Recently inspired by 'How to be a Retronaut' and my rediscovering of the works of Shimon Attie, I have produced these photographic studies for my MA Certificate Stage Learning Record. I've learned that the rate at which Britain's pubs are closing these days isn't an entirely new. The compensation act of 1904 saw many 'redundant' licensed premises in my home town of Macclesfield shut down by the local magistrates. Moreover, in the year preceding William Hogarth's production of Gin Lane and Beer Street, more than one in four houses in the St.Giles Parish of London were gin shops. Imagine that!
Not having the lighting rigs, projectors and photographic expertise of Simon Attie I have resorted to producing these images in Photoshop. I've superimposed black and white photographs of pubs from the town's archives (from the early twentieth century) over the top of residential buildings as they stand today. Obviously mine is a completely different subject matter too and I'm not trying to create an emotional response with my work, but hopefully I've captured some of the essence of the 'ghosts of the past' from the works which have inspired me.
If you know Macclesfield (or even if you don't) the first image is of The Wheatsheaf on Waterloo Street, the second of The Queens Arms on the corner of Hobson Street and Peel Street and the third is The Pig & Whistle on Mill Street - now the Papadam Indian Restaurant.
These images have since been posted on the 'How To Be A Retronaut' website.
You can also read more on this story at Creative Match.
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