Chris Hunt | Beeton Grove, Longsight, 1974-75
In 1974, photographer Chris Hunt documented the lives of working-class families in Beeton Grove, Longsight – a small terraced street just a couple of miles from Manchester city centre. Chris was fascinated by his neighbours – a diverse mix of English, Irish, Pakistani and Cypriot families. After a year living on Beeton Grove, Chris approached everyone on the street with a request to photograph and interview them about their everyday lives.
As well as the portraits and images of family members in their homes, Chris captured them at work, out shopping, and in the nearby pubs and social clubs of 1970s Manchester and Salford.
Photo © Chris Hunt.
Photo © Chris Hunt.
Photo © Chris Hunt.
Photo © Chris Hunt.
Photo © Chris Hunt.
Photo © Chris Hunt.
Photo © Chris Hunt.
Photo © Chris Hunt.
Photo © Chris Hunt.
“I was surprised to discover the different ways everyone lived. In some of the houses, I could feel the warmth and affection within the family. The children were happy, and everyone was interested in what I was doing. In others, I felt more like a stranger and was never really accepted. Possibly, having a tape recorder did not help, but the feeling persisted after three or four visits. Generally speaking, the interviews were more like discussions. After my initial visit to each household, I gave each family some free photographs that made subsequent visits easier.” – Chris Hunt.
Photo © Chris Hunt.
Photo © Chris Hunt.
Photo © Chris Hunt.
Photo © Chris Hunt.
Photo © Chris Hunt.
Photo © Chris Hunt.
Photo © Chris Hunt.
Photo © Chris Hunt.
Photo © Chris Hunt.
Gallery first published December 7th, 2020. © Chris Hunt / British Culture Archive. All rights reserved.
READ OUR FULL FEATURE WITH CHRIS HUNT HERE
All images © Chris Hunt, all rights reserved. No usage or reproduction of any kind without prior permission of the copyright holder.
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