Salford dockers to shoppers

 A3 Limited Edition Print £50 Contact me

A story about Salford past and present

A bit of history

Salford Quays is an area of Salford England, near the end of the Manchester Ship Canal, it became one of the first and largest urban regeneration  projects in the United Kingdom following the closure of the dockyards in 1982.

Built by the Manchester Ship Canal Company, Salford Docks was the larger of two that made up Manchester Docks the other being Pomona Docks to the east which opened in 1903. They were opened in 1894 by Queen Victoria At their height the Docks were the third busiest port in Britain, the docks declined in the 1970s. They closed in 1982, resulting in the loss of 3,000 jobs. 

In 1983, Salford City Council acquired parts of the docks from the Manchester Ship Canal Company with the aid of a derelict land grant. The area was rebranded as Salford Quays and redevelopment by Urban Waterside began in 1985 under the Salford Quays Development Plan. Faced with major pollution issues from quality of the water in the ship canal, dams were built to isolate the docks, after which water quality was improved by aerating it using a compressed air mixing system. Within two years the quality was sufficient to introduce 12,000 coarse fish, which have thrived in the environment. Water quality is monitored fortnightly by scientists from APEM, the Manchester University Aquatic Pollution and Environmental Monitoring Unit, and the improved habitat has been recognised by the Angling Foundation and the Institute of Fisheries Management. 

Between 1986 and 1990, the infrastructure of the docks was modified to create an internal waterway network. Roads and bridges were built and a promenade along the waterfront constructed and landscaped. Moorings and watersports facilities were provided and a railway swing bridge moved to cross Dock 9. A hotel, cinema, housing, offices were built on Piers 5 and 6 followed by more developments on Pier 7. Public funding and private investment totalled around £280 million by the early 1990s. 

A story by Andrew Alan Matthews

Salford Dockers to shoppers   

And Back in the day  

Ships sailed in and out  

12 hour shifts   

Fist fights  And Fightin for work 

 On the Salford docks  

But there was fun and laughter too Its true  

Hard workin men  

Battling every day  To bring booty in  

From all walks of life  

They had trouble and strife   

They lived a hard life  

But it was a community  

Unity   

In the winter  

the cold freezing water cut you to the bone 

but it was home  to the dockers   

blood sweat and tears  

through the years    

where the cranes  

hurdy gurdys  swayed this way and that  

bringin booty in and out 

a dangerous job  it was non stop  

 the dockers have gone now  

replaced by shoppers  in a modern scene   

was it a dream  from the industrial theme 

So yeah  

Salford Dockers to shoppers  

And Back in the day  Ships sailed in and out  

12 hour shifts  

Fist fights  And Fightin for work 

 On the Salford docks  

The dockers are gone now  

 Replaced by shoppers  

Show stoppers  

https://youtu.be/L_nT4Rrn6Bw

Comments from the General Public

 My Grandfather was one of those dockers. He sadly died at the age of 63. I believe his work on the docks took him far too soon. by Paul

 My uncle was the post man for the docks. All-ways came of better for wear drinking on the ships down cross lane on his bike lol by Brenda 

 My grandad dad and uncles all dockers by Philomena

 Home and iconic to us back then. Went to school opposite Docks. Grandad a Docker. by David

A3 Limited Edition Print £50 Contact me

A story about how the past flows on by 

A bit of history

Salford Quays is an area of Salford England, near the end of the Manchester Ship Canal, it became one of the first and largest urban regeneration  projects in the United Kingdom following the closure of the dockyards in 1982.

Built by the Manchester Ship Canal Company, Salford Docks was the larger of two that made up Manchester Docks the other being Pomona Docks to the east which opened in 1903. They were opened in 1894 by Queen Victoria At their height the Docks were the third busiest port in Britain, the docks declined in the 1970s. They closed in 1982, resulting in the loss of 3,000 jobs. 

