The postwar Hillfields of photographer John Blakemore

[dutchman]

"The Rag & Bone Man"


"Eli's Triangle"


"Demolition Site"


"Urban Playground"


"The Chimney Sweep's Wife"

[rebbonk]

Lovely old atmospheric pictures.

Are the latter two dated?

[dutchman]

Lovely old atmospheric pictures.

Yes indeed Rebbonk, they are exactly how I remember the area.

Are the latter two dated?

Not that I know of Rebbonk but I suspect 1963-65, the same as the first two.

[Richard]

Hi,

We just made a film about John Blakemore (as he has deposited a lot of his life's work at Birmingham Central Library). You can watch it here:

http://www.source.ie/feature/archive_season.html

He talks about coming back to Coventry after finishing his national service. Photographing in Hillfields and running a portrait studio there. Although he has no pictures from that period and we have not managed to find any.

Would be interested if anyone has any portraits that they think Blakemore took of them in the 50s.

[dutchman]

Thanks Richard most interesting and to the forum

[dutchman]

Photographic exhibition to show changing face of Hillfields


Elderly couple chat on the corner of Brook Street and (I think?) Berry Street

Three local photographers are creating an exhibition documenting the development of post-war Hillfields.

Jason Tilley, John Blakemore and Richard Sadler are working together on a Warwick University community research project called Imagine.

All three photographers have close ties with the Hillfields area, which was considered to be Coventry’s first suburb.

Jason, who works at Coventry University, will be compiling a body of work which will act as a response to still life photographer John Blakemore’s work in Hillfields in the 1960s.

Jason spoke to the Telegraph about the history of the area and why the project was important to help plan the future of Hillfields.

He said: “It was the first post-war development in the country. It’s a transient community.

“There are various populations that live in Hillfields, from Irish to Caribbean, to Iraqis and Kurds.

“Hillfields is almost the gateway to Coventry.”

The photographers and researchers on the project are now making a call to see if anyone has old photos of Hillfields that they could use.

He said: “We’re looking at a change in the population.

“We realised that there are others who have incredible archives that we could use and look at as part of the research project. It would be great if people had photographs from even 100 years ago.”

He added: “We would be particularly interested in seeing photographs showing Coventry’s Caribbean community in Hillfields.”

The exhibition will be featured at The Box in Fargo Village, Far Gosford Street, from August 8.

For more details visit imaginehillfields.org

If anyone has any photos of Hillfields they wish to share with the project, they are asked to email Ben Kyneswood at b.p.kyneswood@warwick.ac.uk

[dutchman]

"The Roadsweeper"

[Blitzkid]

Coventry, LONG before these people (1936) Coventry had made it's suberbs Foleshill for instance, new bridges and new roads and factories appeared. and Hillfields was at least 60 years old by the time of the Blitz.

[dutchman]

Photographer who 'inspired a generation' dies



A photographer who "inspired a generation" through his pictures and teaching work has died, aged 88.

Born in Coventry in 1936, John Blakemore became a key figure in post-war photography and was known for his work in the Hillfields area of his home city in the 1960s.

The photographer also developed a passion for teaching, most recently passing on his knowledge at the University of Derby.

Dr Michael Pritchard, from The Royal Photographic Society, said Mr Blakemore's work was "beautiful, meticulously executed and thoughtful".

The self-taught photographer was also known for his printing work and literature.

He was described by the Centre for British Photography as "one of the leading photographers of landscape and nature in the world".

His friend and colleague, Paul Hill, said he was at his best when he was with students.

"John wasn't a diva," he said.

"He was an extremely engaging individual who was very generous with his time.

"His gentleness, his understanding, his intellect was of a very high calibre.

"Engaging with students was his happiest time."

Mr Hill said his friend, who was an honorary fellow of the Royal Photographic Society, died on 14 January after a short illness.

The Centre for British Photography said Mr Blakemore fell in love with photography while on a tour with the RAF in Libya in the 1950s.

Following his return from National Service, he began to photograph the people of Coventry and the city as it was reconstructed after World War Two, working as a freelancer.

He went on to focus his work on nature, the environment and natural processes such as wind, water and light.

Mr Blakemore began teaching in the late 1970s, a passion he pursued at the University of Derby through much of the rest of his life.

Dr Pritchard said he was a "key figure" in post-war photography in the UK who "inspired a generation" through his teaching.

"Through his exhibitions and books, his work reached a wide audience," he added.

"His legacy is his own photography but also the students he taught and who now produce work to his exacting standards and teach in their own right."