Paul Rabbitts and Carole O’Reilly’s publication of ‘Salford in 50 buildings’ on Friday November 15, sees Salford claim the spotlight from Manchester.
The book features buildings from across the cities five districts: Salford, Eccles, Worsley, Irlam and Cadishead, and Swinton and Pendlebury, and focuses on buildings that remain standing in Salford.
The authors use buildings to “learn about the diversity of building types and styles in the city and to document what is still standing.” The buildings demonstrate the cities range, which have pulled from different cultural, social and industrial influences, as it has developed over the years.
Salford held its own against Manchester having a strong economy, with cotton, silk and weaving mills. Which attracted families and grew Salford.
For Rabbitts this is the latest of his ‘50 buildings’ series, this time collaborating with O’Reilly, a Senior Lecturer in Media and Cultural Studies at Salford University to create ‘Salford in 50 buildings’. After the pair decided “it was a shame that Salford always got overshadowed by Manchester and that its built environment was much better than Manchester”
I am so enjoying doing the in 50 Buildings series that @amberleybooks do. Leighton Buzzard done; Watford done; Manchester done; Salford in hand; Luton in hand; Windsor & Eton, Bournemouth and Aylesbury next ! Exploring is fun and local history fascinating pic.twitter.com/d44xEAerKz
— Paul Rabbitts FRSA FLI (@bandmasta) February 8, 2019
The book offers enables readers to “celebrate the existing local architecture, at a time when the city is changing rapidly” and may cause people to consider what this rapid development means for the city and how the city can focus on not just celebrating its heritage but also maybe think a bit more about protecting what is left as many buildings are being demolished to make way for new apartments. A time of rapid change is always a good moment to stop and look around you and appreciate what is still here.”
O’ Reilly discusses the possible scandal that could have been caused by the “extensive plans for the area around Salford Precinct and how most of it never was built” due to some elusive political controversies that resulted.
Salford places pressure on itself to be distinguished from Manchester. This book provides the opportunity to do that without demolishing historical sites for apartment buildings.
The book is being published by Amberley Books. The publication which also brought us ‘Salford At Work’ by Peter Harris, which also takes a look at the development of Salford.
Salford in 50 buildings costs £14.99
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