British Culture Archive Exhibition | Bolton Museum & Art Gallery | 5th March – 15 June, 2025.
Don Tonge’s photographs of Bolton in the 1970s capture the industrial landscape of the town during a time when life seemed much simpler for many. Don’s extensive archive features the daily lives of Boltonians, including some of his own friends. Like many photographers, Don focused on what he knew and could relate to, which is evident in his images.
At the British Culture Archive, we believe Tonge’s work is amongst the best British documentary photographs from the late 20th century. His powerful, sometimes humorous images share a story of life in a northern town.
“I left school at fifteen without any qualifications and initially worked in the building trade. I eventually started to work as a freelance photographer for many years, shooting press and portraits. I spent about eight years as front of house photographer for The Octagon Theatre in Bolton, though my passion has always been Documentary Photography.” – Don Tonge.
Don Tonge archival prints are available at the BCA shop.
Documenting Your Community invites you to take photos of your community, capturing life in contemporary Britain. You don’t need to be a professional photographer—we’d love to see photos that capture your local shopkeeper or people in the park or pub, a celebration of everyday life in Bolton!
This is a fantastic opportunity for photographers and upcoming photographers who wish to have their work exhibited at the Bolton Museum and showcased through the BCA platform.
For this Bolton exhibition, we are pleased to have selected submissions from the following photographers:
Debs Parr, David Seacombe, Ellis Carter, John Macdonald, Jenna Bond, Martin Dewhurst, Eira Davoy-Wood, Georgia Davenport, Duncan Gowans, Mai Hem, Claire Wray, Julia Uttley, Eleanor Wilson, Pete Spencer, Georgia Shaw, Mandy Millyard, Chris Miles, Marta Lazdovskaja, Darren Large, Rachel Hart, Paul Gray, and Christine Carl.
Documenting Your Community 2025 © Georgia Davenport / BCA. All rights reserved.
“I’d been to see Lois and some friends perform with their band At Home With Lilac at The Ramp in Horwich with my mate Alice. We ended up staying out and moving on to this rave. It was 26th October (notice the ghosts in the background). I take pictures like this to document moments in the hope of looking back when I’m older and reminiscing. I used to love looking back at family photo albums as a kid and still do now. I hope images like this will bring memories flooding back in the future about what we used to get up to when we were younger.
“This one was taken on a film camera I found on a car boot for 3 quid (very lucky it works). I don’t use it often because it’s expensive to buy film and develop it, so when I do, it’s usually a special occasion. I spend most nights out in Manchester City centre, but the taxi fares make it a dear do, so when there’s stuff going on closer to home, it’s brilliant and feels like a special occasion. I love how crisp the contrast is in black and white film photographs; I think they feel more nostalgic and surreal – quite like memories.”
Georgia Davenport.
British Culture Archive Exhibition | Bolton Museum & Art Gallery | 5th March – 15 June, 2025.
For Opening Times, please see Bolton Museum & Art gallery Website here.