Portico: Manchester's Marvels Exposed
David Henry
NEIL Roland is explaining his love of Manchester. He says, with evident enthusiasm: "I
think it is a fascinating city architecturally. I love the richness, the minutiae.
It is a wonderful mix of buildings. It has great character and photographs very
well.
"I always prefer second cities. I like Gothenburg in Sweden and Porto in Portugal
much more than the capitals of those countries. It is the same with Manchester."
But, I remind him, Manchester is not actually Britain's official second city.
He laughs: "Well, I think it feels like a second city and, in most people's
eyes, it is the second city, really. No offence to Birmingham, but I don't think
it is as impressive either culturally or historically as Manchester."
With this kind of talk, Neil could get a job working for Manchester's tourism
office, but he has every right to be biased. He has just put together an exhibition
of photographs - many showing old architectural gems reflected in the glass of
modern buildings - he has taken of Manchester. It opens at the Portico Library
tomorrow.
He says: "I don't think people really appreciate the beauty of the buildings
in Manchester. People walk around the city without paying attention to the architecture.
It is a tremendous shame because many of the buildings are stunning, yet they
go unnoticed.
"I hope this exhibition will allow people to look at the city in a different
light and hopefully make them appreciate Manchester's buildings more."
Contributed
Born in Sale, Neil is a law graduate but a writer by profession. He has written
for several national newspapers and contributed to the Rough Guide travel books.
Last year, he published his first novel, set in Didsbury, where he now lives.
He is a self-taught photographer and still uses the same camera he had as a boy.
This is his second major photography exhibition.
"I've lived in Manchester all my life, and I stay here out of choice because
I think it is a wonderful place," he says with passion. "I don't think
we shout loud enough about how great the city is. We have a fascinating history,
yet people who live here are not aware of it.
"For example, how many people know that Marx and Engels wrote their work together
at Chethams library? Probably very few."
Is photographs feature surprising angles on familiar buildings, such as the Royal
Exchange Theatre, the Midland Hotel, and the Central Library. It is a celebration
of the city's diverse architecture.
"The city looks great on film. You can capture some really interesting shots
thanks to the contrast of buildings."
He says his favourite part of the city is around China Town because it has remained
unchanged for many years. "The original features are still intact. There
has not been too much development in that area and so it has kept its character."
Gems
But Neil warns that many of Manchester's architectural
gems are threatened. He says: "We don't look after our old buildings properly.
We replace old features with new, modern designs so the character is lost.
"Many old buildings are crumbling, yet instead of trying to preserve them
we knock them down. So much history is being lost."
In recent years, Manchester has been transformed architecturally, following an
ambitious programme of regeneration and reconstruction. But Neil is scathing
about some of the new buildings popping up in the city.
He says: "Almost all of the new buildings are blatantly poor. There are
very few imaginative, world-class new buildings being built here. I think the
city should have some ambition and commission more innovative buildings."
But he still believes Manchester is a great city to photograph and believes his
photographs show the city in a unique light.
"I think many people will be surprised at the images of the city, particularly
if they haven't looked at the architecture properly before.
"Manchester is a great city visually and hopefully the exhibition will show
people that."
