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: "Ash Afife owner, standing in shop with backdrop of ancient world artefacts. Ash came to Chester after his business was lost in the Manchester bombings. Business is a struggle, and he relies a great deal on internet sales. Ash is very vocal on behalf of the traders about what he feels is neglect of the Rows. [Ash says:] 'In 1986 I was in Manchester, everything was fine, and I had established a very good business but unfortunately in 1996 the IRA hit Manchester and I lost the business then. This is one of the reasons why I came to Chester. It was a completely different world then. Chester was very vibrant, and you would hardly see any shops empty. I remember 2008 was the beginning of the disaster. There was only me and one other business and the whole row was shut.
I’m not far off now that the mail order will exceed the income from retail. One of the biggest premises, Debenhams has closed, and it has badly affected the rows as it used to bring the flow of retail traffic in from Eastgate and Northgate, on the other side. The council have built a new market and half the city is shut down. You’re not going to attract any more people to buy because the money in their pocket does not change. They have neglected the historical Chester for the benefit of some modern, rubbish building.
I am a realistic guy and I have been in the market for a long time. I tell you the truth if I can make minimum wages for the amount of hours, I put in here then I am a hero. It has been a struggle.
I have paid more than a quarter of a million pounds in business rates since I moved here. I would like to know what service have they given me? The police service has been cut down; the fire service has been cut down. What have you done with my money? Show me what you have done with that money in 21 years.'" 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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