In 1983, Salford City Council acquired parts of the docks from the Manchester Ship Canal Company with the aid of a derelict land grant. The area was rebranded as Salford Quays and redevelopment by Urban Waterside began in 1985 under the Salford Quays Development Plan. Faced with major pollution issues from quality of the water in the ship canal, dams were built to isolate the docks, after which water quality was improved by aerating it using a compressed air mixing system. Within two years the quality was sufficient to introduce 12,000 coarse fish, which have thrived in the environment. Water quality is monitored fortnightly by scientists from APEM, the Manchester University Aquatic Pollution and Environmental Monitoring Unit, and the improved habitat has been recognised by the Angling Foundation and the Institute of Fisheries Management. 

Between 1986 and 1990, the infrastructure of the docks was modified to create an internal waterway network. Roads and bridges were built and a promenade along the waterfront constructed and landscaped. Moorings and watersports facilities were provided and a railway swing bridge moved to cross Dock 9. A hotel, cinema, housing, offices were built on Piers 5 and 6 followed by more developments on Pier 7. Public funding and private investment totalled around £280 million by the early 1990s. 

A story by Andrew Alan Matthews

Like water under a Salford bridge 

It flows on past  

As I think of the past  

Long summer nights  

Under street lights  Of Salford streets  

Near the Salford docks   

Clocks clockin you in  

To the daily grind  

People didn’t mind  With money on there mind   

Knocker uppers  In the dark mornin light  

Smog in the morning  

From the industrial scene  

Was it a dream   

As I look from the bridge  

A Salford bridge  In a modern city  

Skyscrapers scrapin the sky 

Where dockers worked  In the past   

Its all passed   

Like water under a Salford bridge 

It flows on past  

As I think of the past 

 It didn’t last      

https://youtu.be/AhvMgi9tPLE

Hi everybody here is a painting and video of the Lowry centre where my art idol L.S Lowrys paintings are hanging on the walls. It is one of my life’s ambitions to display my art in this gallery next to my art idol. in the meantime I have an upcoming exhibition at Salford Museum & Artgallery from 2nd September 2023 to 11th February 2024. Of my Salford and Manchester by night collection, so come along to this prestigious Artgallery and enjoy your visit. hope you like the painting and video. By Andrew Alan Matthews 

Original Painting £1250 or A3 Limited Edition Print £50 Contact me andrewalanmatthews.co.uk 

A story about L S Lowry

A bit of history

Salford Quays is an area of Salford England, near the end of the Manchester Ship Canal, it became one of the first and largest urban regeneration  projects in the United Kingdom following the closure of the dockyards in 1982.

Built by the Manchester Ship Canal Company, Salford Docks was the larger of two that made up Manchester Docks the other being Pomona Docks to the east which opened in 1903. They were opened in 1894 by Queen Victoria At their height the Docks were the third busiest port in Britain, the docks declined in the 1970s. They closed in 1982, resulting in the loss of 3,000 jobs. 

In 1983, Salford City Council acquired parts of the docks from the Manchester Ship Canal Company with the aid of a derelict land grant. The area was rebranded as Salford Quays and redevelopment by Urban Waterside began in 1985 under the Salford Quays Development Plan. Faced with major pollution issues from quality of the water in the ship canal, dams were built to isolate the docks, after which water quality was improved by aerating it using a compressed air mixing system. Within two years the quality was sufficient to introduce 12,000 coarse fish, which have thrived in the environment. Water quality is monitored fortnightly by scientists from APEM, the Manchester University Aquatic Pollution and Environmental Monitoring Unit, and the improved habitat has been recognised by the Angling Foundation and the Institute of Fisheries Management. 

Between 1986 and 1990, the infrastructure of the docks was modified to create an internal waterway network. Roads and bridges were built and a promenade along the waterfront constructed and landscaped. Moorings and watersports facilities were provided and a railway swing bridge moved to cross Dock 9. A hotel, cinema, housing, offices were built on Piers 5 and 6 followed by more developments on Pier 7. Public funding and private investment totalled around £280 million by the early 1990s. 

