Black and white pictures of children playing in demolished streets are going up in Salford for a special one-off exhibition.
The rare 1960s and 1970s images are by celebrated photographer Laurie Asprey, who grew up in a two-up, two-down in the now-demolished Dorset Street, Ordsall, with his mum, dad and two brothers.
Asprey went on to carve out a career in the business, photographing some of the world’s greatest musicians including John Lennon, Bob Marley and the Rolling Stones.
His brother Frank now lives in Charlestown and has donated the images to the exhibition.
Highlights include pictures of Gertrude Street, called ‘tea leaf valley’ locally beacuse it was where women used to empty their tea pots.
Terraced houses were being pulled down as part of the slum clearance projects of the time, with thousands of families displaced.
© Salford Local History Library
Hosted by housing provider Salix Homes at Ordsall Hall on Friday 30 October from 11am till 2pm, Our Salford: Bygones and New Beginnings will also feature a collection of images from Salford Local History Library as well as photographs donated by the public.
Lee Sugden, chief executive at Salix Homes, said: “We are very privileged to be able to feature photographs from the Laurie Asprey collection as part of our exhibition charting the changing face of Salford.
“These fantastic images document the changing street life for the people of Ordsall and capture the area as it underwent rapid social change as part of the slum clearance project.”
© Salford Local History Library
“Despite the poverty you can feel a real sense of community spirit in the pictures and it’s that Salford spirit that makes this city what it is today.
“I’d urge people not to miss out on this wonderful exhibition, where they’ll be able to take a trip down memory lane as well catch a first-look at some of our exciting regeneration schemes and plans for the future, which will see our city change once again.”
The exhibition will mark the transfer of 8,500 homes from Salford Council to Salix Homes, which took place earlier this year, and has unlocked £75m funding to invest in improving homes and communities in Salford over the next five years.
The event promises to be a fun day out for the whole family with Halloween themed children’s activities, competitions, an interactive exhibition and the chance to chat with Salix Homes’ employees about the exciting investment plans for the city.
To find out more head to Salix Homes online here
