June 30th 2010 - Slowell Street

I always enjoy looking at this building - I love the symmetry of the steps. If you look on the right hand side of the photograph, a gable end of a listed JMU building once stood here. Masonary cleaning work started on it but the building came unsafe and, more's the pity, it had to be demolished.

June 29th 2010 - Pigeons In Flight - Shelmore Drive L8

I spotted this scene the other week whilst taking the photograph of the `Florrie', so I went back this evening just as the the sun was beginning to set. The tight knit community of Toxteth, where kids still play out on the streets and neighbours can still be seen chatting on the doorstep, gives the area a real sense of community. The view over to North Wales is unexpected, as was the flight of homing pigeons. I have not seen homing pigeons around Liverpool for a long time... I wonder if they are ever tempted to fly to the Welsh hills?

June 28th 2010 - Well Worn Steps In York Street

Just tucked behind Liverpool One shopping centre there is this magical piece of Liverpool. It is like stepping back in time; the old doorways, steps and brickwork still survive and it is not hard to imagine life here 250 years ago. One company who established themselves in York Street in 1758, were Fawcett Preston. They made pans, kettles, guns and other iron goods. They also produced sugar boiling pans and sugar cane crushing machinery and steam engines for use in the Caribbean sugar plantations around 1813.

June 27th 2010 - Toxteth Cathedral - Princes Road

I was surprised, yet again, by Liverpool's history; this is a photograph of Princes Road and the church on the right is the, now derelict, Welsh Presbyterian church known as the Toxteth Cathedral. The spire is 200ft and it dominates the Toxteth landscape. The church opened in 1868 and was designed by architectural brothers William and George Audsley. It was a focal point for the 30,000 Welsh Presbyterians living in Liverpool.At that time it was said that there were more Welsh speakers living in Liverpool than in the Welsh capital Cardiff.

June 26th 2010 - China Town

A view looking up towards China Town with the Metropolitan Cathedral poking above the Chinese arch. I like this view because it makes a change from seeing China Town from the other end of the road.

June 25th 2010 - Are you Happy?

Graffitti asking us to consider whether or not we are happy. It formed part of Liverpool Biennial and can be found in Duke Street. The bulding on the left is now a `gentlemens' club', but it appears to have been a warehouse in its glory days.

June 24th 2010 - Come on England

This splendid house in Windermere Terrace L8 has taken supporting England to a another level by painting the front door as the cross of St. George! England played this afternoon and beat Slovenia one nil. The next game is against Germany, so I think I would be heading down to B & Q for a tin of white gloss paint. This house was once home to Liverpool poet Roger McGough.

June 23rd 2010 - Echo

An Echo van parked up at the Echo Offices on the Strand. The Echo has gone through a few changes in recent years, notably not being printed in Liverpool and being delivered to newsagents with the other morning papers! An iconic vechile taken for granted, to me it stands alongside red double decker buses, taxis and red telephone boxes.

June 22nd 2010 - The Florrie

The Florence Institute For Boys was built in 1889 soley paid for by a West Indies' Merchant, Sir Bernard Hall, as a lasting memorial to his daughter Florence, who died in Paris at the age of 22.
It was the first building in Britian to be built as a Boys' Youth Club. Fitted out with a gym and library, Bernard Hall built it, as the plaque on the building states, as `an acceptable place of recreation and instruction for the poor and working boys of this district of the City'. Funding dried up in 1987 and this outstanding Victorian building fell into disrepair. Funding has been promised and restoration work will hopefully get under way very soon.

June 21st 2010 - The Calder Stones

I took this photograph because it is the Summer Solstice today and these magical stones are Liverpool's answer to Stonehenge. The Calder Stones are prehistoric stones which have been a local landmark since the 16th century. The first reference to them was in 1568. The stones have been moved many times and they were arranged in a circle, which is still visible, at the entrance to the park. Their condition became a cause for concern due to pollution and in 1964 they were placed in the greenhouse pictured which was built to house them. Orginally, the stones probably formed part of a burial chamber covered by a large earthen mound. They are decorated with spiral markings and they also have representations of human feet. I feel they are waiting patiently for the day when they can return to the outdoors again and breathe the fresh air.

June 20th 2010 - Modou Toure - Africa Oye, Sefton Park

Today was a hot summer's day and, being Fathers' Day, my family treated me to a trip to Africa Oye at Sefton Park. The event is now in its ninth year and is absolutely brilliant. With all sorts of African food, cultural gifts, instruments and goodies on sale...but best of all was the music. This photograph is of Toure Kunda from Senegal. Their music is a take on traditional West African folk music. It was a truly relaxing and enjoyable event.

June 19th 2010 - International Tennis At Calderstones

The final day at Calderstones Park for the international tennis tournament. Playing this year was the tennis legend John McEnroe. A photograph through the trees of the spectators enjoying the tennis. Best viewed magnified - this was the closest you could get without one of the much sought after tickets!

June 18th 2010 - Happy Birthday Macca

Today is Sir Paul McCartney's 68th birthday. This is the house at 20, Forthlin Avenue, Allerton, where Paul McCartney lived for several years and which is now owned by the National Trust, since 1995. A friend of the family once lived there for a short time, looking after the property for the National Trust. Being a skint student he decided to check the attic for any valuable items that Paul might have left behind. Needless to say he found nothing, but he left behind his own mark by putting his foot through Paul's bedroom ceiling. A quick repair job was required before the National Trust inspected the property the following week. Allegedly, of course! No blue plaque yet - apparently you have to be dead for 20 years before English Heritage considers putting one up and Macca's still going strong!