A Story by Andrew Alan Matthews

Lowry’s Matchstick men  

We haven’t forgotten them 

Where Lowry painted industrial scenes   

Where the weird  odd and few Came to life   

He didn’t have a wife  

But made a life  Of matchstick men    

And We haven’t forgotten them   

So He walked Salfords streets  

With very little treats   

And Banged on gallery doors   

To have his art on the walls  

But they turned him away  

 So he just had to say   

Ive got the weird  odd and the few just lookin at you   

where disabled men 

 industrial scenes Are making me dreams  

So look at them   

London came on the scene  

now hes livin the dream  of a Salford industrial theme   

now lowrys gone  

his arts hanging on a wall   

the Lowry in Salford  Is named after him 

So come visit him  

So Yeah  Lowry’s Matchstick men  

We haven’t forgotten them 

Lowry painted industrial scenes   

Where the weird  odd and few Came to life  

 He didn’t have a wife  

he made a life  Of matchstick men    

And We haven’t forgotten them  

https://youtu.be/IeKiX-jTetU

Original Painting £1250 or A3 Limited Edition Print £50 Contact me

Hi everybody here is a painting and video of Salford Quays Blue Cranes tram by Night No1 by Andrew Alan Matthews hope you like it 

Bit of history

This is a view of the blue cranes looking over the Ontario basin Salford quays and metro link. The cranes were built in 1966 on the south dock, Salford’s blue cranes were placed on the quays in 1988 and towered over the docks until they were unfortunately taken down in 2013. They were an iconic reminder of the Salford past. The council decided to remove them as they advised they were structurally unsound and past renovation.

A story by Andrew Alan Matthews about the blue cranes and leisure 

Salford Quays Blue cranes and tram by night 

A vision of the past  

A Salford past 

Where the blue cranes stood  

Tall and proud  

 Remembering the Salford  Dock workers  

And the contribution they made  

Hard graft  Bringing in booty  From around the world  

 And here we can see a tram passing by 

 Filled with workers of a different type  

Yeah shop workers  

Some shirkers  and Old grandmas 

 On a day out  

Going to the Quays  

With knobbly knees  

Yeah the cranes are now gone  

Just like the past 

 its passed 

but we can look to the future  with nostalgia in our eyes  

and think

  we did all that  

it’s a fact   

yeah  Salford Quays Blue cranes and tram by night 

It shone a light  

On a Salford night   

And you know itl be alright  

As we walk on  tonight 

https://youtu.be/oIr_RWEjjvM

A3 Limited Edition Print £50 Contact me

Hi everybody here is a painting and video of Salford quays blue cranes by night by Andrew Alan Matthews I thought I would paint this scene where the blue cranes used to stand tall and proud, they were iconic reminders of the Salford past, but sadly they are now gone, so I thought I would pay tribute to the Salford Dock workers and what it used to be like by doing a story about the blue cranes

A story about the blue cranes

Salford quays blue cranes by night 

The blue cranes  Stood tall and proud  

A historic reminder of the past   

When dockworkers  Toiled away  

day in day out  

Bringing booty in from the ships 

 Ships from around the world Used to sail in  

With cargo piled so high  

Tea, fruit, oil and petrol 

Lots of goodies to be seen  From the Salford scene  

But now today the blue cranes are gone 

So ive painted a picture  

To remind you of the past  And present   

Hard graft of the day  

Has now turned into   

leisure for your pleasure  

A modern view of  Salford quays blue cranes by night  

Yeah The blue cranes  Stood tall and proud  

A historic reminder of the past   

And boy did it last  

https://youtu.be/oYK93kasbBs

Original Painting £1250 or A3 Limited Edition Print £50 Contact me

A Story of an old Salford pub in the Pandemic     

Hi Everybody this is a painting and video of The Dover Inn Salford by Andrew Alan Matthews. I used to live and work in Salford for 18 years this pub is at the bottom of our old street Pentlands Avenue Late Peru street on Fenney street Salford lots of renovation and new housing in the area now hope you like the painting and video.     

The dover Inn Salford 

On Fenney street  

Near Broughton Baths 

 an old Salford pub  

in a quite part of town 

lots of history

 a free house  near our old house 

live music and a good beer too  

used to be rows of terraced streets  

back in the day 

seen some history over the years  

lots of beers, cheers and tears 

a Salford pub  near Broughton baths  

stands here today  

through good times and bad 

 a traditional Salford pub  

and today new houses and flats  

 breathin new life   

yeah the dover inn Salford  stands the test of time  in a quiet way 

 its out of the way  

and today  

you can see people in masks 

waitin for the day the pub l reopen again  

 and when lockdowns lifted  

well be gifted 

with a Salford pub  

a quiet pub at the bottom of the street  

like coronation street  

yeah the dover inn Salford 

 a quiet pub  

at the bottom of the street 

a Salford street 

what a treat 

    https://youtu.be/2XVAPbke2wQ

Comments fro the general public

 That painting of The Dover Pub is absolutely great, real FOLK ART. It should get a prize, full of the atmosphere of its time, wonderful. A quiet pub like you say., 'wonder does it open on christmas Day?? by Irene

