The North Of England: The Photos Of Shirley Baker

~ beetleypete

For over 50 years, Shirley Baker took photos of everyday life around England, and on her travels abroad. Originally from Salford, Greater Manchester, she was also fascinated by that region, and the people who populated it. This is just a small selection of the street photography photos that she became well-known for. Most of the photos can be enlarged by clicking on them.

(All photos copyright of the Estate of Shirley Baker and MACK)

Sunbathing at Blackpool, 1970.

A little girl with her mum’s shoes and handbag. Manchester, 1965.

A street musician in Stockport, 1985.

This lady has stopped to sit and smoke a cigarette. Manchester, 1985.

A boy with his English Bull Terrier. Salford, 2000.

Girls swinging on a lamp-post outside a supermarket. Macclesfield, 1992.

A family sitting outside their house. Manchester, 2000.

Two photos from trips to London in 1987 and 1989.

46 thoughts on “The North Of England: The Photos Of Shirley Baker”

  4. Takes me back this Pete. I was born in Salford, as were my parents & grew up there. Some of these pictures remind me of the ones my dad still has from the 70s of us all playing in the streets or holiday snaps on the beach. One striking thing from the street pictures were all the neighbours would be out chatting and hardly any cars!

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  7. (1) “My lips are sealed.”
    (2) “Why does this thing vibrate? And why is it in Mum’s handbag?”
    (3) “I love playing Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D minor on my Hohner!”
    (4) “Yes, this is the real me. No filter. Same goes for my cigarette.”
    (5) A female English Bull Terrier is not referred to as an English Cow Terrier. Anyone who says otherwise is feeding you a bunch of bull.
    (6) I like the girls on display. But did they ever pay for the photo?
    (7) A Manchester baby.
    (8) That mannequin is gender confused.
    (9) There’s been a spike in bus usage.

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  9. Love her photos, the boy with his dog! Lovely. Of course apart from London all these places are in the Midlands not the North, but I’ll forgive you as you’re a southerner and the North starts just above Watford Gap to you šŸ¤£šŸ¤£

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    1. Salford and Manchester are not in the North? Don’t tell that to the people who live there, they will lynch you. They LOVE being northerners. As for Watford Gap, my north starts a lot lower down than that! I used to get edgy around Barnet. šŸ™‚
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  19. These are great photos. I was saddened by the one of the two girls playing round the lamppost because you don’t see children playing like that nowadays.

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