Friday 30 April 2010

30th April 2010 - Alexandru's Accordian
Accordian player Alexandru plays most days in the city centre, he says it is not the money he plays for but the enjoyment he gives to people. A truly beautiful sound from a truly talented man.
Is it that incomplete song
you sing for me April
or the soulful song of
a nightingale or a song
from the heart of Earth
A song long heard
which is lost in the waves
(Photographs from April, which didn't make the blog, are added to the slide show.)

Thursday 29 April 2010

April 29th 2010 - 1st Class Conical Radar Buoy And Anchor
I have passed this scene thousands of times in Everton valley and have never really paid much attention to it - until today. Mersey Docks and Harbour Company maintain buoys in the river Mersey. These buoys mark the position of the deep water channels used by shipping and shipping hazards. Each buoy has a number which appears on the buoy and charts of the river. This buoy was commisioned in 1950 and it has been stationed in many positions including Garston docks. On the 18th October 1976 off the coast of Formby at Q7 4T the buoy sank and was lost, it was found by accident as the new buoy was being stationed on the 23rd March 1979. It was raised and salvaged. The buoy was restored to its original condition and bears the number of its last station.

Wednesday 28 April 2010

April 28th 2010 - The End Of The M62
This is the scene that many homesick Scousers want to see - the end of the M62 and the begining of Liverpool - One of the best cities in the world!


Tuesday 27 April 2010

April 27th 2010 - The Crown Vaults
The Crown Vaults Public House in the Everton Brow area has been there for well over a hundred years, and now it's up for sale. Let's hope it remains open and keeps its traditional look. If you look very closely you can see the Everton supporting 'Toffee Lady' and Liverpool 'Kopite' fan on the pub's front. These two characters appeared at the top of the city's football results newspaper, the 'Pink Echo', on a Saturday night. Unfortunately, the 'Pink' has stopped being printed as a separate paper on Saturdays. The two people waiting at the bus stop remind me of the two said characters.

Monday 26 April 2010

April 26th 2010 - The Liverpool Collegiate Institution
This former school was opened on 6th January 1843. The Institution was a day school for boys - designed by Harvey Lonsdale Elmes in a neo-gothic style (architect of St Georges Hall). The building has now been renovated, after a long period of dereliction, into a series of luxury apartments designed by Urban Splash. Former pupils include Leonard Rossiter, Ted Ray, Philip Fox, Sam Kelly, ballet dancer Robert Smith, Everton footballer Brian Labone, Holly Johnson, Pete Best and not forgetting Billy 'Hold Your Plums' Butler.

Sunday 25 April 2010

April 25th 2010 - Bootle Wind Turbine
I have driven down this road in Bootle many times and on every occasion I get enjoyment from this city scene. It captures the essence of better times, with 'new technolgy' looming up behind the now derelict pub and council houses. One of my favourite landscapes in Liverpool. Once over the brow of the hill, the giant wind turbine disappears from view as if by magic.

Saturday 24 April 2010

April 24th 2010 - Evening Coat
An evening coat on display at Sudley House. Although there are no surviving clothes belonging to the house owners, the Holt family, there are clothes on display belonging to the Holts' close friends and business associates; the Hollands, who lived nearby in Carnatic Hall. This 1934 coat of black silk with a velvet lining and rabbit fur collar always scares my children... I love the drama of it myself, I can just imagine the parties it must have been to.

Friday 23 April 2010

April 23rd 2010 - St George's Hall
Happy Saint George's Day, I hope you're having a spiffing time! This is St. George's Hall , a neo-clasical building and Prince Charles' favourite. Designed by London architect, Harvey Lonsdale Elmes, aged 25, the building was opened in 1854. Elmes died in 1847 and never got to see the finished building. The Hall has a ballroom, law courts and concert room, alongside the second largest pipe organ in the world (The largest is in the Anglican Cathedral). £23m has been spent recently in a major restoration and it was officially reopened on 23rd April 2007 by Prince Charles.

Thursday 22 April 2010

April 22nd 2010 - 'P.F.Garnett & Co. Ltd.', Duke Street
Took this photograph in Duke Street, I love the old sign above this merchant's store; 'Cork Importers and Brewers Merchants', The grey Georgian style door alongside the shop fits perfectly, making this 'preserved' scene of by-gone days all the more vivid. Even the more recent 'street art' graffitti on the hoardings seems to, strangely, fit into the bigger picture. Most of Duke Street has been renovated and is looking marvellous, but how good would it be if this little piece of the past could remain as a testament of our city's history?

