My general observation is that most of us are guilty of going about our business taking no interest whatsoever in architecture that surrounds us. For the last year photographing the humble terrace plaque in the Burnley area has been one of my projects. Why terrace plaques? Primarily because it as never been done before and secondly because they represent a large part of our hidden local heritage.
An example of this plaque blindness was brought home to me when pointing my camera at a plaque at Duke Bar. A rather tall elderly gentleman stood next to me staring intently at the plaque. He was still staring even when I had finished. Feeling a little intimidated I commented that this was one on the oldest plaques in Burnley. “You know” he said “I’ve lived here all my life and never seen that!”
Terrace plaques are not just blocks of stone with names on them. They were often the original street address. Looking back at the development of the cotton towns most of our current primary roads were originally little more than country lanes with no definitive name. Consequently, a new terrace would in effect be the equivalent of our post code. Typically on Colne Rd Burnley nearly every terrace block has a different name. The whole system of terrace names becoming redundant as soon as the road obtained its official name.
Of course the builders soon spotted the advantage of giving their houses some upmarket name, Blenheim, Marlborough, Knightsbridge Grove and for the more erudite Shakespeare Terrace. The last one being perhaps the most sophisticated of all. (see photograph). The more common names of Jubilee Terrace, Victoria Terrace, Pendle View popping at regular intervals. Although the majority are simply the builders choice reflecting features of the local area or prominent people ie: Cromwell or Wellington there are instances where we may regard name as being a little “over the top”, Riviera Terrace, New Discovery Terrace, Perseverance Terrace. Burnley has approximately 150 terrace plaques not including finials or house names. Quite a lot to digest even for the most enthusiastic observer. Brierfield and Briercliffe are more manageable at 14 and 8 respectively.
| Attachments: |
|
File comment: Shakespeare Terrace Albion St Burnley. P2280054AC.jpg [ 44.25 KiB | Viewed 9534 times ] |