 Hi everybody here is a painting and video of Detroit Bridge Salford by night, hope you like it

A3 Limited Edition Print £50 

A bit of history

The Detroit Bridge is a Salford Quays landmark. The 80-metre-long footbridge spans Dock 9 linking Harbour City and Metrolink to The Lowry and The Designer Outlet. 15 years ago, the bridge was moved to its current location.

Story by Andrew Alan Matthews

On Detroit bridge by night

man walks his dog 

in the cold of the night 

shining his light 

on modern Salford tonight

And on the docks 

Theres no more clocks

Clockin you in 

There in the bin

ships used to sail in 

With cargo filled high 

hustling bustling 

port of the day 

People used to sway

And work on the docks

With Dockers Hard graft 

Bringing in booty 

From around the world 

cotton, grain, timber, 

tea, fruit, oil and petrol,

frozen meat 

what a treat 

Exported 

textiles,cars and trains

5000 dockworkers 

Graftin away In its hey day

docks closed in 82

Haven’t a clue what they did for you 

And now 

Detroit bridge by night

man walks his dog 

in the cold of the night 

shinin his light 

on modern Salford tonight

https://youtu.be/zSFgukvUleM

  Hi everybody here is a painting and video of Salford Quays skyline by night by Andrew Alan Matthews hope you like it 

A3 Limited Edition Print £50 contact me andrewalanmatthews.co.uk 

A bit of history

Salford Quays is an area of Salford England, near the end of the Manchester Ship Canal, it became one of the first and largest urban regeneration  projects in the United Kingdom following the closure of the dockyards in 1982.

Built by the Manchester Ship Canal Company, Salford Docks was the larger of two that made up Manchester Docks the other being Pomona Docks to the east which opened in 1903. They were opened in 1894 by Queen Victoria At their height the Docks were the third busiest port in Britain, the docks declined in the 1970s. They closed in 1982, resulting in the loss of 3,000 jobs. 

In 1983, Salford City Council acquired parts of the docks from the Manchester Ship Canal Company with the aid of a derelict land grant. The area was rebranded as Salford Quays and redevelopment by Urban Waterside began in 1985 under the Salford Quays Development Plan. Faced with major pollution issues from quality of the water in the ship canal, dams were built to isolate the docks, after which water quality was improved by aerating it using a compressed air mixing system. Within two years the quality was sufficient to introduce 12,000 coarse fish, which have thrived in the environment. Water quality is monitored fortnightly by scientists from APEM, the Manchester University Aquatic Pollution and Environmental Monitoring Unit, and the improved habitat has been recognised by the Angling Foundation and the Institute of Fisheries Management. 

Between 1986 and 1990, the infrastructure of the docks was modified to create an internal waterway network. Roads and bridges were built and a promenade along the waterfront constructed and landscaped. Moorings and watersports facilities were provided and a railway swing bridge moved to cross Dock 9. A hotel, cinema, housing, offices were built on Piers 5 and 6 followed by more developments on Pier 7. Public funding and private investment totalled around £280 million by the early 1990s. 