Wednesday 21 April 2010

April 21st 2010 - Our Lady & St. Nicholas' Church
A stone's throw from the Waterfront is the Liverpool Parish Church of Our Lady & St. Nicholas. Also known as the 'Sailors'Church' due to its maritime connections, this church dates back to ancient times. I liked the juxtaposition of the gothic style tower, ship's mast and modern ship style hotel at the rear of this image - and yes that is a vapour trail spoiling the beautiful blue sky.

Tuesday 20 April 2010

April 20th 2010 - Ainsdale Dunes
A very windy day in Ainsdale but refuge could be found in the dips of the dunes. A beautiful part of Merseyside with vast swathes of sandy beaches. The red flag was flying today so my cossie stayed in the plastic bag! (note still no vapour trails in the sky).

Monday 19 April 2010

April 19th 2010 - Reflections On The Mersey
I went for a late evening walk along Woodside prom and the lights from the ferry terminal were making mesmerzing patterns on the choppy water. There is beauty in the simplest of things.

Sunday 18 April 2010

April 18th 2010 - Anglican Cathedral From Everton Brow

Another early morning start - once again, I had planned to photograph the rising sun, but this image of the cathedral took me aback. An absolutely stunning shot of the tower emerging out of the mist rolling in from the Mersey. It has since clouded over; it was certainly the best part of the day.


Saturday 17 April 2010

April 17th 2010 - Mist On Sefton Park Lake
An early start this morning to photograph the sunrise. Ended up photographing the lake in Sefton Park with the early morning mist rolling across the water. Again no aeroplane vapour trails....marvellous.

Friday 16 April 2010

April 16th 2010 - Above Us Only Sky
Above us only sky...with no aeroplanes. This is the second day that flights out of John Lennon Airport have been grounded due to the volcanic ash from an erupting Icelandic volcano being blown high over the UK....and how peacful it has been. As the photograph shows, no aeroplane fuel trails - just a beautiful blue sky. I wish it could last forever....and you may say I'm a dreamer.

Thursday 15 April 2010


April 15th 2010 - You'll Never Walk Alone...

Liverpool remembers today - the 21st Anniversary of the Hillsborough Disaster. Fans mingled with people closest to those who lost their lives in the tragedy, united in their grief outside Anfield this afternoon. The floral tributes and messages on football shirts say it all...

Wednesday 14 April 2010

April 14th 2010 - Path to Formby Point
Working on an assignment back at Formby today. Another beautiful afternoon, if a little breezy, so I couldn't resist a wander on the beach at Formby Point. Here, the path leads out of the woodland and across the sand dunes (home to the endangered Natterjack toad), then a steep drop down to the wide stretch of beach with the Irish Sea beyond. Quiet there today, despite the blue skies. I always feel this stretch of windswept coast line has a strange and lonely atmosphere.

Tuesday 13 April 2010

April 13th 2010 - Fire across the Mersey
A beautiful fresh spring morning. On my way to work I spotted the smoke plume pictured - it turned out to be a factory fire in Birkenhead next to Cammel Lairds. The river looks beautiful at this time in the morning I could easily just take photographs of the river for the next 8 months, for it is forever changing and each photograph would be unquie, but Liverpool is not just about a river, football and music.

Monday 12 April 2010

April 12th 2010 - Formby Pine Woodlands
I took this photograph today at Freshfield, Formby. It shows a small section of the vast pine woodlands which are, suprisingly, not a natural feature of this coastline. They were planted 60 - 110 years ago to stabilise the sand dunes and shelter crops like asparagus (the best tasting asparagus in the world is grown here). They are now an important refuge for the rare red squirrel. Well worth a visit if passing.

Sunday 11 April 2010

April 11th 2010 - Penny Lane Sign
This is the fourth in the series of the Penny Lane sign, a few subtle changes have occured. I wanted to take a photograph of a new Penny Lane sign which mysteriously appeared last week to promote the visit of the Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg who signed it, but high security was in force (the gate to the car park is locked on Sundays). I shall try next month, although it may have been removed following a comment made to Mr Clegg by the media about a politician condoning graffitti!

Saturday 10 April 2010

April 10th 2010 - Aintree Racecourse - Grand National
I ventured out early before the crowds came to watch the biggest steeple chase in the world. 'Don't Push It' was this year's winner, ridden by AP McCoy. Needless to say my money was on a donkey.

Friday 9 April 2010

March 9th 2010 - Goree Plaza At Night
As promised earlier this week, I returned to the fountain at the Goree Plaza this evening to take this shot. The noise of the moving water was quite deafening - like the crashing waves of the ocean, and much more noticeable in the quiet and stillness of the night in Liverpool's business district.

