A blog about Stockport landmarks by artist/printmaker Neil Robinson which follows a printmaking project depicting the diverse architectural styles of my hometown both new and old.
While visiting the art gallery last weekend and doing some Christmas shopping, I did a mini photo walk around town to capture buildings I will be making prints of using my photographs as a reference. I headed down to the old Debenhams store which is now closed and took some images.
Debenhams storeDebenhams store
From there, I walked back up the A6 and saw that progress has been made on the new 1 billion pound bus interchange next to the Hatworks museum and you can see the apartment block being constructed.
Bus Interchange development
As I made my way back up the A6, I made a slight detour and had a look at the Stockport Village area behind the Plaza theatre is in the progress of being demolished. I took a few pictures from behind a metal fence.
Stockport Village (now being demolished)
Stockport Village was once a thriving little shopping precinct hidden away and has been abandoned for over 15 years. There used to be boutique shops, gym and cafe. I remember it in its heyday and is sad to now see it all abandoned and being knocked down. Hopefully some of it can be kept and redeveloped as with the other parts of the town.
Here is a last shot of the viaduct with the sun starting to set.
On Saturday, I attended the 101st Stockport Art Guild exhibition at Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery. I have 3 prints in this year’s exhibition which consists of 2 etchings based on Stockport that I worked on just before the Covid lockdowns and a photo screen print I completed this summer at Green Door Printmaking Studio in Derby.
The exhibition was a massive success and I helped with setting it up over the last few weeks.
Outside the art galleryEtching AquatintsPhoto screen printMe with my fatherPhotos from the exhibition preview
Last weekend, I started work on another. Enron park related print. This time, I created a dry point print of Vernon hall using a technique to blend colours on the printing plate.
Blended inks on the drypoint plate
The technique I use is to add blocks of coloured ink to the areas such as the lawn in the foreground. I do this for each area adding small amounts of ink used by a fine small paint brush. I then use scrim cloth to remove excess ink and then blend the ink by lightly going across the paint in a horizontal direction right to left (as I am left-handed). I then remove any further ink with tissue paper. I try and leave some excess ink in small areas to add some contrast. I then print the plate running it through the press at least once.
Finished print
I created a number of prints from coloured blends to sepia and using black ink. See gallery below.
On Saturday, I printed a small number of my drypoint prints depicting the Masonic Guildhall in Stockport. I used a technique called chine collé which I applied to the prints using sources such as embossed wallpaper, sheet music as this building is used as a music venue. I like this technique and hope to use the technique for future print subjects.
I attend the preview of the Stockport Open 2022 art exhibition this afternoon. I have two prints in this year’s exhibition and am really honoured to have my work accepted.
Stopford House (Etching aquatint)Pear mill (Gelli/Matt medium)
On Saturday, I organised a guided tour around Stockport starting from Stockport railway station and finishing at the river Mersey behind the precinct with the British History, Social Group on Meetup https://meetu.ps/c/23GkP/b3nJ4/aCheck
Town hallWar Memorial Art GalleryRemains of four Corinthian columns from Mount Tabor chapel built in 1868 which once stood on the corner of Edwards street and Wellington Road SouthCockleshell Hero memorial statueFred Perry HouseStopford HouseThe back of St. Mary’s churchArden Arms pub Elizabeth Raffald: Blue plaquePart of the River Mersey not covered over by the precinctThe members of the British History Social Group (Meetup) father outside the railway station
Since my last post, I have been on a much needed break from my printmaking. Yesterday, I started a new drypoint print which I hope to combine with a chine collé technique (which uses different colours of tissue paper overlaid on the print during printing). The new drypoint depicts the Masonic Guildhall which is located opposite the college. I used a photograph as a reference. I managed to get a proof done and hope to complete the print soon.
Stockport Masonic Guildhall drypoint
I am hoping to enter two of my prints in this year’s Stockport Open Exhibition which is returning to the art gallery in Stockport.
The exhibition is on from 22nd July to 23rd September.
I also printed a couple of prints from the Stopford House etching I did a few months back. I hope to enter this into the open exhibition.
Last Friday, I had some free time to visit Vernon Park just outside the town centre of. My first place to photograph was the hall inside the park.
Vernon Park hall
Vernon park was opened in 1858 and is the oldest park in Stockport. The hall which was restored recently as 2017 has some ornate brick work and decorative façades.
My walk took me around the rear of the hall where I spotted a pair of replica Russian canons. The original cannons were captured from the battle of Sevastopol. They were donated by the War Office. However, the originals where unfortunately scrapped for the war effort back in the 1940’s.
Rhododendron’s in Vernon Park
Beyond the hall are the gardens with the bandstand. This is not the original bandstand from 1888, but a reconstruction build in 2000. The gardens are large and well maintained. I particularly liked the Rhododendrons and the sunken garden next to the hall. To the left hand side of the hall is the bowling green where a path led me down to the rest of the gardens and took me to the furthest edges of the estate.
In the middle of the gardens, is a lovely ornamental Victorian statue in black with gold leaf.
Woodbank Memorial Park
On my return to the car park, I decided to go and explore Woodbank Memorial park which is nearby and seek out and find the hall which I have never visited before. As you enter the park, there is a stone arch way which is in need of some restoration. As I walked down the path towards the hall, I spotted a tree sculpture which honoured the animals who were in service during the world wars. The sculpture has not weathered well to the elements and looks as though it to needs some work to restore it. As I continued my walk, I passed what looked like a music festival which was being held in the park, I finally spotted Woodbank hall in the distance.
Woodbank hall
According to records, the hall was built between 1812-14. From the outside, the hall looks ok, but closer inspection you realise the building needs restoring back to it’s former glory. The building looks abandoned at the moment with no current use as far as I could make out, which is a pity as it would make an excellent arts venue.
To sum up my thoughts of visiting the two parks, these two places are a real treasure to the folks of Stockport and I would certainly return again. I now have plenty of photographs as inspiration for some new prints.
Stockport In Print 
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