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: "Will Powell, owner, standing in shop, on staircase. Will has taken over from his grandfather and father.
[Will says:] 'My grandfather, Dave Powell, was born in Chester. In the 1960s he set up jewellery businesses in North Wales and we moved to Chester early 2000s taking on G.J.H. Brown and son (Est 1859). We opened the connecting shop for contemporary jewellery and then when Lowes, (Est 1770) was closing after 248 years we bought this business. Lowes is part of Chester and is such a beautiful shop. We have three shops all within 50 m of each other but all with a different client base run by 17 staff including me and my dad.
My dad is a gemologist, specialising in coloured gemstones and his passion is working at the bench and making the jewellery. He is involved in refurbishing the older pieces of jewellery. I went straight from school to work experience in financial marketing in Scotland which opened my eyes to the whole business process, and I graduated from the Goldman Sachs course, 10, 000 small businesses. Rather than settling and working there I was missing home and so went back to work in the family business and here I am 20 years later. My specialism is diamonds. They absolutely fascinate me; they are miracles really. I want to keep the idea of a family business, it is really important to me that people can come in and talk to us. Also, a business is only a good as its team and we have a good team at Powells.
Although my grandad isn’t here anymore, I would like to think that he, and my dad are proud of me.'" 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
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