Thursday 8 April 2010

March 8th 2010 - Under Starter's Orders...
As this year's races at Aintree got underway today, I thought this photograph of a small selection of Liverpool's iconic mini Lambananas lining up under the Liver Buildings was like a humorous suggestion of the 'horses' under starter's orders.

Wednesday 7 April 2010

April 7th 2010 - City view from Thurstaston
Travelled over to Wirral to take this shot of Liverpool's skyline from Thurstaston. You'll need to zoom in to see more detail; a brilliant place for panoramic views of the Dee Estuary and the Wirral- and the smell of the blooming gorse bushes is splendid.

Tuesday 6 April 2010

April 6th 2010 - Goree Plazza
A sneak preview of the fountains at Goree Plazza - I'm hoping to go back at night and take a photograph of the fountains illuminated. Goree Plazza was originally two arcaded warehouses in the middle of the old dock road and was named after the island 'Goree', off the west coast of Africa. On the 14th September 1802 the Plazza was gutted by a spectacular fire. In 1817 American author Washington Irving worked here for his family's importing business, which unfortunately went bankrupt. He went on to travel and write his most famous book 'The Sketchbook of Geoffrey Crayon' which contained Americanised versions of European folktales, as well as familiar essays on English life. The old plazza was severely bombed in the air raids of 1941 and it was demolised between 1948 and 1950. In 1967, to mark the completion of the new Plazza, a plaque was presented by Cammell Laird Ship Building Company to the fountain's builders, S & E Limited, and this plaque is still on display today. I like the way lines all compliment each other in this image.

Monday 5 April 2010

April 5th - India Buildings Archway
A grey day today. Photographing some key buildings in the city centre, I liked the shadow and angle of this archway into the India Buildings and the juxtaposition with the modern building seen on the other side. India Buildings was built between 1924 and 1932 for Alfred Holt's Blue Funnel Shipping Line, by architect Herbert Rouse. Despite being damaged during an air raid in World War II, the building is still one of Liverpool's most recognisable, with an arcade of elegant shops and modern office space (home to the Passport Office). The building was designed to be used as a warehouse if needed, with a street running through the centre of the building.

Sunday 4 April 2010

April 4th - Easter Nest
An Easter Sunday stroll in Calderstones Park. Straight out of a Beatrix Potter story, these three ducks were enjoying the late afternoon sunshine on the banks of the lake. The duck on the left appeared to be sitting eggs. I'm reliably told by my son (who has inside information on this one!) that one of these ducks actually is called Jemima... The Park gardeners have made an excellent job of landscaping this area next to the lake, with a series of small wooden jetties for fishing and feeding the ducks which will become hidden by bullrushes and purple flowering water plants in a few weeks time, just in time for the ducklings.

Saturday 3 April 2010

April 3rd 2010 - Philharmonic Hall
Today is my brother's birthday and one of his favourite places to visit when he comes to Liverpool is the Philharmonic Hall. The Hall is situated on Hope Street and is the home of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. It is not the original concert hall - its predecessor was destroyed by a fire in 1933 having been built in 1849. The present Hall was opened in 1939. Herbert J Rouse was commissioned to design the new hall and his design was in the art deco style. It was offically opened by Sir Thomas Beecham on June 19th 1939. Local violinist, John Frederick Clarke who was part of the famed RMS Titanic orchestra, alongside other band members who died during the ships 1912 sinking are all commemorated on a plaque within the hall. I captured this shot as a cellist crossed the road on his way to rehearsal.
Happy Birthday Marco!

Friday 2 April 2010


April 2nd 2010 - World Museum

The snow melted as quickly as it arrived(!) A wet and dismal day in Liverpool - this photograph was taken outside the World Museum's original entrance. The museum was first started as Lord Derby's Museum, which opened in 1851, sharing two rooms on Duke Street with a library. The museum proved extremely popular and a new, purpose-built building was required. Land for the new museum was donated by Merchant William Brown on then known Shaw Street. Around 400,000 people attended the opening of the new building in 1860. The museum was expanded in 1901 to house its ever growing collection. In 2000 the museum was again expanded, taking over the lower half of the extension, which was then owned by Liverpool John Moores University, and renamed World Museum Liverpool.

Thursday 1 April 2010


April 1st 2010 - Everton Lock Up

After heavy snowfalls in parts of Liverpool overnight I was passing the 'Everton Lock Up' when a really unusual blue hazy light fell over it. Built in 1787 it is the oldest surviving building in Everton. It stood in the west end of Everton village which lay on the brow of the hill. It was used to lock up the drunks and trouble makers overnight. When the successful local chapel football team took the name 'Everton' the well-known landmark was adopted as the Everton Football Club insignia.