A story by Andrew Alan Matthews 

Salford Concrete Glass and steel 

Is it real

As I feel 

The chill coming down 

Im givin a frown 

Its all changed round here

Heading from the bridge 

Past the lowry

I wonder back to the days

When kids in clogs 

Were Playin with frogs 

And knocked on Salford streets 

With very little treats 

Near ordsall hall 

Standin tall and proud 

A reminder of the past 

Amongst flats and hotels

Where Posh folk sip coffee 

On a ledge so high 

In the Salford sky 

Concrete glass and steel 

Is it real

What was it like 

In the days of the docks 

Where Salford ghosts 

Walked round docks, 

Terraced streets and pubs 

On the Salford scene 

Its obscene 

Cos there gone now 

Just a few left 

Dotted round Salford 

Some Boarded up 

Abandoned and turned into 

Something else 

What else could they do 

Its progress they say 

Common folk 

Told to stay away 

Community spirit has gone 

Replaced by concrete glass and steel 

Is it real 

They don’t feel 

Where the Salford way of life 

Of trouble and strife 

But people had a life 

And a community 

They had unity 

And today 

Concrete Glass and steel of Pomona docks

Its real 

But they don’t feel

https://youtu.be/F2Z384omQMs

 Hi everybody here is a painting and video of Salford quays blue cranes by night by Andrew Alan Matthews I thought I would paint this scene where the blue cranes used to stand tall and proud, they were iconic reminders of the Salford past, but sadly they are now gone, so I thought I would pay tribute to the Salford Dock workers and what it used to be like by doing a story about the blue cranes

A3 Limited Edition Print £50 contact me andrewalanmatthews.co.uk

A bit of history 

Salford Quays is an area of Salford England, near the end of the Manchester Ship Canal, it became one of the first and largest urban regeneration  projects in the United Kingdom following the closure of the dockyards in 1982.

Built by the Manchester Ship Canal Company, Salford Docks was the larger of two that made up Manchester Docks the other being Pomona Docks to the east which opened in 1903. They were opened in 1894 by Queen Victoria At their height the Docks were the third busiest port in Britain, the docks declined in the 1970s. They closed in 1982, resulting in the loss of 3,000 jobs. 

In 1983, Salford City Council acquired parts of the docks from the Manchester Ship Canal Company with the aid of a derelict land grant. The area was rebranded as Salford Quays and redevelopment by Urban Waterside began in 1985 under the Salford Quays Development Plan. Faced with major pollution issues from quality of the water in the ship canal, dams were built to isolate the docks, after which water quality was improved by aerating it using a compressed air mixing system. Within two years the quality was sufficient to introduce 12,000 coarse fish, which have thrived in the environment. Water quality is monitored fortnightly by scientists from APEM, the Manchester University Aquatic Pollution and Environmental Monitoring Unit, and the improved habitat has been recognised by the Angling Foundation and the Institute of Fisheries Management. 

Between 1986 and 1990, the infrastructure of the docks was modified to create an internal waterway network. Roads and bridges were built and a promenade along the waterfront constructed and landscaped. Moorings and watersports facilities were provided and a railway swing bridge moved to cross Dock 9. A hotel, cinema, housing, offices were built on Piers 5 and 6 followed by more developments on Pier 7. Public funding and private investment totalled around £280 million by the early 1990

Story by Andrew Alan Matthews

Salford quays blue cranes by night

The blue cranes 

Stood tall and proud 

A historic reminder of the past 

When dockworkers 

Toiled away 

day in day out 

Bringing booty in from the ships

Ships from around the world

Used to sail in 

With cargo piled so high 

Tea, fruit, oil and petrol

Lots of goodies to be seen 

From the Salford scene

But now today the blue cranes are gone

So ive painted a picture 

To remind you of the past 

And present 

Hard graft of the day 

Has now turned into 

leisure for your pleasure

A modern view of 

Salford quays blue cranes by night

Yeah The blue cranes 

Stood tall and proud 

A historic reminder of the past 

And boy did it last

https://youtu.be/6WVt8pGwcIM

COMMENTS FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC

The painting arrived today in perfect condition - thank you very much. 

Thank you for doing such a beautiful job of capturing this evocative view of my favourite corner of Salford Quays when the blue cranes were still in place. You have caught the atmosphere of Salford Quays in the evening perfectly.

I’m looking forward to hanging this in my living room!

Thank you again.

Kind regards,

Alan

Hi everybody here is a painting and video of the Black friar Pub in Salford by Andrew Alan Matthews, hope you like it 

A3 Limited Edition Print £50 contact me 

A bit of history 

Built in 1886, The Black Friar was resurrected in 2021 after lying derelict for over 15 years. Lovingly restored, the Pub is a true harmony of old and new.

