In 2022-23 Historic England commissioned several photographers to work with local communities to capture images representative of their local high streets. This formed part of the Picturing High Streets project. In Prescot, Tony Mallon was commissioned as photographer. This image is one from the first of two sets of images taken as part of the commission. Mallon wrote the following text to describe his work on the project: "I have been working in collaboration with local residents from Prescot since summer 2021. At the beginning of my residency, I explored Prescot Town Centre’s rich history with its residents through a series of Photography and Memory Fairs. People’s archival photographs and stories revealed how much the ‘High Street’ has played an important and fond role in their lives – their first kiss, watching television for the first time through a shop window or looking forward to your pick and mix sweets on a Saturday. A selection of these images and stories where displayed on shop fronts at three locations on the ‘high street’. It was beautiful to see/read what have been up to then private moments, usually only shared with family/friends become accessible to the public. It was fascinating getting a glimpse of people’s history." The photographer added the following information about this image: "During the general strike of 1926, Alice Waterfield set up a small bakery in Mather Lane, Leigh, selling pies and confectionery to the local factory workers. As the reputation grew, so did business and soon her husband Albert joined Alice to work in the bakery. He left his job as a coal miner, after taking his qualifications in baking at Manchester Technical College where he studied at night after a day spent down the pit.
As trade flourished so did the involvement of the next generation. Daughter Hilda supervised the cake decorating department and later moved on to retail supervision. Albert jnr, who joined the firm in 1956 after army service, was later to become Managing Director in 1961, following the death of his father.
In 1984 the business had expanded to such an extent that there was a requirement to move the bakery again, this time to Manchester Road, Leigh.
It was around then that the third generation, Richard and John Waterfield became involved in the management of the business having spent several years both in the U.K. and Europe developing skills in the art of baking.
Today they have 36 shops across the North West of England.
The shop in Eccleston Street opened in the early 1980’s. In 1996, Waterfields purchased the sweet shop, Sweet Emporium next door to enlarge their premises. Manager Bev has been working at Waterfields for nearly 30 years." 'Picturing England's High Streets' commission by Open Eye Gallery, Historic England and Photoworks.
Part of a collaborative project by Tony Mallon and the Prescot Photography Group.
This is part of the Job: HEC01/128/01/04/01 Picturing High Streets Photographer Residencies - Tony Mallon: Prescot - Photography and Memory Fairs; within the Volume: HEC01/128/01/04 Picturing High Streets Photographer Residencies - Tony Mallon: Prescot; within the Sub Series: HEC01/128/01 Picturing High Streets: Photographer Residencies; within the Series: HEC01/128 Picturing High Streets; within the Collection: HEC01 Historic England
© Tony Mallon
Photographer: Mallon, Tony
21st Century Bakery, People Posed
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