June 17th 2010 - Calderstones Newt Lake

A picture of the lake in Calderstones Park. A lake full of wildlife including Great Crested Newts. I was on my way to take a photograph of the tennis tournment but this caught my eye. I shall return to the tennis on Saturday.

June 16th 2010 - Come On England

The Mechanical Engineering Department at Liverpool University is showing its support for England in the World Cup Finals. This photograph was taken at about 10.30pm this evening and it was still light. A beautiful sunset over the Mersey - another perfect end to the day.

June 15th 2010 - Lime Street Railway Station

The newly renovated Lime Street Station is a long overdue welcome to the centre of the city. The awful 1960's Concourse House development blocked the entire frontage of the station (although there used to be a very good photo processing shop just on the corner, the three members of staff were very helpful and highly skilled). An end to a beautiful day with the vivid blue sky framing Lime Street's arched roof.

June 14th 2010 - World Museum

I tried to recreate one of E Chambre Hardman's photographs which he took from the top of the museum steps. The view has changed slightly but it is still a splendid vista of Liverpool.

June 13th 2010 - Abercromby Square Gardens

Situated in the Liverpool University campus on Oxford Street, Abercromby Square is named after Sir Ralph Abercromby, commander of the British Army in Egypt. He was killed at the Battle of Alexandra in 1801. A favourite place for students and university workers to contemplate the meaning of the universe or to wonder what's for tea.

June 12th 2010 - John Alexander Brodie
This is the house at 28, Ullet Road where Liverpool City Engineer John Brodie lived. He is best known as the designer of the Queensway Mersey Tunnel - but his more important invention, I feel, was the football goal net, which was first used in 1890 in a game between Nottingham Forest and Bolton Wanderers. The idea of the nets came to him while watching a match at Everton FC in 1889 when a dispute erupted over whether the ball had passed through the goal posts or not. He also made several proposals for improving the city's roads, including the scheme for Queens Drive.

June 11th 2010 - World Cup Fever

Not any ordinary street celebrating the start of the Football World Cup, but the very street where England's Captain Steven Gerrard lived. He lived in the house on the right hand side - number 10 Ironside Road, Huyton. The kids playing in the road said 'the cup is coming home 'cause Stevie G is the best'. A really close community ready to cheer the lads on.

June 10th 2010 - Penny Lane

A day early this month because the World Cup starts tomorrow and I have an image in mind.

A few more names appearing, maybe due to the start of the tourist season. Go on get down there and make yourself famous!

June 9th 2010 - Crosby Leisure Centre

The futuristic roof of Crosby Leisure Centre hovering over the sandunes. The centre is home to Sefton's popular annual triathlon which incorporates the beautiful countryside surroundings.

June 8th 2010 - Flat Iron Pub - Anfield
A wet summers day - I had been working nearby this classic traditional pub, 'The Flat Iron', with the backdrop of Liverpool Football Club's Kop stand at the end of the left hand fork, and Anfield Primary school on the right hand side.

June 7th 2010 - Beatles Mural, Litherland
This mural was commisioned by Riverside Group Housing to celebrate their 80th birthday in 2008. The artwork was painted by Belfast Royalist, Mark Ervine and Republican, Danny Devenny, along with the help of Liverpool artists. Hugh Owen, Director of Policy and Communication at The Riverside Group said of the project, "The ethos behind the project is to encourage communities to work together which is directly in line with The Riverside Group's mission to regenerate our communities on Merseyside and beyond." An impressive and imaginitive work of art.

June 6th 2010 - Pig's Behind
The back of possibly the oldest surviving pub in Liverpool, The Pig and Whistle opened in 1726. In the background, one of Liverpool's newest buildings, 20 Chapel Street, is visible.

June 5th 2010 - Port Of Liverpool Reflection

A photograph asking to be taken, the old and new coming together - for the better?
One of my favourite ways to use the camera is to use patterns, texture and lots of symmetry to produce an effective image.

June 4th 2010 - Rumford Court

Designed by local architect William Culshaw between 1832 and 1836, Rumford Court has a very interesting history. Home of the two American Embassies, The Confederates and Unionists a stone throw from each other. During the American Civil War the area surrounding Rumford Court would have been full of spies - for over the water in Cammell Lairds the Alabama was being built. Well worth a visit - the American House sign can still be seen just above the big black door. Another hidden gem in Liverpool.

June 3rd 2010 - 'Streaky Bacon Building'

This grade II listed building was constructed between 1896 and 1898, designed by architects Richard Norman Shaw and J. Francis Doyle. It was built for the Ismrie Shipping Company, which later became the White Star Line. Offically known as Albion House I think the most fascinating fact about the building is that when the news about the Titanic sinking in 1912 reached the offices, the White Star officials read the the names of the dead from the balcony (pictured) to hundreds of anxious relatives below.

June 2nd 2010 - Tudor Times - Speke Hall

A beautiful summers day at Speke Hall. I managed to capture this shot of one of the Hall's volunteer guides, dressed in Tudor regalia. He was a real character, playing the part very convincingly, and extremely knowledgeable. After humorously berating me for refering to the building in the backgound as 'Tudor' (when in fact, he informed me, it was mock Tudor, built in Edwardian times) he was more than happy to pose in stately fashion as lord of the manor.

June 1st 2010 - Unitarian Chapel - Toxteth

I took this photograph of the Unitarian Chapel in Ullet Road this evening. An impressive structure, which is a grade 1 listed, it was built in 1889 from the designs of father and son architects Thomas and Percy Worthington. The congregation was founded by Dissenters granted freedom to worship in Liverpool in 1689. Amongst its members was William Roscoe, slave trade abolitionist and instigator of many institutions of culture and learning in the city. I hope to get the opportunity to take a look inside before the year ends.