Story by Andrew Alan Matthews

The Black Friar Salford 

Surrounded by skyscrapers 

Scraping the sky 

Old and new 

Salfordian on cue 

Yeah hes an old Salford man

A ghost from the industrial scene 

Walks the scene

Where this pub of the past

Rose from the slums and ashes  

Girls in lashes 

Now flashes the bling 

a Salford pub

revamped and glamped 

food and beer 

with lots of cheer 

as the Salford ghost 

looks on the scene 

he dreams of his past 

where Salford workers toiled away 

in its hey day

smog on the scene 

of an industrial theme

and now he smiles 

on modern Salford 

its changed for the better 

he should write a letter

yeah 

The Black Friar Salford 

Surrounded by skyscrapers 

Scraping the sky 

Old and new 

Salfordian on cue 

https://youtu.be/vWEMO-mFIfw

 Hi everybody here is a painting and video of the Black lion Salford Pub on the corner of Chapel Street and Blackfriars. A short story about the Salford past and present, By Andrew Alan Matthews 

Original Painting £1250 or A3 Limited Edition print £50 contact me andrewalanmatthews.co.uk

A bit of history 

The Black Lion is Located on the corner of Historic Chapel street, just off Deansgate, Built in 1876 

Salford had the world’s first street lights. For most of history, at the end of each day, our ancestors lived in a very dim and dark world. Chapel street was the first in the UK to get gas lights. Also crime was abundant with Scuttlers they were members of neighbourhood-based youth gangs (known as scuttling gangs) formed in working class areas of Salford and Manchester they ran amok back in the day 

Times have now changed and a modern Salford now awaits you 

A story by Andrew Alan Matthews 

The Black Lion Salford 

Stands on the corner. 

Of a Salford Scene 

Now its clean 

We can dream

But Just imagine 

those days of the past 

As people gasped 

And grasped 

Of better days to come 

On the way to church

They Lurched and perched 

Outside the pubs 

Christians crossing

Horses Clip clopping 

grime and crime 

back in time 

The old police station 

Standing tall and proud

As scuttler gangs 

Ran amok 

In the dead of the night

They gave a fright

And when it was late 

The street was lit by gas 

For the working class 

crowds were mingling 

and jinglin

there hard earned cash

at the Marketplace 

with second hand clothes, 

auctioneers lively patter 

clitter clatter

of horses feet 

on a Salford Street

Yeah smog and smells  

lingered the Salford air 

so stop and stare 

cos look how its changed 

with modern glass buildings 

shiny and new 

modern Salford awaits you

Yeah

The Black Lion Salford 

Stands on the corner. 

Of a Salford Scene 

Now its clean 

We can dream

https://youtu.be/_bVqbkI9a1M

Hi everybody here is a painting and story of the Eagle In n Salford. Hope you like it 

 A3 limited edition print £50 contact me 

andrewalanmatthews.co.uk 

A bit of history

Award winning pub and music venue 

The eagle In, Salford is a traditional pub full of Beautiful minds.

One of the best music venues in Greater Manchester 

A hollowed out Victorian terrace house with a top spec sound system 

The Eagle Inn is a hidden gem of a pub located close to Victoria Station and a five-minute walk from Manchester Cathedral. Inside you’ll find a friendly, relaxed atmosphere with original features dating back the early 1900s and history further back still. This Grade II listed building contains a number of small snug rooms and central bar with detailed wood panelling and traditional tiling.

This great pub has been recognised as a top music location with regular weekly shows and performances from upcoming talents in the 80-capacity adjoining space. Alongside the full music calendar is comedy, spoken work and theatre.  The main pub area has a working jukebox packed with classic albums and Manchester heritage.

At the bar there’s a variety of very-well priced cask ales and award-winning beers brewed just a mile up the road. There’s also a good choice of bottled beer, wines and spirits. If you’re hungry you can grab a bite to eat from our fantastic festival style menu serving vegan and non-vegan food.

