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 Chester, Suzanne St Clare was commissioned as photographer. She wrote the following text to describe her work on the project: “My response to the residency was to work creatively with business owners trading on the historical Rows in Chester.
Initially we started by finding out about how these business owners came to Chester, their community, challenges, the quirkiness of independent trading and their love and passion for this beautiful, historic city...." Three sets of images were created as a result of the residency. Suzanne St Clare wrote the following text about this set: "In the second year, we took inspiration from photographers such as Gregory Crewdson and Julia Fullerton-Batten, who are known for their cinematic style and use of studio lights. Together we created a series of images that document the characters who make up the shops on the Rows. Most of those who took part would often speak of their dissatisfaction relating to what they felt was a lack of support, and how powerless they felt to be able to trade profitably. Yet they were the captains of their business, and from the outside what could look like positions of power. The intention of these images was to portray the traders in a way that acknowledged that status, where they looked powerful and showed the beauty of the Rows retail space and the detail of their surroundings in a positive and authentic way." The photographer wrote the following text about this image: "Paul Boyland standing in model shop surrounded by boxed items. Chester Model Centre is a family business with Paul’s son and daughter working in the business. Paul’s business is thriving with the large store packed full of stock. [Paul says:] 'I began the business in 2006 in Penketh and moved to Chester in 2013. I’ve got photos of me knee high playing with trains and soldiers and the interest came from my dad and my history teacher, Bert Starkey who became a lifelong friend. At school once the teacher asked if foot soldiers were attacked by cavalry what would you do? The answers were ‘run’, ‘shoot them’ and I put my hand up and said, ‘form a square’. He thought I was some kind of genius and it was just something I’d learnt playing with my dad! It has been a roller coaster from the beginning. No one thought I could make a success of it, I put it down to our customer services as everyone in the shop has their specialist subject and we are all modellers. We cater for the customer, not what we like and we try to do it the old-fashioned way. The problems we face are the lack of investment down this end and Chester in general is under looked. We feel they are catering for the food and drink industry and the support dropped off then. The big thing we need is signage. I’ve been waiting for 7 years and it just doesn’t happen no matter what regime is in, The council should focus on the history, heritage and advertising the Rows. We used to be able to put out A boards but the council said we couldn’t do that unless we paid £300 and they had to advertise 2 businesses, one on each side. That never got off the ground and we continued to put them out but just before Christmas a van turned up and they took them all away. The sales dropped terribly. I don’t feel we get the support we deserve. One of the main problems here is theft and vandalism. We can have 20-30 youths outside in the evening - drinking, drugs, sex, vomiting, throwing food – we need a better police presence or security. Homelessness is a problem. There are shelters but if they have been drinking heavily and using drugs they are not allowed to stay. There have been times when they would be sleeping at the front of the shop and we couldn’t get in. They would be begging and shouting at people and customers wouldn’t come up the steps, but I do have a lot of sympathy for the homeless. I’m 67 soon and hope to pass it onto my son and I would like to see the future of the business in Chester but there is no reason for people to come down here during the day.'" Since this commission, the Rows Capital Improvements project has enhanced more than 100 properties associated with the Rows to improve access and footfall as part of the High Street Heritage Action Zones Programme. This has included improvements to the lighting, paintwork, balustrading and stall boards, investment in marketing the Rows as well as tours and other activities, and the production of a Business Guide aimed at local traders.
'Picturing England's High Streets' commision by Open Eye Gallery, Historic England and Photoworks.
This is part of the Job: HEC01/128/01/06/01 Picturing High Streets Photographer Residencies - Suzanne St Clare: Chester, Portraits of Traders; within the Volume: HEC01/128/01/06 Picturing High Streets Photographer Residencies - Suzanne St Clare: Chester; 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
© Suzanne St Clare
Photographer: St Clare, Suzanne
People Posed
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