DELVE DEEPER INTO SPINNINGFIELDS’ RICH HISTORY AND ITS VIBRANT COMMUNITIES.
A Place Lived by artist Maddi Nicholson, residing and creating in Cumbria, has produced a collection of playful cast iron enamelled sculptures that invite us to reflect on those who shaped Spinningfields in the 1800s.
These sculptures breathe life into the narratives of individuals who once inhabited the bustling terraced housing of the area. These homes sheltered the workers of nearby industries during that era. While it’s commonly believed that Spinningfields was devoid of history before its transformation into a vibrant financial hub, the truth is far richer and deeper.
Permanent Art Exhibition
TIME
24/7
LOCATION
Hardman Sq, Hardman St, Manchester M3 3EB, UK
TICKETS
Free
VISUAL NARRATIVES DEPICTING THE LIVES OF PAST INHABITANTS
IN TODAY’S SPINNINGFIELDS, RESIDENTS, EMPLOYEES, AND VISITORS ALIKE ARE OFFERED A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH THESE SCULPTURES STRATEGICALLY PLACED ON THE VERY SITES WHERE THEIR CORRESPONDING HOUSES ONCE STOOD.
These sculptures serve as visual narratives, depicting the lives of past inhabitants such as Martha Barry, known as the ‘Washerwoman’, Maria Spencer, the ‘Keeper of the Mangle’, and Martha Harrison, the ‘Knocker Up’.
To bring ‘A Place Lived’ to fruition, Maddi Nicholson meticulously mined census records and archival materials, collaborating with expert teams nationwide to craft the final artworks.
The ‘A Place Lived’ website beckons individuals to delve deeper into Spinningfields’ rich history and its vibrant communities of yesteryear. Moreover, it offers insights into Nicholson’s research and the creative process behind her works.”
Maddi Nicholson on A Place Lived:
“As a girl I made things and entered them in Carlisle’s Cumberland Show, ‘industrial section’ classes, and won on a regular basis the most points in the Junior Section. I took home the Springfield Silver Trophy for 7 years in succession from 1974 – 1980, a record not yet beaten. Looking at these childhood beginnings, I now set myself new industrious challenges, in classes of my own making. This is one of them.
“I am delighted to have worked on this commission with the team from Hardman Square, and Castlefield Gallery. It’s been a privilege to delve into the unseen past communities of Spinningfields and bring to life their stories. I’ve developed a great respect for these families, and women the work focuses on, as I’ve followed their lives and professions through each census. I would love to find present day descendants to share these histories with.”
This art exhibition is free to attend, and fully open to the public. The sites are wheelchair accessible. Please note, that one sculpture is located within the grounds of The Lawn Club, though anyone is permitted to access the venue to view it.
A Place Lived was co-commissioned and produced by Katie Popperwell and Castlefield Gallery for Spinningfields Estates Ltd. A Place Lived received additional support from public funding via the National Lottery through Arts Council England.
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