Story by Andrew Alan Matthews

The Eagle Inn Salford

Hidden gem 

Top music, comedy 

And Spoken word 

Haven’t you heard 

Holts Beers Await you 

Manchester Ales 

On the skirts of Salford 

A traditional Salford pub 

Nestled in between 

Skyscrapers 

Encroaching the place 

a hustling bustling place

traditional Salford pub 

with beautiful minds 

all kinds are welcome here 

so give em a cheer 

sup some beer 

come hear today 

Modern Salford 

And Manchester today

A beautiful mind 

Is Standing here 

Outside the pub

Looking on  

Mental health 

with stealth 

he’s Painting a scene 

Of a Salford 

Urban Dream 

https://youtu.be/JU_ggYYfwDg

 I was the landlady of the Eagle Inn the toilets were outside we had to update toilets inside before they would give me a licence to sell spirits we were always in the good ale book camera for keeping good ale they had a lot of meetings in the Lamp Oil i was the last Lady licensee to to apply to Salford courts for spirits licence loved being licensee some belting Salford people loved 📷 them all great characters xx  by Janet Callaghan

 you was the best landlady beautiful inside out loved in there by John

Great pub

So glad it's survived

Surrounded by mega blocks

Can't beat a pint of Joseph Holt by Rob

 The great lamp oil shop  by Jean

 Lovely painting one that I must visit if I knew where it was . by Frances 

 across the road from the Blackfriar if you know where that is,off Trinity Way  by Colin

 It is a great venue as many have closed around G Manchester or are under threat  by Phil

Hi everybody here is a painting of Salford Cinema by Day, I painted this one at Salford Museum and Artgallery on the 22nd October 2023 as a live painting demonstration of how I produce my artwork, my exhibition was on until the 11th February 2024 I hope you like the artwork and video story of this iconic Salford landmark.

Original Painting £1250 or A3 Limited Edition print £50

Contact me andrewalanmatthews.co.uk

A bit of History

"Salford Cinema" This building on the corner of Chapel Street and Trinity Way has an unusual history. It was originally built as a Scottish Presbyterian Church in 1846, complete with tall spire. The present frontage was then added in 1912 and it was opened as the Salford Cinema, (one of the first in Salford and Manchester) which then changed in 1938 to the Rex Cinema, surviving until 1958 before becoming a bingo hall between 1967 and 1985. Now the wheel has come full circle, and the building is once again a House of God as The New Harvest Christian Fellowship Church.

Story by Andrew Alan Matthews 

Salford Cinema 

Corner of Chapel Street

And Trinity way 

No way 

Modern Salford Today

Started out 

as a Scottish church

In 1846

Then changed 1912 

Salford Cinema 

First in the area 

Then a Rex Cinema 

And Bingo hall 

67 to 85

Then house of God again

So think again 

Cos It’s a Salford landmark  

Where skyscrapers 

And cars buzzin by 

A Salford grey sky

As modern folk 

Walk on past

On there way to work 

Or a night out 

Histories all about 

These Salford streets 

Treats 

So yeah 

Salford Cinema 

Corner of Chapel Street

And Trinity way 

No way 

Modern Salford Today

https://youtu.be/vAWR0HE27iY

Comments from the general public

 Is this in acrylics? I like it. Reminds me of Lowry in a way.

by Marnanel

Hi everybody here is a painting and video of the Black Friar Pub Salford by Dusk by Andrew Alan Matthews, hope you like it 

A3 Limited Edition Print £50 contact me andrewalanmatthews.co.uk

A bit of history 

Built in 1886, The Black Friar was resurrected in 2021 after lying derelict for over 15 years. Lovingly restored, the Pub is a true harmony of old and new.

Story by Andrew Alan Matthews

The Black Friar Salford 

Stands on the corner 

Of a Salford Street 

A modern street 

Where skyscrapers and flats 

Fill the scene 

A planners dream come true 

He saw it burnt down 

Derelict and decaying 

For years on end 

He brought it back to life 

Its now 

a gem amongst giants

in a Salford Scene 

where proud Salford people 

stand on the corner 

of trinity way 

and black friars 

so go into the pub 

fine dining 

a drink or two 

before moving on 

to a night out 

in Manchester 

We oughta thankya 

Mr planner 

Bringing it back to life 

Salford’s new way of life 

So yeah 

The Black Friar Salford 

Stands on the corner 

Of a Salford Street 

A modern street 

Where skyscrapers and flats 

Fill the scene 

A planners dream come true

So Join the que 

https://youtu.be/2gdNUPyi2e0