics and population. 

I would say that the current appearance of the terrace is fairly representative of contemporary society and to be found in every city, town and suburb. The original photo will have been taken using a bulky, tripod mounted camera. I took the one below with a smartphone. The black and white image was, I felt important to link the two images.

2016

The terrace is barely recognisable from its original appearance, perhaps only by the roof profile and chimneys. 

All four of the constituent properties are in commercial use as a Sun Bed Shop, Takeaway, former Pawnbrokers and a Convenience Store and with ancillary rooms or flats above. There is now a sizeable population in surrounding streets and the post war built Council Estate on the opposite side of the road supporting the local businesses. Only one slate roof has survived the years and the frontages have been flushed off above the shop fronts following removal of the earlier and distinctive bays. Gone are the forecourt gardens in favour of an open plan area merged into the public pavement. The appearance is rather cluttered with signage and street furniture but typical for an urban scene. 

It is unfortunate that there are no people in the current photo as fashions and depicted relationships will have been of interesting contrast to the 1910 family group. I like to think that relatives of that family may still live in the local area. 

It is important for such memories to be recorded not just on celluloid or in digital format but through first hand accounts and by word of mouth through the generations.